Education

B.A., English Literature and Viola Performance, University of Iowa
M.A., Library and Information Science, University of Iowa
Ph.D., Language, Literacy and Culture, University of Iowa

Research

Dr. Jenna Spiering’s research interests lie at the intersection of school libraries, critical youth studies, and children’s/young adult materials. Specifically, Spiering’s work emphasizes the school librarian’s role in selecting, promoting, and curating materials for students in k-12 settings. Some of her recent work has explored representations of gender and sexuality in young adult literature, and considers how the presence of these topics affects selection practices in school libraries and the inclusion of materials in classrooms.

Teaching

Spiering believes that teaching and learning are both social and multidirectional. She sees her role in the classroom as a facilitator of critical thinking, and is constantly learning alongside and from her students. Therefore, discussion and civil discourse are key components of any course she teaches. She also strives to highlight diverse voices and perspectives in the texts and materials assigned in her courses — often challenging the canon of traditionally taught texts both in schools and in academic settings. She teaches courses in children’s and young adult materials, and school library curriculum and program development.

Recent Publications

Spiering, J. & Lechtenberg, K. (2020) Conceptual curation for school librarians: Toward a more critical and collaborative approach. School Libraries Worldwide.

Thein, A., Lechtenberg, K., Spiering, J., & Amato, N. (2020) When the fire burns out: Ambivalence, despondence, and despair as responses to sexual trauma in Asking for It. In Connors, S.P. & Hengtes, S., Girls on fire: Creating consciousness, informing action. New York: McFarland. 

Spiering, J. & Kedley, K. (2019) “You can’t go back to holding hands”: Reading Judy Blume’s Forever in the #MeToo era. Study and Scrutiny, 3(2).

Spiering, J. (May/June 2019) Engaging adolescent literacies with the Standards. Knowledge Quest, 47(5).

Service

Member, International Federation of Library Associations’ Standing Committee on Literacy and Reading

Member, American Association of School Librarians Professional Learning Committee

Member, Young Adult Library Services Association Research Committee 

Board Member and UofSC Liason, South Carolina Association of School Librarians Board of Directors