Laura Saunders
- School of Library and Information Science
Education
- PhD Simmons University (formerly Simmons College)
- MSLIS Simmons University (formerly Simmons College)
- B.A. Boston University
About Me
Laura Saunders teaches and conducts research in the areas of reference, instruction, information literacy, and intellectual freedom. She has a strong interest in the connections between information literacy and social justice issues, as well as in the impact of mis- and disinformation.
Her most recent books include Reference and Information Services: An Introduction, 6th edition, co-edited with Melissa Wong and the open access textbook Instruction in Libraries and Information Centers: An Introduction, co-authored with Melissa Wong. Her articles have appeared in a variety of journals including College & Research Libraries, The Journal of Academic Librarianship, and Communications in Information Literacy. Laura has a PhD and a Master of Library and Information Science, both from Simmons College, and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Boston University. She serves as a Trustee for the Somerville Public Library in Somerville, MA. She is the 2019 recipient of Simmons University’s Provost Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching.
Laura Saunders' Curriculum Vitae
Area of Expertise
Information literacy, academic libraries, mis- and disinformation ("fake news"), reference services, assessment
What I Teach
- LIS 407 Information Sources & Services
- LIS 408 User Instruction & Information Literacy
- LIS 451 Academic Libraries
- LIS 493 Intellectual Freedom & Censorship
Research/Creative Activities
Laura co-created and co-hosts LIS Pedagogy Chat, a community of practice hosting bi-monthly moderated discussions on topics of interest to faculty and practitioners who teach in library and information science.
Professional Affiliations & Memberships
- American Library Association
- Association of College & Research Libraries
- Association for Library and Information Science Education
Awards
- Simmons University’s Provost Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching (2019)
- Reference Services Press Award (2014)
- ACRL/NEC Best Paper Award (2014)
- Jean Tague-Sutcliffe Award for Doctoral Research (2010)