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September 10, 2007
Children's Literature Specialist Joins Libraries
University Park, PA—The University Libraries recently appointed Karla Schmit as Education and Behavioral Sciences librarian and assistant director, Pennsylvania Center for the Book, University Park. Schmit was formerly a librarian and assistant professor of teacher education at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. She holds an elementary education degree and master's degree in reading education from Minnesota State University, and a master's degree in library and information science from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Schmit has extensive elementary school teaching experience, and has also served as an elementary school library media specialist. In 1998, she was awarded a scholarship by the American Library Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association.
Schmit is currently pursuing her doctorate at Penn State in curriculum and instruction, with an emphasis on language and literacy, and a specialization in children's literature. She describes her research as "exploring the social constructs and situated literacy practices that teacher education students bring to the discussion of children's literature." She recently presented aspects of her research at international conferences in Los Angeles and London.
The Education and Behavioral Sciences Library is located on the fifth floor of Paterno Library, and serves the research, professional, and instructional needs of students, staff, and faculty from several colleges at Penn State. The Pennsylvania Center for the Book, which is part of the Library, is an affiliate of the Library of Congress. Its mission is to study, honor, celebrate, and promote books and literacy to all residents of Pennsylvania. The center's director is Education and Behavioral Sciences Library Head, Steven Herb.