Sara Benson

Sara Benson is an Affiliate Associate Professor and Copyright Librarian at the University Library of the University of Illinois. She holds advanced degrees in Library and Information Science (MS, Illinois), Law (JD, University of Houston), and Intellectual Property Law (LLM, University of California, Berkeley). Her office is located at 450K Main Library, and she can be reached at (217) 333-4200 or srbenson@illinois.edu. Office hours are held Wednesdays from 3:00-4:00 p.m. or by appointment.

• Education: MS in Library and Information Science (University of Illinois), JD (University of Houston), LLM (University of California, Berkeley)

Her research focuses on the socio-political implications of copyright in the U.S. and internationally, bridging legal frameworks with societal impacts. She teaches courses such as COPYRIGHT FOR INFO PROFESSIONS - IS541CIP, COPYRIGHT FOR INFO PROFESSIONS - IS541OCP, and offers independent study opportunities via IS589SRB.

Dr. Benson has been recognized for her excellence in teaching multiple times by the iSchool at Illinois, with acknowledgments in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. She also received the Campus Award for Copyright Efforts in 2023 for her contributions to copyright advocacy and education.