Carrie Gardner

Dr. Carrie Gardner is a Lecturer at the School of Information, San José State University, where she teaches INFO 234 – Intellectual Freedom Seminar. She has a long-standing commitment to intellectual freedom, youth access to information, and school librarianship. Her professional roles span academia and consulting, with leadership positions in national and state-level library associations focused on intellectual freedom.

• Ph.D. in Library and Information Science, University of Pittsburgh (2001)
• M.E. in Reading, Edinboro University (2014)
• M.E. in Educational Administration, Temple University (2004)
• M.L.S., University of Pittsburgh (1993)
• B.S. in Education and Library Science, Millersville University of Pennsylvania (1990)

Dr. Gardner's primary research and teaching interests include intellectual freedom, censorship, children’s and young adult literature, school library services, information policy, copyright, and the ethical foundations of library and information science. She is deeply engaged in advocacy for equitable access to information for youth and has contributed significantly to policy discussions through committee leadership and public speaking.

With over 200 speeches and workshops delivered nationwide, Dr. Gardner is a recognized expert in intellectual freedom and school librarianship. She has held academic appointments at Clarion University, Kutztown University, and The Catholic University of America, where she also coordinated the School Library Media Program. Her current role at SJSU is part-time, and she continues to serve as Principal Consultant at Clairmaxine Consulting.

• American Association of School Librarians (AASL) – Former Chair, Intellectual Freedom Committee
• American Library Association (ALA) – Member, Intellectual Freedom Committee
• Virginia Educational Media Association – Chair, Intellectual Freedom Committee
• Pennsylvania School Librarians Association – Former Chair, Intellectual Freedom Committee (over 10 years)

Dr. Gardner has advised and mentored future school librarians through her teaching and program coordination roles. While no formal list of advisees is provided, her leadership in LIS education, particularly in school media programs, reflects a strong commitment to student development and professional preparation. She has not received any explicitly mentioned scientific awards in the provided text. No research grants are detailed, but her extensive consulting and professional service suggest active engagement in applied projects and policy development.

Dr. Gardner leads no formal research lab or team, but her consulting firm, Clairmaxine Consulting, serves as a professional platform for advising on school library services and intellectual freedom issues. Her work bridges academic scholarship and practical implementation in K–12 library settings.