Melissa M. Orth

Melissa M. Orth is a Part-Time Lecturer III in the Information and Library Science faculty at the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA), a position she has held since 2001. Concurrently, she serves full time as the teen librarian in the Youth Services Department at Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick, ME.

Her educational background includes:

• MLS from Southern Connecticut State University

Her professional expertise centers on youth library services with a focus on teen engagement through innovative community programming. She develops initiatives such as fandom clubs, Nerf nights, and school book talks to foster literacy and connect with adolescent audiences, blending practical library science with creative outreach methods.

Her research interests include:

• Library Science
• Youth Services
• Teen Librarianship
• Community Engagement
• Fandom in Libraries

Outside professional duties, she actively fosters kittens through the Coastal Humane Society, travels with her husband, and takes long walks, reflecting her community-oriented lifestyle.