Tess Prendergast

Tess Prendergast is a Lecturer at the UBC School of Information (iSchool) since 2019, where she teaches courses in librarianship and children’s literature. With over two decades of experience as a children’s librarian in urban public libraries, her work focused on early literacy support for diverse families, particularly newcomers to Canada.

• PhD research: Inclusion of children with disabilities in early learning through bioecological systems perspective
• Teaching expertise: Picture book evaluation as cultural barometers
• Key research areas: Inclusive library services, Indigenous and refugee children’s representation in literature

Her publications and conference presentations emphasize anti-bias and anti-ableist approaches to library services, with a focus on early learning in multicultural contexts and the role of librarians in addressing systemic barriers.