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About Anthony Bernier

Dr. Bernier served as a professional field practitioner for 18 years (Director of Young Adult Services for Oakland Public Library; 10 years as YA Specialist for L.A. Public Library). He has designed a variety of innovative outreach and programming models, including the original service and space plan for the first purpose-built library YA space: LAPL's acclaimed TeenS'cape. He has received IMLS National Leadership Grants to advance research on developmentally-appropriate YA spaces and he continues to speak on and consult with architects and public agencies on library space design.
A critical youth studies scholar, Dr. Bernier's research and teaching explores public space equity and administration of library services with young people. He is former chair of the ALISE Youth Services Special Interest Group, former chair of YALSA's New Directions Task Force, and currently serves on the Editorial Boards of Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) and Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (EBLIP). Dr. Bernier wrote his doctoral dissertation on changing notions of public space in 20th century America at U.C. Irvine. He lives in Oakland and rides a BMW R1100RT. He also regularly writes a column titled "YA Strike Zone" for Voice of Youth Advocates.

Positions

2016 - Present Professor, School of Information, San Jose State University ‐ School of Information
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Curriculum Vitae

Disciplines

Research Interests

Grants

2009 - 2013 Making Space for Young Adults in Public Libraries: Establishing a Research Foundation
Institute of Museum & Library Services
National Leadership Grant
$447,000
2010 California State University Research Fund Grant
California State University
$3,945
2010 Junior Faculty Fellowship
The Institute for Library and Museum Services (IMLS) and Library Research Seminar V Conference
$425
2008 - 2009 Making space for young adults in public libraries.
Institute of Museum & Library Services
National Leadership Grant
$59,868
2008 California State University Research Fund Grant
California State University
$6,170
2008 Navigating with youth, IFLA Satellite Meeting
San José State University
School of Library and Information Science Travel Grant
$750
2008 School of Library and Information Science Travel Grant
San José State University
$750
2007 American Library Association, Washington D.C.
San José State University
School of Library and Information Science Travel Grant
$995
2007 Young Adult Spaces, InfoPeople
State Library of California
$10,000
2007 Youth Truth Institute start-up gift
Center for Juvenile and Criminal Justice
$13,000
2006 Junior Faculty Career Development Grant
San José State University
2006 Teen Space Redesign Plan
Salinas Public Library
$5,000
2006 Teen Space Redesign Plan
San José Public Library
$5,000
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Professional Service and Affiliations

2016 - Present Member, Editorial Board, Public Library Quarterly
2016 - Present Chair, Youth Services Program Advisory Committee, San José State University
2015 - Present Co-Chair, Faculty Development and Research Committee, San José State University
2013 - Present Member, Board of Directors, Berkeley Students Co-operative Alumni Association
2013 - Present Founding Member, Human Rights Working Group, San José State University
2013 - Present Columnist, "YA Strike Zone", Voice of Youth Advocates
2012 - Present Member, Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIST)
2012 - Present Member, School Leadership Coordinating Team, San José State University
2011 - Present Member, Collections and Programming Board, Lubuto Library Project
2010 - Present Member, Editorial Board, Voice of Youth Advocates
2007 - Present Founding Member, Research Institute for Foster Youth Initiatives, San José State University
2005 - Present Member, Library History Round Table (LHRT), American Library Association
2005 - Present Member, Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE)
1991 - Present Member, Young Adult Library Services Association, Library History Roundtable, American Library Association
1986 - Present Member, American Historical Association
2017 - 2018 Member, RSCA Grant Program Review Committee, San José State University
2011 - 2015 Member, Committee on Accreditation (COA), American Library Association (ALA)
2011 - 2013 Chair, Student Awards and Scholarship Committee, San José State University
2009 - 2012 Member, Police Chief's Academic Advisory Board, Oakland Police Department
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Honors and Awards

  • 2014 Outstanding Researcher Award, School of Information
  • 2011 Outstanding Professor Award, School of Library and Information Science
  • 2008 Distinguished Service Award, School of Library and Information Science
  • 2002 Urban Libraries Council, “Outstanding Leader in Library Youth Development”
  • 1999 American Library Association, “Service Excellence to Young Adults”
  • 1998 Women In Non-Traditional Employment Roles, “Friend of the Year”
  • 1993 California State University, Los Angeles, “Team Leader of the Year”

Courses

  • Representations of Youth in Local Media: Implications for Libraries (INFO 220)
  • Service Learning and Volunteering for Young Adults in the Library Context (INFO 220)
  • Historical Research Methods (INFO 285)
  • Information and Society (INFO 200)
  • Advanced Topics in Young Adult Services (INFO 264)
  • Research Methods in Youth Services (INFO 285)
  • Young Adult Services (INFO 261A)

Education

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2002 Ph.D., University of California, Irvine ‐ History
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1995 M.A., University of California, Irvine ‐ History
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1987 M.L.I.S., University of California - Berkeley ‐ Library & Information Science
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1982 A.B., University of California - Berkeley ‐ Sociology
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Links

Contact Information

anthony.bernier@sjsu.edu

Email:

Books (4)

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles (22)