Jennifer Sturge has been a proponent of both school and public libraries since she won the Calvert Library bookmark creation contest at the age of 7. An avid reader and life-long learner, Jennifer has been an educator for her entire adult life. She has served as a special education teacher, school librarian, and coordinator of school library programs for Calvert County Public Schools, Maryland. In 2018, she began teaching in higher education as an adjunct faculty at the University of Maryland and McDaniel College, Warminster, MD. She has also taught in higher education at Towson University, Wayne State University, and Pennsylvania Western University in their library programs.
Jennifer feels strongly that making connections with students is one of the most important elements of teaching, and her love for school libraries and for educating the school librarians of the future brought her to Antioch University as core faculty. She is passionate about information literacy instruction, school library administration, and of course, literature and literacy. Jennifer also believes in giving back to the school library community and volunteers in a variety of ways in both state and national associations.
- EdD, Leadership and Administration, Point Park University, Pittsburgh, PA
- Administrator Certificate I, Towson University, Towson, MD
- MS, School Library and Instructional Technology, Mansfield University, PA
- BS, Special Education, Clarion University, PA
Thinking, creating, sharing, and growing with students in the school library program truly allows me to serve the profession of school librarianship and empower learners to be life-long consumers and creators of knowledge.
- Sturge, J. (2023, December 27). Find the helpers. Aliki, 39(3). https://alki.pubpub.org/pub/7alyttz0/release/1
- Sturge, J. (2022, May) Passion, power, and positives: Book clubs for professional development. School Library Connection.
- Mignardi, D. & Sturge, J. (2021). Check your bias at the school library door: The power of the school librarian in an evolving information landscape. In R. Hill (Editor), Hope and a Future: Perspectives on the impact that librarians and libraries have on our world. Emerald Publishing.
- Sturge, J. (2021). Think with the learning for justice social justice standards. In J. Stivers (Author), Include (Shared Foundations series) (pp. 3-20). ALA Editions.
- Sturge, J. (2021, October 24). Jennifer Sturge, author at Knowledge Quest. Knowledge Quest Author Archives. https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/author/jstruge/
- Sturge, J., Allen, S., & Walker, S. (2021). Relationships. In J. Moreillon (Author), Core values in school librarianship: Responding with commitment and courage (pp. 75-90). Libraries Unlimited.
- Sturge, J. (2020, October). It’s a brand-new world: Virtual school librarianship and leadership support. School Library Connection.
- Fitzgerald, M., Mignardi, D., Sturge, J., & Walker, S. (2020). School libraries & social justice education. Knowledge Quest, 48(3), E1–E6.
- Sturge, J. (2019) Assessing Readiness for Library Collaboration. Knowledge Quest, 47(3), 24–31.
Conference Presentations
- Washington Library Association Conference (virtual), March 1, 2024. “Accessibility in the School Library: Creating Inclusive Spaces where Everyone Feels Welcome.”
Keynote Addresses
- Maryland Association of School Librarians Conference, April 2023
- South Carolina Association of School Librarians, March 2023
Information Literacy: Are Your Students College and Career Ready?
- Future of Educational Technology Conference, 2023, New Orleans
Accessibility in the School Library: Creating Spaces for All
- Future of Educational Technology Conference, 2023, New Orleans
School Libraries and Diversity of LGBTQ+ Voice: A Study of Equity and Practice
- American Library Association Conference, 2022, Washington, D.C.
Digital Storytelling
- Computers in Libraries, April 2021
- Maryland State Technology Leader of the Year, 2019
- Ruth Toor Award for Strong School Libraries, 2019
- ABC Clio Leadership Award on Behalf of the Maryland Association of School Librarians, 2020
- Chapter of the Year on Behalf of the Maryland Association of School Librarians, 2021
- National School Library Program of the Year, 2021
- Library Journal Mover and Shaker, 2021
- American Library Association
- American Association of School Librarians
- Maryland Association of School Librarians
- Washington Library Association
- Oregon Association of School Librarians