Research Profile: Dr. Anthony Bernier

Dr. Anthony Bernier
Assistant Professor

Statement of Research Interests & Experience

My primary research explores public space equity for young adults and the administration of library services with them. More specifically my interests connect the built library environment to visions of young adults as fully entitled citizens and active social agents. Those interests intersect in the study of history, architecture and design, administration, and critical cultural studies.

Shortly after joining the San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science faculty in 2005, I co-founded the Youth Truth Institute (YouthFacts.org) to address the culture's massive misconceptions of young people. I have served on national committees and chaired task forces for the American Library Association's young adult services division (YALSA) such as YALSA's New Directions Task Force, Continuing Education, and Strategic Planning Task Forces. I am an instructor for YALSA's Serving the Underserved (SUS) in-service training bureau. I am currently chair of the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) Youth Services Special Interest Group.

Prior to Fall 2005 I served as Director of Young Adult Services for the Oakland Public Library in California for the four preceding years, prior to that I served for ten years as Young Adult Specialist Librarian for the Los Angeles Public Library.

Beyond designing and implementing a variety of widely recognized outreach and programming models, I developed the original service and space plan for LAPL's nationally acclaimed TeenS'cape department, the first public library space designed exclusively for young adult patrons. I write, train, and consult with public agencies such as the California State Library and serve on the design teams of two California architecture firms.

I received my Ph.D. in United States history from the University of California, Irvine, where my doctoral dissertation focused on changing notions of public space in 20th century urban America.

Possible PhD Thesis Topic Area

Young adult services and history
The library as place
Social theory applied to public libraries
Contemporary issues in middle-management

Ten Representative Publications

Bernier, A. (forthcoming) California YA gold rush sets new national standard, Public Library Quarterly
Bernier, A. (2007). "Not broken by someone else's schedule:" On joy and young adult information–seeking. In M. K. Chelton & C. Cool (Eds.). Youth information-seeking behavior: Theories, models, and issues (pp. xiii–xxvii). Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. (21 pages)
Bernier, A., M. K. Chelton, C. A. Jenkins., & J. B. Pierce. (2005 June). Two hundred years of young adult library services: A chronology. Voice of Youth Advocates, 28, 106-111.
Bernier, A. (2003 August). The case against libraries as 'safe places'. Voice of Youth Advocates.
Bernier, A. (2000 August). A library "TeenS'cape" against the new callousness. Voice of Youth Advocates.
Bernier, A. (2000 February). Young adults, rituals, and library space. Voice of Youth Advocates.
Bernier, A. (1998 October). Bathrooms, bedrooms, and young adult spaces. American Libraries.

Professional Memberships & Related Matters

I maintain current memberships in the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE), the American Library Association, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) of the American Library Association, the Organization of American Historians (OAH), and the California Library Association.

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San José State University

SCHOOL OF LIBRARY & INFORMATION SCIENCE