Rate My Professor Amelia Anderson

Dr. Amelia Anderson is an Assistant Professor of library science in the School of Information at the University of South Florida's College of Arts and Sciences. She earned a B.S. from the University of Florida, an M.L.S. from Florida State University's iSchool, and a Ph.D. from Florida State University's iSchool in 2016, with her dissertation titled Wrong Planet, Right Library: College Students with Autism and the Library Experience. Prior to her current role, she served as an Assistant Professor of library science at Old Dominion University from July 2018 to May 2023. Earlier, Anderson worked as a public librarian for the Orange County Library System and the Hernando County Public Library, handling research assistance, readers' advisory, program planning, and hosting book clubs, particularly enjoying service to adults.

Anderson's research focuses on neurodiversity, disability, and libraries, emphasizing the intersection of autism and library services, accessibility in public library makerspaces for patrons with disabilities, and experiences of librarians and archivists with invisible illnesses. She authored Library Programming for Autistic Children and Teens, 2nd Edition, published by ALA Editions. Key publications include College experiences for students with autism spectrum disorder: Personal identity, public disclosure, and institutional support (Journal of College Student Development, 2017), Autism and the academic library: A study of online communication (College & Research Libraries, 2018), Hidden Barriers: The Experience of Academic Librarians and Archivists with Invisible Illnesses and/or Disabilities (College & Research Libraries, 2023), and Opportunities and Areas for Improvement in Public Library Makerspaces for Adults with Disabilities (Library Quarterly, 2023). She served as managing principal investigator on the Institute of Museum and Library Services planning grant Accessibility in Making (LG-246292-OLS-20), which identified opportunities for inclusive makerspaces. Anderson has presented her work at conferences from local to international levels. In 2024-2025, she received the Connie Van Fleet Award from the Association for Library and Information Science Education for outstanding research contributions in public library services for adults, particularly special populations such as those with disabilities and autism. Her scholarship advances inclusive library practices and supports neurodiverse communities.