Michelle R. Baldini

Michelle Baldini, M.L.S., has worked for Kent State’s iSchool and has supported the Reinberger Children’s Library Center since 2006. As Director of the Reinberger Children’s Library Center (RCLC), she actively promotes the center’s notable collection on its blog, through social media (@ReinbergerChildrensLibrary), and in publications. In addition, she collaborates with iSchool faculty in youth information services to increase the school’s visibility, provide platforms to share research, and organizes, plans and convenes conferences, events and symposia. In the fall semesters, Michelle also teaches the introductory undergraduate course, UC 10097 Dks: First Year Experience: College Of Communication And Information.

Michelle is co-investigator on the IMLS National Leadership Grant for Project SHIELD with Dr. Katie Campana (Principal Investigator). The project is in partnership with the College of Nursing with an endorsement from Kent State University’s Brain Health Research Institute, which will be serving in an advisory capacity for the grant. The goal of the grant is to conduct a pilot study to explore ways that public library practitioners can partner with nurses to provide more effective support for parents and caregivers of children, 0-24 months, in the area of early brain development, learning, and health. 

Michelle brings her diverse background as a grant coordinator, freelance writer, children’s librarian, media specialist and high school instructor to her work at the iSchool. She earned a M.L.S., specializing in children’s literature, from Long Island University and a B.A. in Literature/Communication and Media Studies from Pace University. 

Michelle is the co-author of Unraveling (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2008), a young adult novel.

For more information about Michelle Baldini, visit her LinkedIn page or view her CV (found below).

Selected Publications

Baldini, M. (2017 - Present). Ongoing book review and blog posts for the Reinberger Children’s Library Center. https://reinbergerchildrensbookreviews.org/

Baldini, M. (2016). Research opportunities abound at the Reinberger Children’s Library Center: A collection of special collections. School Library Connection. https://schoollibraryconnection.com/Content/Article/2052680?terms=reinberger&topicCenterId=1945913

Baldini, M. & Martens, M. (2016, March). Out of the box and into the book: Innovative library partnerships to close the 30 million word gap. Children & Libraries, 14(1), 12-13. https://doi.org/10.5860/cal.14n1.12

Baldini, M. & Harper, M. (2008 - 2011). Making correlations [Article Series]. Knowledge Quest, 36(4, 5).

Baldini, M. & Biederman, L. (2008). Unraveling. Delacorte Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 978-0385905213.

Grants

Co-Investigator on IMLS National Leadership Grants for Libraries Planning Grant (with Dr. Katie Campana, Kent State University; and in partnership with Kent State University’s College of Nursing), for “Project SHIELD (Supporting Healthy Infant Early Learning and Development)," endorsed by the Brain Health Research Institute at Kent State University, $99,982, awarded August 2021

Awards/Achievements

• Mothers, Mentors & Muses Honoree (2013), an award granted to Kent State faculty who has served as a nurturing individual for others, a trusted counselor or role model, or who inspires creativity and academic passion in others
• Starred review (2008) in Publishers Weekly for Unravelling  (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2008)

Professional Service

• Board Member of the International Directory of Special Collections in Children's and Young Adult Literature  (2019 - Present)
• Board Member of the Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature for Youth (2009 - Present)
• Chair of the Arnold Adoff Poetry Award for New Voices Committee (2020 - Present), Board Member (2015 - 2019)
• Serves on the Marantz Picturebook Research Symposium Advisory Board (2015 - Present)

Affiliations

• American Library Association (ALA) (2006 - Present)
• Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of ALA (2006 - Present)
• Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of ALA (2008 - 2016)
• Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) (2006 - Present)
• American Association of School Librarians (AASL) (2006 - 2016)
• Ohio Educational Library Media Association (OELMA) (2006 - 2016)