Dr. Joe Sánchez, Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Library and Information Studies at Queens College (CUNY), delivered the prestigious Baker Lecture at the 50th Anniversary Conference of the South Carolina Association of School Librarians (SCASL). Hosted by the University of South Carolina School of Information Science, the lecture was made possible through the leadership of Dr. Nicole Cooke, Augusta Baker Chair. Titled “Like, there is Nobody Like Us”: Manga, BIPOC Teens, and Social-emotional Learning, Dr. Sánchez’s talk explored the intersection of manga, identity, and emotional development among BIPOC teens, drawing on research funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

The lecture highlighted key findings from a year-long study examining how BIPOC teens engage with manga and how librarians can support their reading practices to promote equity and belonging. By centering teen voices and emphasizing culturally responsive librarianship, Dr. Sánchez underscored the importance of youth-driven collections and programming in school library spaces. The event marked a meaningful moment of reflection and celebration for SCASL’s 50-year commitment to empowering school librarians and advancing inclusive education across South Carolina.