Research & Service

Mahar, S. E., & Li, X. (2025). Social-emotional learning in graphic novels featuring Asian American experiences. The ALAN Review, 52(3), pp. 48-59.

Mahar, S. E., & Li, X. (2025). Visualizing obsessive-compulsive disorder: Graphic novels to support middle grade readers. In K. E. Becnel and R. A. Moeller (Eds.), Using literature to support children's mental health (pp. 13-25). ALA Editions.

Mahar, S. E. (2024). Celebrating Pinoy representation: An interview with Filipino picture book authors. Children and Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children, 22(1). https://journals.ala.org/index.php/cal/article/view/8199 

Mahar, S. E. (2024). Power lines: Connecting with teens in urban communities through media literacy [Review of Power lines: Connecting with teens in urban communities through media literacy]. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 65(4), pp. 462–463. University of Toronto Press. https://doi.org/10.3138/jelis-2023-0008 

Mahar, S. E. (2024). Social and emotional learning for picture book readers [Review of Social and Emotional Learning for Picture Book Readers]. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 65(3), 356–357. University of Toronto Press. https://doi.org/10.3138/jelis-2022-0088 

Mahar, S. E. (2024, May 24). A fox in my brain [Book review]. School Library Journal, 70(5), 1. https://www.slj.com/review/a-fox-in-my-brain 

Mahar, S. E. (2024, May 1). WOW dozen: Children’s books for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander heritage [Blog feature post]. Worlds of Words: The Dozen. https://wowlit.org/blog/2024/05/01/wow-dozen-childrens-books-for-asian-american-native-hawaiian-and-pacific-islander-heritage/ 

Mahar, S. E. (2023). Maribel’s year, written by Michelle Sterling, illustrated by Sarah Gonzales [Book review]. WOW Review: Reading Across Cultures. https://wowlit.org/on-line-publications/review/xv-4/9/ 

Mahar, S. E. (2023). Nour’s secret library [Book review]. Bookbird: A Journal of International Children's Literature. https://muse.jhu.edu/article/912590 

Mahar, S. E. (2023, August 25). A sky of paper stars [Book review]. No Flying No Tights. https://noflyingnotights.com/blog/2023/08/25/a-sky-of-paper-stars/ 

Mahar, S. E. (2021, January 26). Virtual playtime with gameRT at #alamw21. ALSC Blog. https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2021/01/virtual-playtime-with-gamert-at-alamw21/

Mahar, S. E. (2021, January 25). Dr. Jill Biden inspires at #alamw21. ALSC Blog. https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2021/01/dr-jill-biden-inspires-at-alamw21/

Mahar, S. E. (2021, January 24). Empowering young voices through illustrated stories at #alamw21. ALSC Blog. https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2021/01/empowering-young-voices-through-illustrated-stories-at-alamw21/

Mahar, S. E. (2021, January 22). Stan Sakai & Usagi Yojimbo at #alamw21. ALSC Blog. https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2021/01/stan-sakai-usagi-yojimbo-at-alamw21/

Li, X., & Mahar, S. E. (2024, June). Social-emotional learning in graphic novels featuring Asian American experiences [Poster]. American Library Association Annual Conference & Exhibition 2024, San Diego, CA. 

Mahar, S. E., Masterson, J., & Rivas, E. (2024, March). Advocating for equity: Preservice teachers’ literacy perceptions [Poster]. Academic Showcase, Washington State University, Pullman, WA.

Mahar, S. E., Li, X., Hope, N., Woodrow-Butcher, A., Kan, K., & West, I. (2023, November). Beyond "American born Chinese": Advancing change through Asian representation in graphic novels [Panel]. Young Adult Library Services Association Symposium, St. Louis, MO.

Xue, Y., & Mahar, S.E. (2023, October). Empowering middle schoolers with math learning disabilities: Improving math testing through self-reflection with feedback [Poster]. Tri-Cities Education Summit, Washington State University, Richland, WA.

Mahar, S. E., Li, X., & Boyd, A. S. (2023, August). Thought bubbles for social justice and SEL: Exploring graphic novels as teaching tools in school libraries [Workshop]. Pacific Northwest Library Association Conference, Moscow, ID.

Li, X., & Mahar, S. E. (2023, May). Social-emotional learning in graphic novels featuring Asian and Asian American experiences in the United States [Virtual paper session]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.

Kelley, J. E., Garcia, M., Mahar, S. E., Gittins, A., & Coombs, E. (2022, March). Culturally conscious and social conscience award winning children’s literature [Poster]. Academic Showcase, Washington State University, Pullman, WA.

Page Ahead Children's Literacy Program Committee Member

American Library Association (ALA) Rise: A Feminist Book Project Committee Member

Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature Committee Member

Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) Vice President

Page Ahead Children's Literacy Program Committee Member

Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature Committee Member

Diverse BookFinder (DBF) Metadata Community of Practice Book Coder

Washington State Office of Equity & Centre for Public Impact (CPI) Community Co-Creator

Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature Committee Member

Diverse BookFinder (DBF) Metadata Community of Practice Book Coder

No Flying No Tights (NFNT) Graphic Novel Reviewer

Washington Library Association (WLA) Book Award Task Force Member

Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Book Awards & Selection Lists Oversight Committee Member

Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Children and Technology Committee Member