Hello - I am Valerie Byrd Fort, sometimes known as "Library Goddess." 

I am an Assistant Teaching Professor for the School of Information Science at the University of South Carolina.

Biography

(feel free to use this, if you ever need to introduce me to a crowd)

Dr. Valerie Byrd Fort was an elementary school librarian for 15 years before joining the faculty at the University of South Carolina's School of Information Science. She teaches classes related to school librarianship and children's materials. Byrd Fort is passionate about literacy, libraries, inclusion, and intellectual freedom. She is an active member of several professional organizations including the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), South Carolina Library Association (SCLA), and South Carolina Association of School Librarians (SCASL). She is a 2026 I Love My Librarian award winner. She lives in Columbia, South Carolina with her husband, kiddo, guinea pigs and dogs. 

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Updated July 2026