Reneé Critcher Lyons grew up in the mountains of North Carolina, developing a love for the finer aspects of the Appalachian culture, most notably the emphasis on story. In keeping with her interests and childhood experiences, she holds a MFA in Creative Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts, as well as a Masters' in Library Science from Appalachian State University. Having served as a children's, youth services, and academic librarian, she currently serves as associate professor and program coordinator within East Tennessee State University's School Librarianship Program. Ms. Lyons is the author of three lettered books: The Revival of Banned Dances: A Worldwide Study; Foreign-Born American Patriots: Sixteen Volunteer Leaders in the Revolutionary War; and Teaching Civics in the Library: An Instructional and Historical Guide for School and Public Librarians. She also serves as a board member (Secretary) for the National Children's Book Literacy Alliance. Her academic interests include Children's and Young Adult Literature, interdisciplinary material creation, and the integration of socio-ecological issues into her teaching, research, and service roles.
"School Librarians are in essence directed to engage with teachers of all subject areas for the purpose of enhancing the learning experience, insuring instruction is steeped in the information-rich, format diverse environment of the 21st century. They are also called upon to assist educators in creating meaningful, engaging learning opportunities which encourage students to seek, find, and use information both inside and outside of the classroom."