Leah Plocharczyk, M.L.S., M.A.

Leah Plocharczyk is a University Librarian and the Director of the John D. MacArthur Campus Library at Florida Atlantic University’s Jupiter campus where she oversees all aspects of the library’s operations.  She is active in mentoring students, leadership, and library outreach.  Her publications include articles on library collaboration with marine mammal stranding networks and conflict management within libraries.   She co-authored a book about the importance of library book clubs as educational tools for adults with intellectual disabilities titled, Libraries and Reading: Intellectual Disability and the Extent of Library Diversity.  She has presented at both national and international conferences on this topic. She served on and chaired committees for ALA’s New Members RoundTable. In addition, she has served on and chaired committees for the Florida Library Association and chaired the Florida Association of College & Research Libraries (FACRL) Virtual Logistics Conference Planning Committee. Most recently she was elected as President-Elect to the FACRL Board. Ms. Plocharczyk’s interests include providing literacy and socialization opportunities to underrepresented students.  In 2020, Ms. Plocharczyk earned ALA’s “I Love My Librarian” award for her work and service to marginalized populations and students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

• 1997: Bachelor of Arts, Sociology; Minor, French, DePauw University
• 2004: Master of Arts, Sociology, Florida Atlantic University
• 2007: Master of Library and Information Science, University of South Florida

• Conner, M. & Plocharczyk, L. (2024).  Library services for those with intellectual disability (ID): An exploration of the current landscape. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 50, 2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2024.102859 
• Plocharczyk, L. & Conner, M. (2024, May). Bridging Academic Libraries with Post-Secondary Education Programs to Create Equal Access for All. Submitted and accepted to Florida Library Association (FLA) Conference, Orlando, FL.  
• Plocharczyk, L. & Conner, M. (2024, April).  Libraries and Intellectual Disability (ID): Post-secondary education (PSE) and academic libraries. Submitted and accepted to the 56th Annual Gatlinburg Conference, Kansas City, MO. 
• Conner, M. & Plocharczyk, L. (2024, February). Post-Secondary Education (PSE) and Academic Libraries: Programming for those with Intellectual Disability (ID). Presented at the 50th Annual Southwest Popular American Culture Association (SWPACA) Conference, Albuquerque, NM. 
• Conner, M. & Plocharczyk, L. (2024, March). Post-Secondary Education (PSE) and Academic Libraries: Programming for those with intellectual disability (ID). Presented at the 39th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity, Honolulu, HI. 
• Plocharczyk, L. Frood, D. and Homayoon “Amir” Abtahi. (2023, April). Earth Day 2023: Sustainability and libraries. Presented via Zoom for San Jose State University iSchool’s Celebration of Earth Day. 
• Conner, M. & Plocharczyk, L. 2022.  Universal Design for Learning (UDL): Review and Applications. [Online webinar.] 
• Plocharczyk, L. & Conner, M. 2022.  Community Integration: Public Library Services for Those with Intellectual Disability (ID). [Online webinar.] 
• Plocharczyk, L. (Producer.) 2021. Providing Creative Outreach Opportunities for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities (ID). [Online webinar.] 
• Plocharczyk, L. & Conner, M. 2021. Libraries and Reading: New Service Models for Patrons | with Intellectual Disabilities. [Online webinar.] 
• Plocharczyk, L. (2021, October). Promoting Inclusion for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities through Book Clubs. Presented at Florida Association of College and Research Libraries (FACRL) Conference, Virtual.  
• Plocharczyk, L. (2021, November). Engaging college students with intellectual disabilities through book clubs.  Presented virtually at Broward Student Research Symposium, FAU campus, Davie, FL.   
• Conner, M. & Plocharczyk, L. (2020). Libraries and reading: Intellectual disability and the extent of library diversity. Cambridge, UK: Emerald Publishing Limited. 
• Plocharczyk, L. (Producer.) 2020. A Book Club for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: My Leadership Journey. [Online webinar.] 
• Conner, M. & Plocharczyk, L. (2020). Social justice and converging theories: Library service for those with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD), Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education, 15(1).  
• Plocharczyk, L. & Conner, M. (2019). Literacy support for the intellectually disabled: A New frontier for library outreach. In S. Epstein, C. Smallwood, & V. Gubnitskaia (Eds.) Social justice and activism in libraries: Moving beyond diversity to action (pp. 7- 14). North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc.  
• Plocharczyk, L. & Conner, M. (2019). Back to the Future: Library book clubs for individuals with intellectual disability (ID), The International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion, 3(4). 
• Plocharczyk, L. & Conner, M. (2019, March). The Stories that Unite Us: Socialization and inclusion of adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) through library book clubs. Presented at 34th annual Pacific Rim (PACRIM) International Conference on Disability & Diversity, Honolulu, HI. 
• Plocharczyk, L. & Conner, M. (2019, October).  The Stories that Unite Us: Socialization and inclusion of adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) through library book clubs. Presented at Library Research Seminar VII Research Matters: Strengthening Values, Defining Practice, Columbia, SC.  
• Plocharczyk, L. & Conner, M. (2019, October). Libraries and Reading: Service for patrons with intellectual disability (ID) and the limits of disability. Presented at Library Research VII Research Matters: Strengthening Values, Defining Practice, Columbia, SC. 
• Plocharczyk, L. (2019, September). Library Services for the Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled. Presented at Special Libraries Association (SLA) Leading Edge Libraries Conference, Orlando, FL.  
• Plocharczyk, L. & Conner, M. (2019, May). Ace New Library Services for College Students with ID by Betting on Sound Theory and Practice. Presented at Annual Florida Library Association (FLA) Conference, Orlando, FL.  
• Library Career Development Committee. (2019, May). Career 411: It’s never too late to jumpstart your career. Presented at Annual FLA Conference, Orlando, FL. 

• Recipient, American Library Association (ALA) “I Love My Librarian Award” (2019/2020). 
• Recipient, Professional Development Award, Southeast Florida Library Information Network (SEFLIN, 2009). 
• Recipient, SEFLIN Summit Award, 2005.