𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠? 𝟏𝟓𝟕 | 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐞 𝐎𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐞

𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: In this compelling episode of The Rural Scoop, Dr. Sadorf sits down with Cassie Owens Moore, a middle school librarian from Seneca, South Carolina, whose work is redefining what a school library can be. With nearly two decades of experience as an English Language Arts teacher before transitioning into librarianship, Cassie shares how her passion for reading, equity, and student belonging transformed her school library into a thriving hub of literacy, identity, and community. The conversation explores the role of libraries as spaces of representation, intellectual freedom, and cultural understanding. Cassie offers firsthand insight into book challenges, misconceptions about graphic novels, and the importance of giving students access to stories that reflect both their own experiences and the lives of others. She also discusses how collaboration with teachers, administrators, and counselors has helped her achieve remarkable student engagement and improved literacy outcomes. Listeners will walk away inspired by Cassie’s advocacy for books as tools of empowerment, connection, and social justice—and by her belief that every student deserves stories that make them feel seen. 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬: 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:53 From Nursing to Teaching 02:58 Classroom Library Spark 05:06 A Student Becomes Reader 09:33 Building an Inclusive Library 13:26 Books as Mirrors and Windows 15:35 Supporting Multilingual Readers 19:08 Graphic Novels Are Books 21:31 Middle Schoolers Want Real Talk 24:12 Social Justice Energy 25:52 Why Books Matter 26:18 How Challenges Happen 30:01 When Books Get Pulled 31:46 Defining Intellectual Freedom 33:38 Parent Choice Example 36:12 Long Way Down Case 40:10 Admin Support and Data 46:09 Launching Cool Books 47:33 Rural Advantage Community 50:44 Closing Call to Action 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: This episode highlights the profound impact that one dedicated educator can have on an entire school community. Cassie Owens Moore reminds us that libraries are far more than collections of books—they are spaces of belonging, empowerment, and possibility. Her work demonstrates how access to diverse stories can nurture empathy, critical thinking, and confidence in students of all backgrounds. Through her advocacy for intellectual freedom and her commitment to meeting students where they are, Cassie exemplifies the heart of rural education: deep relationships, strong community ties, and a relentless belief in every learner’s potential. This conversation is a powerful reminder that when we protect access to stories, we protect the right of every child to imagine, connect, and grow. 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞: © 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved. The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles. For permission requests, please contact: Dr. Melissa Sadorf Email: [email protected] Phone: (520) 266-0081