Sarah Hartman-Caverly

About Me

Sarah provides research coaching and instruction at Penn State Berks, working closely with programs in the Engineering, Business and Computing division. She began her decade-plus academic library career in technical services, managing subscriptions, electronic resources, and library systems, and later transitioned to a reference and instruction role.  A native Pennsylvanian, Sarah worked in small liberal arts colleges and a multi-campus community college prior to coming to Penn State.

Sarah's research examines the compatibility of human and machine autonomy from the perspective of intellectual freedom.  She experiments with qualitative research methods and emerging forms of scholarly communication to contribute new insights into the role of technology in learning, inquiry, and expression. Recent publications and presentations have focused on learning analytics and library assessment,  'fake news' and censorship, and information warfare.

Sarah earned her BA Anthropology from Haverford College, and MS Library & Information Science and MS Information Systems from Drexel University.

Outside of University Libraries, Sarah is a Penn State Extension-trained Master Gardener and permaculturist.