Karen Smith graduated from Wayne State University in 1997 with a B.A in Psychology and 2001 with a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science with a concentration in Services to Children and Teens. She worked as a teen librarian for a number of years before becoming the Head of Children's Services at the Livonia Public Library in Livonia, Michigan. Over the years, she has hosted successful programs, created two tween collections, and advocated for tweens and teens in library spaces. Karen reads a variety of tween literature and reviews for Library Media Connection regularly. She lives in southeastern Michigan with her husband, Brian.