Barbara Alvarez

Adjunct Lecturer, School of Information Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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About Barbara

Alvarez's research focuses on abortion and information access. Overarching themes in Alvarez's writing include abortion legislation, religion, and information access. Alvarez is the author of The Library's Guide to Sexual and Reproductive Health Information with ALA Editions. She is a 2022 Library Journal Mover & Shaker.

Contributions | No Jargon Podcast | Member Spotlight | In the News | Publications

Contributions

How Medication Abortion Legislation in Wisconsin Impedes Access to Safe Care

Taryn Valley ,

Key Findings Brief, April 2021

We Should Support the Women’s Health Protection Act

Commentary, September 2020

In the News

Opinion: "June Medical Services Case Was Never About Health and Safety," Barbara Alvarez, Free Thought Today Admin, July 16, 2020.

Guest on Ask an Atheist, July 8, 2020.

Quoted by in "Getting a Legal Abortion in Wisconsin Is Even Harder Because of COVID-19," WUWM, June 15, 2020.

Publications

"Shift Work: Abortion Care in an Ever‑Changing Landscape" in When Roe Fell: How Barriers, Inequities, and Systemic Failures of Justice in Abortion Became Visible, edited by Katrina Kimport, (Rutgers University Press, 2025).

Explores the type of work that abortion workers provide and the experiences that they have regarding this work.

"Barriers to Abortion Information" in Information, Power, and Reproductive Health, edited by Gina Schlesselman-Tarango, Renée Ann Rau, and Alanna Aiko Moore, (Library Juice Press, 2025).

Explores the variety of ways in which access to abortion information is restricted in the United States.

The Library's Guide to Sexual and Reproductive Health Information (ALA Editions, 2023).

Surveys core sexual and reproductive health concepts to provide a straightforward and non-judgmental resource that supports library workers in providing trustworthy guidance to patrons through fact-friendly reference and program services.

"The American Heritage Project: A Legacy of Public Libraries and Community Discussion" Culture, History, and Society 5, no. 1 (2021): 76-101.

Provides a platform for libraries to have community discussion programs.

"Financial Literacy Partners in the Community: Business Community Connections" in Rainy Day Ready: Financial Literacy Programs and Tools, edited by Melanie Welch and Patrick Hogan, (ALA Editions, 2020).

Explains how libraries can develop financial literacy partners in their community.

"News Sources" in Reference and Information Services an Introduction, edited by Melissa A. Wong and Laura Saunders, (The Library of Congress Publications, 2020), 487.

Explains how librarians can effectively use news sources in reference and library services.

Embedded Business Librarianship for the Public Librarian (American Library Association, 2016).

Provides a step-by-step account of how librarians can develop business-community relationships.