Karen Lemmons is currently a high school librarian/teacher at the Detroit School of Arts. She is Chair of BCALA Services to Children and Families of African Descent. She is a member of ALSC, AASL, and YALSA. She serves as Treasurer of the Coretta Scott King Book Award Committee. She has served on several book award committees including Newbery, CSK Book Award, Caldecott, Carnegie Medal, and the Black Caucus Literary Awards. She is very passionate about and an advocate for multicultural literature for all ages.