Theo Karantsalis, librarian, part-time government watchdog and journalist has dedicated his life to education.<\/p>\n
Born in Alameda, California, he graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree in Spanish from The State University of New York. He received a master\u2019s degree in liberal arts from the University of Miami and a second master\u2019s degree in library and information science from Florida State University.<\/p>\n
In 2004 he became a part-time librarian at Miami Dade College\u2019s Carrie P. Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center. Karantsalis became an assistant library director in 2007. He has become a fixture at the College ever since.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you walk across campus with him, it\u2019s incredible because it\u2019s like everybody knows him. Everybody,\u201d said North Campus Library Director Nancy Maxwell.<\/p>\n
Karantsalis, who is also an adjunct professor for introduction to library research classes, reaches out to his students. He often brings gadgets to class, attends student\u2019s funerals and weddings and has a television show on MDC TV called\u00a0Library Matters<\/em>\u00a0to promote the library. He even makes up rap songs to use on air.<\/p>\n In addition, he hosts a book club at The Advisory Council of Liberty City Youth, down the street from the Meek Center. The book club is possible because of a grant from the American Library Association.<\/p>\n Karantsalis reads a book to a group of 35 kids from the Juvenile Detention Facility the last Wednesday of every month.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a librarian and that\u2019s what I\u2019m about, access to information,\u201d Karantsalis said. \u201cIt\u2019s one thing to teach and it\u2019s another thing to roll up your sleeves and do it. Students can see that difference.\u201d<\/p>\n Although diagnosed with multiple sclerosis disorder in 2002, which affects vision and the ability to walk and speak properly, Karantsalis has remained strong.<\/p>\n \u201cLook, being a librarian just fires me up, it makes me feel alive, and when I get up, I can\u2019t wait to get to work,\u201d Karantsalis said. \u201cThere aren\u2019t too many jobs like that.\u201d<\/p>\n He has written for publications such as\u00a0The National Herald<\/em>,\u00a0Multiple Sclerosis Foundation<\/em>,\u00a0The Miami Herald<\/em>\u00a0and the\u00a0River Cities Gazette<\/em>.<\/p>\n Karantsalis, 49, has also represented himself as a plaintiff in several lawsuits against the City of Miami Springs, the Department of Defense and the United States Department of Justice. He is currently involved in an appellate court case, with assistance from The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, to allow federal mug shots to be shown to the public.<\/p>\n \u201cAccess to government information is a fundamental and traditional tenet of a democratic society \u2013 it is our government, after all \u2013 and we have a right to know what our government is doing, and how and why. As a government watchdog, Theo does each and every member of the public a tremendous service,\u201d said Florida First Amendment Foundation President Barbara Petersen.<\/p>\n At the moment, he sends books to former students who are now in jail. Sometimes he even sends them homework, grades it and sends it back to them.<\/p>\n Liberty City activist Renita \u201cBiggie Mama\u201d Holmes believes Karantsalis is a difference-maker.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s god-sent,\u201d Holmes said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Theo Karantsalis, librarian, part-time government watchdog and journalist has dedicated his life to education. Born in Alameda, California, he graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree in Spanish from The State University of New York. He received a master\u2019s degree in liberal arts from the University of Miami and a second master\u2019s degree in library and information […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":376,"featured_media":7435,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3,3779],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-7432","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"category-meek-center"},"yoast_head":"\n