Shelley Diaz has been named reviews editor of School Library Journal, SLJ editor-in-chief Kathy Ishizuka announced today.

“I am thrilled to welcome Shelley to the SLJ team,” said Ishizuka, who is also director of partnerships and innovation for Library Journal and SLJ. “Shelley brings a wealth of experience, good judgment, and strong relationships in the field to the Reviews Editor role. She’s coming back to us, but in an altogether new, exciting capacity. I look forward to partnering with her on executing our editorial strategy and supporting her leadership of SLJ Reviews.”

Diaz steps into the role after nearly two years at BookOps, a shared technical services collaboration between New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library, where she’s been a supervising librarian selecting children’s and YA materials since January 2019. Prior to that, she spent eight years with SLJ where she rose through the ranks, starting as assistant editor for reviews and eventually becoming reviews manager, overseeing the daily operation of the SLJ reviews team.

A creative leader, Diaz was key in helping develop SLJ's cultural competency and diversity training of both staff and professionals in the field. An expert on everything YA, Diaz was also the original point person on the SLJTeen newsletter and SLJTeen Live online event.  She earned her MLIS from Queens College, where she has taught young adult literature to future librarians.

Diaz steps into her new role September 15.