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Mizzou Law Library director’s lifelong passion fuels a remarkable career in law and learning — an inspiring story for National Book Lovers Day.
by Sara Diedrich
Cindy Bassett has never been one to accept limits for herself. When she wants something, she finds a way to make it happen — a defining trait that has shaped both her personal journey and her professional role as director of the University of Missouri Law Library.
As a young girl with an insatiable love for stories, Bassett grew tired of waiting for someone to read to her. So, she taught herself. With that early act of independence, she unlocked the power of books and opened the door to a lifetime of learning — entirely on her own terms.
Bassett brought that same indomitable spirit to Mizzou Law, joining the staff as a librarian in 2007 and rising to library director in 2023 — a promotion hard-earned after more than five years of balancing full-time work with law school and motherhood. Across every stage of her life — as attorney, librarian, educator, student, wife, mother and daughter — books have remained the bedrock of her identity, shaping her choices, her roles and how she sees the world.