School of Information Sciences

Helmick chosen 2024-2025 ALA president-elect

Sam Helmick

The American Library Association (ALA) Council decided on July 23, 2024, that Sam Helmick (MSLIS '12) will be the 2024-2025 president-elect effective immediately. Helmick, who is community and access services coordinator at Iowa City Public Library, was recommended by the ALA Executive Board and confirmed by the Council.

"I am honored to be appointed as president-elect of the American Library Association," Helmick said. "Together, we will continue to elevate the essential work of ensuring informational access for all and upholding intellectual freedom. The collective efforts of ALA members and library workers around the globe empower communities, enrich lives, and safeguard the principles of open knowledge and free expression."

Helmick was a member of the ALA Executive Board until earlier this month at the end of their term and is immediate past president of the Iowa Library Association. They previously served as former chair-elect on the Intellectual Freedom Round Table and chair of the Iowa Governor's Commission of Libraries. They have served on committees for the Network of the National Library of Medicine, Stonewall Book Awards, ALA Policy Monitoring Committee, Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Michael L. Printz Committee, Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) Sophie Brody Award Committee, and YALSA Fundraising Task Force. Helmick is a 2016 Emerging Leader, as well as an author, consultant, and instructor for social media marketing and graphic design.

Helmick holds a Bachelor of Science in human services from Iowa Wesleyan University and a Master of Science in library and information science from the University of Illinois.

Tags:
Updated on
Backto the news archive

Related News

Get to know Manas Godha, growth and strategy lead

Manas Godha (BSIS '24) learned how to connect "different contexts, people, and processes with data and technology" at the iSchool. He is putting those skills into practice in his work as the growth and strategy lead at Advaiya.

Manas Godha

AISLE awards to be presented to alumni, adjunct lecturer

Carolyn Kinsella (MSLIS '03), Beverly Frett (MSLIS '04), and Adjunct Lecturer Karen Egan have been selected to receive awards from the Association of Illinois School Library Educators (AISLE). They will be honored at an awards banquet during the AISLE Annual Conference, which will be held from October 5–7 in Champaign, Illinois.

New book explores video standards in film and archives

A new book co-authored by iSchool Adjunct Lecturer Jimi Jones and Marek Jancovic, assistant professor of media studies at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, examines video file standards and the tensions that have emerged between the film industry and the archiving community that is tasked with preserving cultural cinematic productions. 

Jimi Jones

iSchool to present research at the Digital Humanities 2025 conference

iSchool faculty, staff, and students will present their research at DH2025, the annual conference of the Alliance of Digital Humanities Organizations (ADHO), which will take place on July 14–18 in Lisbon, Portugal. The digital humanities (DH) conference is the largest event of the international DH community and unites scholars from across the globe. 

2025 ISAA Annual Awards announced

iSchool Alumni Association (ISAA) is pleased to announce the recipients of its annual awards, which were presented at an alumni reception during the 2025 ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition.

School of Information Sciences

501 E. Daniel St.

MC-493

Champaign, IL

61820-6211

Voice: (217) 333-3280

Fax: (217) 244-3302

Email: ischool@illinois.edu

Back to top