Professorship to support history of libraries and the information professions

For more than a century, the iSchool has been, and continues to be, a top-tier school for preparing leaders for the library and information professions. Now the iSchool is pleased to announce the establishment of a new endowed professorship, the Professorship in the History of Libraries and the Information Professions. The professorship was spearheaded by Laurel A. Grotzinger (MS '58, PhD '64), who passed away in 2017; Don (PhD '72) and Avis Davis; and Mark (PhD '83) and Barbara Tucker. 

"In the present information environment, a permanent professorship dedicated to the history of our profession is essential for long-range perspective," said Don Davis, professor emeritus of library history at the University of Texas at Austin and editor of Libraries & Culture, the premier journal in the field of library and information history, for thirty years. "My doctoral study at Illinois became the foundation of my career in teaching and research because of the professors who inspired me to consider their profession in historical perspective and took a personal interest in me."

Candidates for the Professorship in the History of Libraries and the Information Professions must have a strong international reputation within this area. For more information and to apply, visit the job posting.

"Our School was one of the first LIS programs in the world to support the study of the history of libraries, information, and society," said Dean Eunice E. Santos. "This new professorship demonstrates the iSchool’s ongoing commitment to research in this important area."

The endowed professorship will transition to an endowed chair when future financial commitments are realized.

Updated on
Backto the news archive

Related News

Clark joins Academic Affairs

Corissa Clark joined the iSchool last month as an office administrator for Academic Affairs. In her new position, she will work closely with faculty, staff, and university administration to ensure accurate scheduling and efficient course management for the iSchool's graduate programs.

Corissa Clark

Students put designs into practice in escape room course

In the past few years, escape rooms have been on the rise, evolving from simple locked boxes in an open room to complex adventures spanning multiple rooms involving electronics, sound design, and even live actors. This past semester, students enrolled in the Makerspace: Escape Rooms (INFO 418) course brought that same spirit of creativity and design to the Fairy Tale Ball at The Urbana Free Library. 

Children lined up at a station at the Fairy Tale Ball at The Urbana Free Library.

Weech passes away

Associate Professor Emeritus Terry Laverne Weech passed away on June 5, 2025, in Staunton, Virginia. He was the widower of Eunice Hovis Weech, who passed away on October 16, 2022. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Brenda Bruce, and her husband, Timothy, and cousins, Wilber Rehmann and Susan Henry Anderson.

Terry L Weech