iSchool researchers involved in new IMLS projects

Several iSchool researchers will be playing an active role in projects that recently received funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

The iSchool at Illinois will partner with the University of Kentucky’s School of Information Science on the project, "Public Libraries' Responses to Censorship: Analyzing the Implementation and Effects of Standard Practices," which received a $449,118 grant (IMLS LG-254856-OLS-23). Shannon M. Oltmann at Kentucky will serve as principal investigator, with Associate Professor Emily Knox serving as co-principal investigator. The project will explore how public libraries respond to book challenges and bans in their communities.

Illinois is part of a coalition of eight iSchools that will examine how to best position LIS programs to lead the field and future of libraries. The University of Washington will lead the project, which was awarded a $149,832 grant (IMLS RE-253680-OLS-23). Maria Bonn, associate professor and director of the MSLIS program, will represent the iSchool at Illinois on the project team.

The Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) Library was awarded a $150,000 grant (IMLS LG-254819-OLS-23) for the project, "Libraries as Partners for Emergency Response and Preparedness in Times of Crisis." The IFSI, iSchool, and Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI) will investigate partnerships between libraries and community emergency response. Lian Ruan, iSchool research affiliate and IFSI head librarian, will serve as project director. iSchool researchers and their roles on the project also include Assistant Professor Jessie Chin, research director; Teaching Assistant Professor Sharon Comstock, coordinator for the advisory committee and national advisory board; and Adjunct Lecturer and CARLI Director Anne Craig, member engagement coordinator.

Updated on
Backto the news archive

Related News

Wong co-edits new edition of Reference and Information Services

Adjunct Lecturer Melissa Wong (MSLIS '94) and Laura Saunders, professor of library and information science at Simmons University, are the co-editors of Reference and Information Services: An Introduction, Seventh Edition, which was recently published by Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited. The textbook provides a comprehensive update to the previous edition, also co-edited by Wong and Saunders, and serves as an essential resource for LIS students and practitioners alike.

Melissa Wong

iSchool researchers to present at ASSETS 2024

iSchool faculty and students will present their research at the 26th International Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Special Interest Group (SIG) ACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2024), which will be held on October 28-30 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The conference is the premier forum for presenting research on design, evaluation, use, and education related to computing for people with disabilities and older adults.

MSIM students win Chicago round of NASA hackathon

A team including MSIM students Kritika Singh and Jainam Rajput won the Chicago hackathon of the NASA Space Apps Challenge, which was held in over 450 locations worldwide on October 5-6. The students partnered with computer science master's students Shraddhaa Mohan, Jinang Gandhi, and Sai Krishna Rohith and engineering in autonomy and robotics master's student Jugal Upadhyay to form Team Cuberts.

Members of Team Cuberts:  Jugal Bipinkumar Upadhyay, Jainam Rajput, Sai Krishna Rohith Kattamuri, Shraddhaa Mohan, Kritika Singh, and Jinang Gandhi.

Spectrum Scholar Spotlight: Armaan Singh Kalkat

Twelve iSchool master's students were named 2024-2025 Spectrum Scholars by the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services. This "Spectrum Scholar Spotlight" series highlights the School's scholars. MSLIS student Armaan Singh Kalkat graduated from the University of Florida with a BA in linguistics and BS in psychology (with an emphasis on neuroscience).

Armaan Singh Kalkat

iSchool well represented at ASIS&T 2024

iSchool faculty, staff, and students will participate in the 87th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T), which will be held on October 25-29 in Calgary, Canada. The theme of this year's conference is "Putting People First: Responsibility, Reciprocity, and Care in Information Research and Practice." The meeting is the premier international conference dedicated to the study of information, people, and technology in contemporary society.

iSchool Building