MSLIS student Rasheed Adigun has been awarded the 2026 Helen Knoll Jira Scholarship from the Health Science Librarians of Illinois (HSLI). The award supports individuals pursuing education in library or information science in Illinois, especially those focusing on health science librarianship.
After he finishes his MSLIS in 2027, Adigun plans to pursue a PhD in information science with a research focus at the intersection of information retrieval, AI ethics and governance, accessibility, and human-centered information systems. His long-term goal is to combine research, teaching, and librarianship to contribute to the development of more accessible, inclusive, and effective information systems and services, particularly in academic and health sciences library environments.
Adigun earned his bachelor's degree in library and information science at Tai Solarin University of Education in Nigeria, then worked in user experience and web design before pursuing his MSLIS.
"I'm especially grateful that the scholarship supports both my education and my growth as an emerging librarian," he said. "Opportunities like this allow me to broaden my perspective and think more intentionally about the kind of librarian and researcher I hope to become. More important, it gives me an opportunity to learn from and engage with other librarians in the field, strengthen my professional network, and build the knowledge and experience I need to contribute meaningfully to academic and health sciences libraries."
As part of his award, Adigun will attend HSLI's annual conference, taking place online this year from Sept. 29 through Oct. 1. He will present a lightning talk on his developing interests in health sciences librarianship, information literacy, accessibility, and the role of technology and AI in supporting library users.