The iSchool at Illinois is pleased to announce the publication of Library Trends 73 (3). With the rapid adoption of AI, coupled with increasing ethical concerns relating to AI usage, bias, and authorship, "Generative AI and Libraries: Applications and Ethics, Part I" is the first of two special issues that examine how librarians are grappling with the effects of AI on the field.

Rachael Sanders joined the iSchool last month as office manager 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 undergraduate programs.

For translating her research on censorship and intellectual freedom into practical guidance for library workers, Shannon M. Oltmann, associate professor in the School of Information Science at the University of Kentucky (UK), has been named the 2024 recipient of the Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award. 

On May 8, 2025, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden was dismissed from office. On May 10, 2025, Shira Perlmutter, the Register of Copyrights and director of the Copyright Office, which is part of the Library of Congress, was also terminated. These unexpected decisions raise grave concerns for research libraries, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library, and for the national infrastructure that supports scholarship, access to knowledge, and preservation of cultural heritage.

The iSchool is proud to have served as cohost for 28 data science scholars from Kazakhstan in the 2024-2025 academic year. The scholars were part of the Bolashak International Scholarship Program, an initiative sponsored by the Kazakhstani government to facilitate academic, scientific, and cultural exchange. 

The School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is pleased to announce the publication of Research on Diversity in Youth Literature (RDYL) 6 (2). 

This issue comprises three original articles and five book reviews centered around the theme of diversity and inclusion in youth literature. 

M. Cameron Jones (PhD '10) will deliver the 2025 iSchool Convocation address on Sunday, May 18, from 1:30-3:00 p.m. at the Activities and Recreation Center. For those who would like to watch the ceremony online, live video will be available as well as archived for future viewing.

Charlei Grissom joined the iSchool on April 14 as an office support specialist. In her new role, she will provide administrative support to the admissions and records team.

Michelle Ellis joined the iSchool on April 7 as associate director of career services. In her new role, she will deliver career support to undergraduate and graduate students in the School.

The iSchool at Illinois has retained its top spot in U.S. News & World Report's 2025 ranking of graduate schools offering a master's degree in library and information studies. The iSchool has held the number one ranking for nearly three decades.