When I saw the ad for the director of library and archives position at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in 2008, I jumped at it. At the time, I had a terrific job as a librarian and archivist at the Center for Black Music Research at Columbia College in Chicago. Because my area of expertise is American popular music, I was confident I would at least get an interview. But things worked out better than expected.

It’s no surprise that a digital learning librarian doesn’t work within the boundaries of a physical library. In this role at Latin School of Chicago, William Langston isn’t even confined to the walls of the school building. In addition to working with students and faculty in person and virtually, Langston leads field trips, collaborates with Chicago-area colleges, and supports external research initiatives with ties to Chicago’s historic Old Town neighborhood.

Library Journal’s annual “Movers & Shakers” list recognizes professionals who are shaping the future of libraries in a variety of ways. GSLIS alumna Amita Lonial (MS ’09) is among the 2016 class of Movers & Shakers in the “Advocates” category. Lonial is the learning experiences manager at Skokie (IL) Public Library.

The History Section of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) has selected two GSLIS alumni as the winners of its achievement awards honoring librarians and their contributions to the fields of genealogical and historical research and services.

"How do you want to contribute?" Alumna Liza Booker poses this question to GSLIS students. Find your answer, she says, and then use your education to help you make a difference in the world. As a UX analyst, Booker uses her skills to support research that addresses scientific and societal challenges facing the nation.

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) 2016 National Committee has awarded fellowships to nearly two hundred LIS professionals and students from around the world, including two GSLIS students and several alumni.

A new book by alumnus David Hunter (PhD '89), The Lives of George Frideric Handel, is part biography and part genre case study. The famous composer’s life has been documented in numerous biographies, which Hunter scrutinized to differentiate history from interpretation. His findings led to this new work, which was published recently by Boydell Press.

The Library School Alumni Association (LSAA) is seeking nominations for three distinguished awards. The awards are given annually at the GSLIS alumni reception held at the American Library Association conference. The deadline for nomination is April 1, 2016. The Distinguished Alumnus Award recognizes an individual alumnus of GSLIS who has made an outstanding contribution to the field…

From downloading ebooks to applying for jobs online, the patrons of the Gail Borden Public Library have a helping hand in technology librarian Phillip Schneider. Schneider and his colleagues also share their expertise with fellow librarians at other institutions through the online toolkit they’ve created.  

Wendy Holliday (MS '02), head of teaching, learning, and research services at Northern Arizona University, is the winner of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Instruction Section’s (IS) Miriam Dudley Instruction Librarian Award.