The Institute of Museum and Library Services has awarded GSLIS a $248,205 National Leadership Grant for the project, “App Authors: Closing the App Gap II.” Principal investigator Deborah Stevenson, assistant professor and director of the Center for Children’s Books, and co-PI Kate McDowell, associate professor and assistant dean for student affairs, began work on the IMLS-funded planning phase of…

As a teacher, mentor, colleague, and friend, Taylor Willingham (1957-2011) had a positive influence on the people around her. She spent a decade as an adjunct lecturer for GSLIS, inspiring students and faculty alike through her innovative teaching and civic commitment. Her memory will live in the hearts of those whose lives she touched, and now through a generous gift, will be honored through a…

Thanks to a generous pledge from Lionelle Elsesser (AB '66, MS '67) and husband James Elsesser (BS '66, MS '67), GSLIS is one step closer to realizing its first faculty chair, the Endowed Chair in the History of Libraries and the Information Professions. Gifts of any size will be matched on a one-to-one basis up to a total contribution of $225,000 by the Elsessers, and the resulting $450,000…

When Ed Koval created the Anna Mae Koval Scholarship at GSLIS in honor of his late wife, he knew that the financial support for students would help them achieve their educational and career goals. The gift, however, is providing more than just financial support. It is proving inspirational as well. Anna Mae Koval inspired countless young readers as a librarian and storyteller during her…

Within the realm of social justice, professional resources can be scattered widely among the many disparate areas that intersect with this field, impeding research and fieldwork. A group of LIS doctoral students from across the country—all current American Library Association Spectrum Doctoral Fellows—are working together to create a solution to this challenge called the Social Justice Collaboratorium (@SJCollaborate).c

GSLIS recently hosted the second annual Summer Getaway, a series of workshops that brought together over sixty school librarians from across the state to learn about current topics in K-12 librarianship from experts and from each other. Each day of the three-day event offered a different professional development focus. On Monday, attendees learned about the latest state requirements for…

GSLIS Senior Research Scientist Martin Wolske has been named president of the Board of Trustees of the Champaign Public Library. He has been a member of the board since November 2014 and is now replacing Trisha Crowley, whose term ended in June of this year. His term as president is set for one year with the possibility of reappointment. This new appointment coincided with an announcement from…

GSLIS faculty, staff, and students will participate in the American Library Association’s 2015 Annual Conference from June 25-30 in San Francisco. Stop by and visit us in the Exhibit Hall at Booth #3524. In addition to the presentations listed below, please join us for the LSAA Reception and Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 28, from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis San Francisco.…

GSLIS faculty, staff, and students will present their research at the Joint Conference on Digital Libraries (JCDL), held at the University of Tennessee on June 21-25. The event brings together international scholars focusing on digital libraries and associated technical, practical, organizational, and social issues. The goal is to provide a forum for shared learning and facilitate the application of knowledge for research, development, construction, and utilization in digital libraries.

GSLIS seeks nominations for the Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award. The deadline for nominations is October 1, 2015. Given annually, the award acknowledges individuals or groups who have furthered the cause of intellectual freedom, particularly as it impacts libraries and information centers and the dissemination of ideas. Granted to those who have resisted censorship or efforts to…