iSchool researchers will present their work this week at the Engagement Scholarship Consortium's 2026 annual conference in Knoxville, Tennessee. The theme of this year's conference is "Changing Lives and Improving Society: Data-Driven Engagement and Innovation." ESC's goal is to work collaboratively to build strong university-community partnerships anchored in the rigor of scholarship and designed to help build community capacity.

Adjunct instructor Jarrett Dapier's graphic novel, Wake Now in the Fire (Ten Speed Graphic, 2026), was selected by Book Riot as one of the best books of the first half of 2026 in both graphic novels and young adult novels categories. 

It’s been a big year for Nicky Martin (MSLIS '26). After graduating in May, he spent the summer as a junior fellow at the Library of Congress, which ended just in time for him to start a new position at the Claremont Colleges. 

Robert Wedgeworth (MSLIS '61), former University Librarian at Illinois and the iSchool's 1991 Distinguished Alumnus, will deliver the 2026 Windsor Lecture at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 9, online via Zoom. Room 126 in 501 E. Daniel Street will be available for viewing.

Jones' coauthored book, The Future of Memory: A History of Lossless Format Standards in the Moving Image Archive,  was recognized by the Society of American Archivists for its outstanding published work related to archives preservation.

The iSchool Alumni Association (ISAA) is pleased to announce the recipients of its annual awards.

This year, the American Library Association (ALA) celebrates its 150th anniversary in our backyard at its Chicago headquarters. As the oldest iSchool in the Midwest, our MSLIS program, established 133 years ago, has left an indelible mark on the ALA. Some of our alumni paused to reflect on their time at the iSchool and their tenure as leaders in the ALA.

As a teenager helping her mother sort books in the public library in Stellenbosch, South Africa, Lorraine Haricombe (MSLIS '88, PhD '92) didn't realize that one day she would become a recognized leader in the field of librarianship. As director of their hometown library, Haricombe's mother influenced her daughter's career path and instilled in her a love of learning.

iSchool faculty and staff will present their research at the Children's Literature Association (ChLA) annual conference, which will be held from May 28-30 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The theme of this year's conference is "Neighbors and Neighborhoods in Children's Literature, Media, and Culture."

Two iSchool alumni are included in Library Journal's 2026 class of Movers & Shakers, an annual list that recognizes 50 professionals who are moving the library field as a profession. Leah T. Dudak (MSLIS '17) was honored in the Advocates category and Mariella Colon (MSLIS '07) was honored in the Community Builders category.