The iSchool at Illinois is pleased to announce the open access publication of Library Trends 75 (1) “Cultural Heritage in Crisis.” 

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.

The iSchool is proud to announce the following appointments: Masooda Bashir has been promoted to professor; Madelyn Sanfilippo has been promoted to associate professor with indefinite tenure; John Weible has been promoted to principal lecturer; and Elizabeth Wickes (MSLIS '16) has been promoted to senior lecturer. 

A record number of new faculty will join the iSchool this fall: 13 across ranks and disciplines.

As assistant dean for community, culture, and engagement, Caroline Nappo will help lead and shape the Office of Community, Culture, and Engagement and its team.

Jeanie Chung has joined the Communications and Marketing team as assistant director of communications and content strategy. 

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.

Join the iSchool at the American Library Association (ALA) 2026 Annual Conference and Exhibition on June 25–29 in Chicago, Illinois.

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.