Teaching Assistant Professor David Hopping has been named director of the iSchool's Workforce Development/Continuing Education Program. Hopping's primary responsibility in this new role will be to develop a strategic vision and framework, which includes defining the curriculum, audience, and modes of delivery. He will also support the recruitment of industry and agency partners and supervise the management of continuing education/nondegree student enrollment.

Ruth Shasteen (CAS '13) has been appointed as school librarian program coordinator after providing interim leadership in this role. Her duties focus on advising students interested in pursuing licensure or endorsement as a school library information specialist and supervising teacher-librarian candidates during their student teaching.

A crossroads for critical inquiry, professional training, and educational outreach, the iSchool’s Center for Children’s Books (CCB) is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. In its dual role as research collection and educational community, the Center has a national impact on the future of reading and readers. The CCB supports its mission by providing space, staff, and other support to affiliates; housing collections and other research tools; and sponsoring outreach, scholarly conferences, and instructional activities. Affiliates include School and University faculty and academic staff, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, and the iSchool’s School Librarian Licensure Program.

The School of Information Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of Clara M. Chu and Jaya Raju as coeditors-in-chief of its quarterly journal Library Trends, effective February 1, 2021. Their extensive editorial experience and unique combination of global, multicultural, and diverse perspectives will advance the journal's reputation as an essential tool for professional librarians and educators.

The iSchool at Illinois seeks nominations for the Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award. The deadline for nominations is March 15, 2021. Given annually, the Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom 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 abridge the freedom of individuals to read or view materials of their choice or to hear or express ideas, the award may be in recognition of a particular action or a long-term interest in and dedication to the cause of intellectual freedom.

Moises Orozco Villicaña, director of enrollment management for the iSchool, has been selected to participate in the University of Illinois System's Professional Staff Leadership Academy (PSLA). Twenty professionals were selected from across the University of Illinois' three campuses for the program, which includes speakers, leadership activities, facility tours, state legislative education, relevant literature reviews, system-wide networking, and a mentor program.

Our School is grateful for talented and dedicated staff, who contribute greatly to our teaching and research excellence. This "Get to Know" series highlights our staff, sharing their friendly faces and stories of professional success. 

This semester, students in the Business Information Group (BIG), the student consultancy group associated with Associate Professor Yoo-Seong Song's Applied Business Research class (IS 514), worked with clients in the areas of facial recognition technology, digital healthcare, telemetry-based marketing automation, cybersecurity, and market entry strategy.

After forty years of service to the iSchool, Associate Professor Terry L. Weech (MS '65, PhD '72) will retire at the end of December. Weech is well known for his teaching and research, his positive influence on students as an advisor and mentor, and his contributions to international librarianship and intellectual freedom.

A new issue of Library Trends highlights the state of digital humanities in China. Digital Humanities and Libraries in China was edited by iSchool Research Affiliate Lian Ruan (PhD '11), head librarian at the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), and Xingye Du, associate research librarian at the National Science Library in China.