The iSchool has introduced a new course for undergraduate students who are interested in gaming. Social History of Games & Gaming (IS 199 SHG) is a survey of the history of gaming from the ancient world through the twentieth century and its impact on science, society, and culture. Taught by Teaching Associate Professor David Dubin, the course fulfills a general education requirement for students majoring in information sciences. It is taught in a lecture and discussion format, engaging students with the material and promoting participation.

Eileen Prillaman joined the iSchool on October 18 as assistant dean for advancement. In her new role, she will lead and manage a comprehensive advancement strategy for the iSchool that includes alumni, friends, corporations, and foundations which is aligned with the School's vision, mission, and goals. She comes to the School from the College of Fine and Applied Arts (FAA) at the University of Illinois, where she served as director of stewardship and donor relations.

The Newbery Medal – the oldest and most prestigious children's literature award – is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

iSchool students learned more about campus and each other at the second annual iSchool Scavenger Hunt. The event, which was held September 3-10, was open to on-campus students in all programs. Students who opted to participate were placed in small groups of peers in the same degree program. Students were given a list of ten campus locations to find, such as the Alma Mater, Morrow Plots, and Main Library. In addition to checking a point of interest off their lists, the students would take a group selfie at the spot.

Nine iSchool instructors were named in the University's List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent for Summer 2021. The rankings are released every semester, and results are based on the Instructor and Course Evaluation System (ICES) questionnaire forms maintained by Measurement and Evaluation in the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. Only those instructors who gave out ICES forms during the semester and who released their data for publication are included in the list.

Kate Quealy-Gainer (MS/LIS '09) has been selected as editor of The Bulletin for Children's Books, one of the nation's leading children's book review journals for school and public librarians. She has over a decade of experience with the publication, starting as a reviewer while a student in the MS in library and information science program.

Associate Professor Jerome ("Jerry") McDonough passed away at his home on September 17 after a long illness. He is survived by his spouse, Associate Professor Lori Kendall, and extended family and many beloved friends and colleagues.

The iSchool at Illinois will host the 2021 ACM/IEEE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries (JCDL), which will be held virtually from September 27-30. JCDL is a major international forum focusing on digital libraries and associated technical, practical, and social issues. The conference will feature paper and poster presentations as well as a wide variety of tutorials and workshops offering hands-on experiences with different digital libraries and online archives.

Forty-seven iSchool instructors were named in the University's List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent for Spring 2021. The rankings are released every semester, and results are based on the Instructor and Course Evaluation System (ICES) questionnaire forms maintained by Measurement and Evaluation in the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. Only those instructors who gave out ICES forms during the semester and who released their data for publication are included in the list.

Our School is grateful for talented and dedicated staff, who contribute greatly to our teaching and research excellence. Today's "Get to Know" highlights Office Administrator Peggy Regan.