Fourteen GSLIS instructors were named to the University’s List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent for Spring 2015.

The GSLIS faculty have selected three scholars to be appointed research fellows from August 2015 to August 2017. GSLIS research fellows are chosen because their work is relevant to the interests of GSLIS faculty and students. Each will give at least one lecture during their appointment. Nominated by Associate Professor Emerita Christine Jenkins and Associate Professor Carol Tilley is Denise…

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…

Susan Kumar (MS ’05) and husband Parameswaran Kumar have made a gift of $25,000 to establish the Taylor Willingham Lecture in Change Management.

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…

Each year, GSLIS recognizes a group of outstanding students for their achievement in academics as well as a number of attributes that contribute to professional success. The following student awards were presented at the GSLIS Convocation on May 17, 2015. Bryce Allen Award for Reference Services Presented to Victoria L. Volckman by Professor and Associate Dean Linda Smith: Victoria L.…

The GSLIS Office of Advancement is happy to announce that the School's first G. Edward Evans Minority Student Scholarship will be awarded for the Fall 2015 semester. Dr. Evans's (PhD '69) goal in making this gift was to facilitate increased enrollment of underrepresented groups in LIS education and the information professions. In addition to making a substantial personal gift to the School,…

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) and GSLIS are pleased to announce a partnership to offer an online graduate-level course on intellectual freedom for library and information science (LIS) students around the country. The course, in its second year, will be taught by GSLIS faculty member Emily Knox and is a project of FTRF’s Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund. “Intellectual Freedom and…

Jack Bernard, associate general counsel with the University of Michigan’s Office of the Vice President and General Counsel, will deliver the Spring 2015 Windsor Lecture at 4:00 p.m. on April 28 in GSLIS Room 126. His lecture is titled, “Yes, Virginia, You Can Digitize Millions of Books: Copyright, HathiTrust, and the Legacy of Libraries.” A reception will be held in the GSLIS east foyer…

GSLIS will offer a Summer Getaway professional development workshop series for school librarians on June 22-24. Workshops will focus on current topics in the field of school librarianship and will offer opportunities to gain hands-on experience using the newest technologies and to connect with like-minded professionals in the field. Participants can register for one, two, or three days. The cost…

Becky Hodson (MS '13) recently returned to her alma mater, joining the GSLIS staff as visiting career services coordinator. In this new role, Hodson works with students to explore potential career paths in LIS, manages the GSLIS Job Board (I-Link), and assists students with navigating experiential learning opportunities such as practicum. Her previous experience includes academic reference…

The Center for Children's Books (CCB) will host the 2015 Storytelling Festival on Saturday, April 4, from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. in the GSLIS building, Room 126. Coordinated this year by CAS student Amy Atkinson and Associate Professor and Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Kate McDowell, the festival will feature both new performers and returning seasoned storytellers, who will share age-old…

Join GSLIS faculty, staff, and students for the following activities during the ACRL 2015 Conference, including our reception on Thursday, March 26, from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront (RSVP by March 20). Please stop by and visit us at Booth 571 as well! Thursday, March 26 Panel Session: Collections, “The Neoliberal in YOUR Library: Resisting Corporate…