Facebook-USF SLIS East Coast Students

Incoming student, Bianca Roig, has set up a Facebook group page for USF SLIS East Coast Program students for the purpose of connect, sharing resources, and getting to know each other. Anyone interested in joining should go to this link at Facebook and register.

Carrie Hurst: "This is not my library, it's the community's library."

In March of 2008, the Seminole Heights Branch Public Library, and the community it serves, were pleased to welcome Carrie Hurst as the new Librarian. Ms. Hurst came to the Seminole Heights Branch from the Robert W. Saunders Library in Ybor City, where she attained the position of Branch Supervisor. Previous to that, she served at the Seventy-Eighth Street Library in Palm River.

"This is not my library, it's the community's library."
-Carrie Hurst.

Carrie Hurst graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. Leo College with a Baccalaureate Degree in Sociology. In 2000, at the University of South Florida, she was awarded a Masters' Degree with honors in Library and Information Science. Read more about Ms. Hurst's work at the Seminole Heights Branch Public Library as posted at the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association website:

"Under her leadership Seminole Heights will also have a window on the latest advances in technology; the latest in developments in, and access to, an unprecedented data-stream of information".

Access to Musical Diversity - 3rd IMC World Forum on Music

Dr. Scott Simon has been invited to give a presentation at the 3rd Annual International Music Council's World Forum on Music in Tunis, Tunisia Oct. 17th - 22nd. He will be discussing the challenges and opportunities that libraries face adapting to digital music production and distribution.

The International Music Council (IMC) is a global network of expert organizations and individuals working in the field of music. Founded in 1949 by UNESCO, IMC is mandated to promote musical diversity and support cultural rights for all.
IMC Link
SS

Orientation Held for East Coast Students

On Saturday, 25 July 2009, an orientation was held for in-coming East Coast students at the Broward County Main Library. During the morning session, the students were introduced to the school, OASIS, and BlackBoard by current East Coast student Fran Collins and faculty members Diane Austin and Maria Treadwell. The afternoon session was a writing workshop conducted by Larry Treadwell, College Board Consultant and teacher.

USF-SLIS Accreditation Announcements Go Out Everywhere

From ALA: For Immediate Release
July 21, 2009
COA announces accreditation actions
CHICAGO -The Committee on Accreditation (COA) of the American Library Association (ALA) has announced accreditation actions taken at the 2009 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.

Continued accreditation status was granted to the following programs:
* Master of Arts in Library and Information Science offered by the University of Iowa.
* Master of Arts in Library and Information Science offered by the University of South Florida.
* Master of Science in Information Science offered by the University of Tennessee.

The next comprehensive review visit at each institution is scheduled to occur in 2016.

See announcement at July 22, 2009 edition of ALA Direct.

Professor Vicki L. Gregory is Chair of the Committee on Accreditation

Vicki L. Gregory, SLIS Professor, has been appointed new Chair of the American Library Association's Committee on Accreditation (COA). Dr. Vicki L. Gregory Dr. Gregory has served as a member of COA for the past two years and assumed her new role at the close of the ALA Conference in Chicago. In addition to the annual oversight of the LIS programs and the accreditation work itself; COA is also responsible for revising the Standards on a 5-year cycle.

Recently, Professor Gregory attended the ALA Executive Board Meeting in Chicago along with Rick Rubin, the past Chair of COA, Donna Shannon, Chair of the COA Standards Subcommittee, and Karen O'Brien, Director of the Office for Accreditation, to discuss the COA response to the [pdf here:] Report of the Presidential Task Force on Library Education. Concerns from the report as well as the core competencies passed by the ALA Council and Executive Board will be taken into account as part of the process of the next revision of the Standards.

Dr. Gregory is looking forward to her new role even though any member of COA is blessed with an estimated month's worth of accreditation work each year that they serve. The Chair can, of course, expect more.

Florida Library Jobs

FLORIDA LIBRARY JOBS provides a searchable listing of job openings for library positions in Florida libraries that require a graduate degree from an ALA-accredited program. It also includes a resume posting service for persons with a Master's degree from an ALA-accredited program seeking positions in Florida's libraries.

SLIS Receives Full Accreditation from American Library Association

Dr. James Andrews, SLIS Director and Dean Eric Eisenberg, College of Arts and Sciences met with the Committee on Accreditation (COA) of the American Library Association on July 12, 2009 to make a presentation prior to the COA's decision on the School's accreditation status. On July 13, 2009 the COA informed Dr. Andrews that the School has been reaccredited for the full seven years. For details on the process see here.

The USF/SLIS faculty, staff and students began the final stretch of the accreditation process on May 6, 2009 working to respond to the External Panel Report during May and June. The 2 month process included Planning at Poynter Library on May 27, 2009.

Dr. Stephanie Maatta and colleagues receive The Diversity Research Grant

Dr. Stephanie Maatta and her colleagues Laurie J. Bonnici, and Ms. Muriel K. Wells of University of Alabama had their proposal selected as one of three projects to receive funding from the ALA Office for Diversity.

The proposal, "ICT Readiness Index: Measuring the preparedness of libraries to serve patrons with disabilities in the context of economic challenge", received the Diversity Research Grant. The Grant provides $2,000 for original research and a $500 travel grant to attend and present at the 2010 ALA Annual Conference in Washington DC.

Congratulations and good luck to Dr. Maatta and her colleagues for their further research.

SLIS Spectrum Scholars

The University of South Florida is proud to announce two Spectrum Scholars recipients and incoming students; Shalu Gillum awarded the Medical Library Association / National Library of Medicine (MLA/NLM) Spectrum, and Alicia K. Long.

Established in 1997, the Spectrum program funds scholarships through the initial endowment and the generous contributions of individuals and organizations. For 2009, scholarships have been awarded in honor of the following individuals: Leo Albert, Louise Giles, William R. Gordon, Howard M. and Gladys B. Teeple and Dr. Betty J. Turock.

In 2005, the Medical Library Association/National Library of Medicine (MLA/NLM) funds two scholarships a year through 2010. The MLA/NLM Spectrum supports students of color interested in the field of medical or health sciences librarianship.

For more information on Spectrum, please contact the Office for Diversity at 1 (800) 545-2433 ext. 5048 or visit www.ala.org/spectrum.

USF SLIS at ALA 2009

Please join USF faculty and alumni at the ALISE Cooperative Library and
Information Studies Alumni Reunion on Sunday, July 12 2009, 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm at the Westin River North, 320 N. Dearborn St., Grand Ballroom, Chicago, IL.

Also at ALA (more to come!):