Library and Information Science Education Moves Ahead: SIS Participation in ALISE 2020
In spite of the pandemic's disruption, progress in higher education continues. This year has certainly interfered with the lives of SIS students, staff, and faculty, but fortunately School of Information Sciences faculty have jumped at the chance to participate in the major meeting of library and 
information science educators this October: the 2020 Conference of the Association for Library and Information Science Education.
Held virtually for the first time ever, this conference (ALISE Conference 2020) featured professional and scientific papers, panel discussions, special interest groups for research, teaching and other interests, student research, committee meetings, and high-profile plenary sessions (ALISE Conference Program).
Leading the pack was Prof. Stephen Bajjaly, the President of ALISE, whose organizing skills and guidance were obvious through the entire multi-week event. Presenters and participants included the following faculty: Deborah Charbonneau, Dian Walster, Kafi Kumasi, Christine D'Arpa and Tom Walker. Once again, SIS is proud to have sponsored the Keynote speaker of the entire conference, WIlliam Alba, who spoke about "Truth and Trust in 2020": (ALISE Conference Keynote Speaker). Scanning the contributions of SIS faculty shows some of the ways SIS remains engaged with -- and truly leads -- advances in the field.
Stephen Bajjaly
Professor Bajjaly, the long-time former SIS Associate Dean and Director, completed his year as President of ALISE with his leadership for the conference, which managed to work around the unusually difficult circumstances faced this year by professional and scientific organizations. He also presented research about "Soft Skills" with Laura Saunders of Simmons University. This research partnership has resulted in one publication so far, with two more in the pipeline and three additional research reports based on their gathered data.
Christine D'Arpa
Assistant Professor D'Arpa contributed in three substantial ways.
- Juried Paper: Rubenstein, E., D'Arpa, C., Burke, S.K., Lenstra, N., Rose, A., Schneider, G., and Floyd, R. (2020). "Student Contributions to Research on Rural and Small Public Libraries." The paper discussed the unique opportunity D'Arpa and her colleagues at UNCG and Oklahoma had to share research experience with students through an IMLS funded research project, "Community Health and Wellness: Small and Rural Public Library Practices, Perspectives, and Programs." The students contributed in significant ways as research colleagues (see the previous SIS news story, https://sis.wayne.edu/news/imls-grant-leads-to-facultystudent-collaboration-39282).
- Juried Panel: Adkins, D., Bossaller, J.S., Burke, S.K., D'Arpa, C., Lenstra, N., Mehra, B., & Rubenstein, E. (2020). "Connecting rural public libraries to LIS education and research: The case of health services, programs, and partnerships." The idea for the panel first emerged as a conversation at ALISE 2019 in Knoxville. LIS educators/scholars from five different LIS programs with shared research interests -- public libraries, health and wellness, rural and small communities, and LIS education -- and funding from IMLS saw ALISE 2020 as an important venue to discuss these issues and deepen our understanding. The group meet several times between the two ALISE meetings to discuss their work and how best to engagecolleagues at ALISE 2020 in order to further their research on these critical issues. The panel discussion was rich and resulted in new connections among LIS faculty.
- Works-in-Progress Poster: Floyd, R., Rose, A., Schneider, G. (2020). "Remote Research and Online Coursework: Complementary Experiences Prove Valuable for Graduate Students." The WIP poster by the three graduate students funded by the IMLS grant grew directly out of their work on the grant and spoke to significant issues and opportunities these sorts of opportunities afford students in MS programs in LIS.
Deborah Charbonneau
Associate Professor Charbonneau contributed to a panel that recognizes research and to a panel session about crisis management and presented a work in progress. Additionally, she established and organized a new ALISE Health Special Interest Group.
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Juried Panel: "Crisis Management, COVID-19, and Libraries: Implications for LIS Education."
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Works in Progress Poster: "Health Justice Education in the Time of Coronavirus (COVID-19): A Curriculum Review and Recommendations" with Emily Vardell from the Emporia State University School of Library and Information Management.
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Committee: ALISE Wynar Research Paper Competition (will chair this committee next year).
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Committee: Established and organized the new ALISE Health Special Interest Group (SIG) and served as chair.
Kafi Kumasi
Associate Professor Kumasi attended the conference and benefitted from two sessions of particular importance to her research and teaching. She took advantage of network connections that should be beneficial for SIS and our students, particularly those affected by CAEP accreditation and those who would benefit from a new specialized technology course aimed at future school library media specialists (but open to all graduate students). She also connected with a former mentee, who is now completing her Ph.D. dissertation.
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Youth Services SIG: "What Do Youth Service Librarians Need? Reassessing Goals and Curricula in the Context of Changing Information Needs and Behaviors of Youth" -- Session entitled "School Librarian's Questions About Remote Instruction: Opportunities for LIS Educators."
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School Library SIG: "School Library Media Transforming Learning: Challenges and Opportunities through School Libraries," in which her earlier research was featured: "The library is like her house": Reimagining youth of color in LIS discourses. In Bernier, A. (Ed) Transforming Young Adult Services: A reader for our age (July 2013), pp.103-113.
Dian Walster
Professor Walster appeared on a juried panel that was a combination of the Information Policy and Ethics SIGs. Entitled "The Intersection of Information Ethics and Policy: Challenges and Opportunities for LIS Educators," the panel included Prof. Walster's presentation: "Student Created Scenarios: Teaching Information Policy and Professional Ethics."
Also attending the conference was Tom Walker, SIS Associate Dean and Director. He attended many research sessions, took part in several committee and business meetings, and took part in the Council of Deans, Directors and Chairs.
Scheduled as a live event for the Fall of 2021 in Milwaukee, the conference demonstrated that with significant involvement and organization, the tangible benefits of scholarly/professional communication can continue during trying times. This was admittedly a major conference of the year, but these and other faculty also continue to carry out research, present at other conferences (including international ones), and generally contribute as leading educators and researchers in disciplines represented by the School of Information Sciences. Please contact the faculty directly if you would like more information about their research and professional interests.