Wayne State will be well represented at the ALISE (Association for Library and Information Science Education) 2020 Annual Conference. Originally planned to take place in Pittsburgh, the conference will be held virtually from October 13-23. Attendees will explore the interconnected world of library and information sciences, archives, knowledge management, information management, media studies, informatics, data science, computer science and communications. 

School of Information Sciences professor Stephen Bajjaly is the 2019-2020 president of ALISE. He said that although the unexpected change of the conference from in-person to online was challenging, a remote conference presents many opportunities for engagement that are not possible at a place-based conference.
 

“It has been a privilege and a highlight of my career to serve as ALISE president this year. Despite all the upheavals due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we still managed to achieve the important objectives we set a year ago and look forward to an informative, exciting, first-ever virtual conference over the next two weeks,” Bajjaly said. “Who knew when we began strategizing eighteen months ago that this year’s theme, ‘Transforming LIS Education in an Interconnected World,’ would prove so prescient? This year’s conference recognizes that library and information science education continues to be transformed by technological advances, international trends, and expanded interconnectedness, both local and global.”

Wayne State’s School of Information Sciences is sponsoring the conference’s keynote address by Dr. William Alba, assistant dean for diversity in the Carnegie Mellon University College of Science.

“Dr. Alba will address one of today’s most important information challenges. His speech, ‘Truth and Trust in 2020,’ focuses on the myriad obstacles we must overcome when trust in experts is eroded and opinion is conflated with truth,” said Bajjaly.

Activities, Presentations and Posters

Professor Stephen Bajjaly will present “Preparing Emerging Professionals: Whether and How LIS Faculty Teach Soft Skills” with Laura Saunders from Simmons University on Tuesday, October 20.

Associate Professor Deborah Charbonneau is a member of the panel that will present “Crisis Management, COVID-19, and Libraries: Implications for LIS Education” on Tuesday, October 20.

Chabonneau also will present the 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.

Additionally, Charbonneau served as a committee member for the ALISE Wynar Research Paper Competition and will serve as chair for 2020-2021. She also has been selected as chair of the the newly formed ALISE Health Special Interest Group (SIG), which she helped to establish. The inaugural meeting for the Health SIG will take place on Wednesday, October 14. 

Professor Diane Walster, as a member of the Information Policy special interest group, will present “The Intersection of Information Ethics and Policy: Challenges and Opportunities for LIS Educators” on Thursday, October 15.  

Assistant Professor Christine D’Arpa is a member of the panel that will present “Connecting Rural Public Libraries to LIS Education and Research: The Case of Health Services, Programs, and Partnerships” on Tuesday, October 20. The interactive panel discussion will draw interconnections around the themes of public libraries, rural health, and community engagement.

D’Arpa will also present “Student Contributions to Research on Rural and Small Public Libraries” with graduate research assistant Ginny Schneider and colleagues from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and the University of Oklahoma. The paper discusses the role and contributions of master’s students as members of the research team on an IMLS-funded research project on health and wellness programming in rural and small libraries.

Schneider will also present the related Works in Progress poster “Remote Research and Online Coursework: Complementary Experiences Prove Valuable for Graduate Students” with fellow student research assistants Rebecca Floyd from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and Abigail Rose from the University of Oklahoma.

Tom Walker, associate dean and professor of Wayne State’s School of Information Sciences, is chair of the ALISE Tellers Committee. Associate Professor Deborah Charbonneau and Assistant Professor Timothy Bowman are also members. Committee members are appointed from the president’s home institution.  

Visit alise.org for more information.