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from the desk of
Dr. Aversa

Greetings, LSA Friends, members, and the SLIS community.
Fall semester 2010 has been an eventful term for the School of Library and Information Studies and the support of The Library School Association was instrumental in the success of so many of the School’s endeavors.

  • We have many new people at SLIS this term. Jennifer Campbell Meier (Ph.D., Hawaii - Manoa)and Robert Riter (Ph.D. Candidate, Pittsburgh) have joined the faculty. Retia Boone (A.A., Shelton State) and Monte Faison (B.A. Candidate, MIS major in  CC&BA) are new staff members, and there are more than 100 new students this term (43 online, 8 book arts, and about 60 on campus).

  • Margaret Dalton’s position will be vacated on August 1, 2011 due to her planned retirement. The dean has approved our request to initiate a search and a committee will soon be appointed.

  • There is an ad hoc committee in place, chaired by Steve Miller, to plan for a joint MLIS/MA in Book Arts degree.

  • A Director Search Committee with faculty, staff, college and student representation continues the work of finding a new SLIS director. This committee is chairec by Professor Steve Miller.

  • Beth Riggs assumed a new position in August as Assistant to the Director with a realignment of duties

  • Two new offices have been created in the space formerly known alternately as the "Media Lab" or "the back lab." These offices are needed to provide office and work space with a counter and sink forAnna Embree, book binder, and office and book storage space for Jamie Naidoo who teaches materials and services for children and youth.

  • SLIS is currently built out to capacity and issues of space will need to be addressed in the future, along with codification of learning objectives and a full curriculum review.

  • SLIS is developing a plan for growth in the national online cohort of students from 40 to 60 per year. That means we seek your support in actively recruiting excellent students for the national, regional, on-campus and commuter cohorts.

  • Other initiatives include seeking to increase funded research to over $1,000,000 in value of grants by 2012, increasing the number of students who attend placement workshops, and full participation in the Alabama Center for the Book, which now makes its home at UA.

 As 2010 draws to a close, SLIS wishes you and yours a safe and happy holiday season. We look forward to seeing you in 2011!