Category: News

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Faculty Positions: Seeking Geeks with Social Skills

img_0857Today we’re announcing a search for four new faculty positions at the University of South Carolina School of Library and Information Science (posts to follow). We are looking for three tenure track faculty and one instructor to be part of a growing program. The searches represent a continued commitment to librarianship and the School of Library and Information Science’s well-deserved reputation in youth services, school libraries, and doctoral study. However, these searches also represent a new strategy to ensure the values of librarianship (openness, learning, intellectual freedom & security, and intellectual honesty) spread throughout society.

We are looking to grow our undergraduate program in information science. In essence we are actively seeking geeks with social skills-in this case geeks being passionate people and social being social science. The future of librarianship depends not only in preparing leaders within libraries, but also in preparing the CIOs, mayors, principals, and trustees that will hire/manage/support tomorrow’s librarians. This means preparing, through undergraduate degrees and minors, information professionals that can sit at the intersection of technology, strategy, and people. These information scientists will bring a set of skills to this crucial intersection, as well as bringing values, ethics, and a mission based on improving society.

We are looking for diverse perspectives that represent the skills our students need, and the communities these future alumni will serve. Rather than seeking to solely train future librarians, we want to produce leaders and visionaries that will work with librarians and technologists, bankers and NGOs, entrepreneurs and activists to make real positive change in our communities.

Over the next several weeks and months, I will be announcing forums where the faculty, staff, and students of the University of South Carolina will be forging a school of thought around knowledge and impact. We are beginning a field-wide conversation on what comes after library schools and information schools: knowledge schools focused on impact and improving society.

All are invited to participate in this conversation, but right now I am looking for scholars (and yes, geeks of the highest order) that can help forge this new school of thought. You will be joining a dedicated corps of scholars, staff, and students with a history of seeking to change the world – through reading and data science; through maker spaces and image archives; through metadata and intellectual property; through graphic novels and knowledge management – not simply document it. You will be part of a growing program, at a growing university dedicated to crafting higher education for today and tomorrow.

[Be aware it may take the official university a couple of days to post the job and application information]

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Expect More at ALA Annual

We’re putting together a working session for folks interested in crafting messages, materials, and projects to promote librarians to the general public. We are doing an increasingly good job getting the word out about libraries growing relevancy and community focus, but folks need to know this is a result of librarians and library staff.

Please consider joining us in Orlando and sharing your ideas. Information below:

 

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The New Librarianship Field Guide Now Available

This week I’m posting on my new book, The New Librarianship Field Guide. I’ll be talking about what’s in it, but also how it fits with other work like the Atlas of New Librarianship. MIT Press is shipping these now, and Amazon is taking pre-orders with availability starting the week of May 20th.

To kick us off, here is the information from MIT Press’ Catalog.

The New Librarianship Field Guide

By R. David Lankes

CoverOverview

This book offers a guide for librarians who see their profession as a chance to make a positive difference in their communities—librarians who recognize that it is no longer enough to stand behind a desk waiting to serve. R. David Lankes, author of The Atlas of New Librarianship, reminds librarians of their mission: to improve society by facilitating knowledge creation in their communities. In this book, he provides tools, arguments, resources, and ideas for fulfilling this mission. Librarians will be prepared to become radical positive change agents in their communities, and other readers will learn to understand libraries in a new way.

The librarians of Ferguson, Missouri, famously became positive change agents in August 2014 when they opened library doors when schools were closed because of civil unrest after the shooting of an unarmed teen by police. Working with other local organizations, they provided children and their parents a space for learning, lunch, and peace. But other libraries serve other communities—students, faculty, scholars, law firms—in other ways. All libraries are about community, writes Lankes; that is just librarianship.

In concise chapters, Lankes addresses the mission of libraries and explains what constitutes a library. He offers practical advice for librarian training; provides teaching notes for each chapter; and answers “Frequently Argued Questions” about the new librarianship.

About the Author

R. David Lankes is Professor and Dean’s Scholar for New Librarianship in Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies.

“David Lankes continues to be a crucial voice in support of libraries as they evolve during tumultuous times. The New Librarianship Field Guide is an invaluable resource for all who care about libraries—and for anyone who wants to help build a bright future for knowledge and democracies in a digital era.”
—John Palfrey, Head of School, Phillips Academy, and author of BiblioTech: Why Libraries Matter More than Ever in the Age of Google

“Libraries + librarians = community: Lankes makes the case and shows his work. He offers a well-structured argument for where libraries in this century need to be going, and how librarians can get them there, answering the question ‘Where in the hell is librarianship going anyhow?’ with charm and grace. Lankes’s invigorating and challenging ideas will help new and existing librarians find their purpose and achieve positive change.”
—Jessamyn West, community technology librarian, Open Library and librarian.net

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Lankes to join the University of South Carolina’s School of Library and Information Science as Director

SLISI am very pleased to announce that I will be joining the University of South Carolina’s School of Library and Information Science as director and associate dean in the College of Information and Communications. My appointment will take effect July 1, 2016 subject to the university’s approval process.

I make this move with a great deal of excitement, and a healthy dose of sadness. I have been affiliated with SU for nearly 28 years in one capacity or another but now is the time for me to apply what I have learned in a new environment.

While there will be more details to follow, I did want to say that it has been the greatest honor and privilege to be part of the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University. I also want to extend my thanks to the faculty, staff, and students at SLIS and the College of Information and Communications who have been so welcoming and supportive.

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New Servers

For a few behind the scene reasons I have moved my website to a new host. With any luck you didn’t notice.

The site now uses DavidLankes.org for all the URLs, rather than just redirecting to quartz.syr.edu which traces (at least the name) back about a decade to the GEM project. So please update your links.

At this point I think everything has made the move or soon will. Please let me know if you run into any dead links or URLs that point to nowhere. As a nice side benefit I fixed the links to presentations I’ve made before 2008…because I know you were clambering for my thoughts from a decade ago.

A BIG special thank you to Ryan Drescher and James Powell for providing the technical back up, and the whole iSchool tech team under Roger Merrill for all the hosting support int he past.

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Changing Servers

Over the weekend and the next week I will be working on moving my site from it’s current server to a new hosted set up. That will involve changing URLs.

If all goes well everything will automatically redirect to the new site, but for future reference (when all is done) current URLs that point to quartz.yr.edu will soon be replaced with davidlankes.org

Also for this weekend the url http://DavidLankes.org will be a bit spotty.

I’ll post updates as I go.

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ALA Press Release on Haycock Award

Here is the official press release on the Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship. Thanks to Teri Switzer for her very kind words:

For Immediate Release
Mon, 01/25/2016

Contact:

Cheryl Malden
Program Officer
Governance
312-280-3247
[email protected]

CHICAGO — Dr. R. David Lankes, professor and Dean’s Scholar for New Librarianship at Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies and 2016-2017 Follett Chair in Library and Information Sciences at Dominican University Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Chicago, has been selected to receive the 2016 American Library Association Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship. This prestigious honor is given annually to an individual for a “significant contribution to the public recognition and appreciation of librarianship through professional performance, teaching, and/or writing.”

“It is a privilege and an honor that the Award Jury recognizes Dr. Lankes for his distinguished achievements in the field of Library and Information Science over a career of more than 20 years,” said Teri R. Switzer, chair of the Ken Haycock Award Committee and dean and professor emerita at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. “David has spent the majority of his career advancing librarianship and making us all think about our profession in different ways. David’s commitment to the profession is clearly evident in his teaching, his presentations, his writings, and his service.”

Lankes holds a Ph.D. from Syracuse University, School of Information Studies, and an MS in Telecommunications, also from Syracuse University. In addition to being a faculty member at Syracuse University, Dr. Lankes has also served as a visiting fellow at the National Library of Canada, an adjunct instructor for the OCLC Institute, a visiting scholar at Harvard University’s School of Education, and was the first OITP Fellow at the ALA’s Office of Information Technology Policy. Dr. Lankes’ professional successes, publications, grants and service achievements all support his receiving this award.

As noted in the nomination submitted on his behalf, supporters mentioned, in particular, his 2011 The Atlas of New Librarianship and his leadership of the I LEAD U, a three-year continuing education initiative that addresses the need to expand librarians’ leadership abilities to use technology to effectively engage their libraries’ constituents, as only two of the several librarianship projects in which he has been actively engaged. One supporter stated, “ His presentations, teachings, curriculum development, and writings supporting the growth and development of our esteemed profession not only address technologies and infrastructure, but also re-articulate the core role of librarians in the learning process. In today’s world of databases, electronic resources, intellectual property concerns, digital rights management, and efforts of cross border cooperation, it is easy to lose sight of the vision and motivating principles that drew many of us to the profession. David steadfastly draws his readers and listeners back to the core.” Another letter summed up Lankes’ broad achievements by saying, “Having worked with him in various settings, I see the many ways he has taught, inspired, and challenged librarians – those still in their graduate programs, those new in the profession, and those who have been in the profession a long time – all have benefitted from David’s unparalleled methods of teaching and inspiring us al to greatness.”

Members of the Ken Haycock Award Jury are: Nancy Bolt, Nancy M. Bolt & Associates, Denver, Colorado; Nicolas H. Buron, Dorothy M. Persson, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; Thomas T. Suprenant, Queens College, Graduate School of Library & Information Studies, Flushing, New York; and Teri R. Switzer, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

The Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship will be presented to David Lankes at the ALA Award Ceremony and Reception on Sunday, June 26,, during the Annual Conference in Orlando.

The deadline for submission of applications for the 2017 Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship is Dec. 1, 2016. Guidelines and application forms are available on the ALA website.

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Lankes Receives 2016 Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship

ALA-MGwebI am very proud to announce that I have received the 2016 Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship from the American Library Association. From ALA’s award page:

The Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship was established in 2004 and recognizes an individual who has contributed significantly to the public recognition and appreciation of librarianship through professional performance, teaching or writing. Former award recipients include Nancy Kranich (2015), former ALA president; Wendy Newman (2011), former Canadian Library Association president; Michael Gorman (2010), former American Library Association president; and Mary Dempsey (2007), former Chicago library commissioner.

That is some humbling company. My thanks go out to the award committee and those who nominated me. Also a special thank you to Ken Haycock who will always be one the profession’s greatest champions.

Award Home Page

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Lankes Named Follett Chair in Library and Information Science

Dr. R. David Lankes, professor, Dean’s Scholar for the New Librarianship at Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies has accepted appointment as the holder of the 2016-17 Follett Chair in Library and Information Science. This prestigious appointment is the highest academic honor bestowed by Dominican University’s Graduate School of Library and Information Science upon a master researcher and scholar who has achieved renown in the profession. The Follett Chair is selected annually for his or her outstanding teaching ability and superior scholarly achievement.

Lankes is the author of The Atlas of New Librarianship and Expect More (among many other publications), and is a strong advocate for innovation and excellence in twenty-first century libraries. Lankes has done research for the National Science Foundation, the Institute for Museum and Library Services, The U.S. Department of Education, The U.S. Department of Defense, The American Library Association, and the MacArthur Foundation among others. He has held positions as a visiting scholar at Harvard University’s School of Education, a visiting fellow at the National Library of Canada, and was named the first fellow at the American Library Association’s Office for Information Technology Policy. He earned B.F.A., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from Syracuse University.

“I am excited about the timing of bringing Dr. Lankes to GSLIS at a time of growth and innovation while we continue to celebrate and enhance our commitment to the core principles and values of librarianship,” says GSLIS Dean Kate Marek. “David Lankes will continue the tradition of enhanced excellence and visibility the Follett Chair brings to GSLIS.” Lankes adds, “I can’t wait to work with the outstanding faculty, students, and staff at Dominican. There is so much power and potential in the Chicago area, and so many open partners to work with across librarianship.”

As Follett Chair, Lankes plans to focus on “New Librarianship @ Dominican,” which will feature a year-long program of activities designed to serve librarians and library science students of the Chicago region, reinforce Dominican’s dedication to librarianship in the midst of an expanded information environment, and advise GSLIS as the school and its programs evolve to accommodate and lead in such an environment. A cornerstone of the planned activities includes coursework that will connect GSLIS students with practitioners in teams across the Chicagoland area, in all types of libraries and information settings. Dr. Lankes will also present the 2017 Follett Lecture, which will take place in the spring semester of the 2016-17 academic year.

About GSLIS

Dominican University’s GSLIS is distinguished by innovative practice and research and has been educating future library leaders and information professionals since the 1930s. The school offers an American Library Association–accredited master’s degree in library and information science, a master of professional studies degree, specialized certificates, and a doctoral degree in library and information science.

About Follett

Follett Corporation is more than 10,000 talented and dedicated associates who strive day in and day out to simplify the delivery of education for customers everywhere by anticipating their needs and then delivering solutions that their expectations. For more than 135 years, Follett has been helping to improve people’s lives by supporting a lifetime of learning and education. Through dedication to serving every path and level of learning, we touch the lives of millions of students ranging from adults taking classes on college campuses and in cyberspace to grade school children surfing the Internet in their school library.

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IMLS Funds Community Profile System

16826031270_745f4698b7_oWe’re aiming to take “The Community is the Collection” from slogan to reality with a new National Leadership Grant from IMLS.

Co-PIs: Yun Huang, R. David Lankes, Jian Qin

Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies (iSchool) is partnering with Coulter Library at Onondaga Community College (OCC) and Fayetteville Free Library (FFL – an Onondaga county public library) to respond to the National Leadership Grants for Libraries (NLG) Program, addressing IMLS’s Learning Spaces in Libraries priority. This project can best be summarized as: the community is the collection. We propose to design a Community Profile System to expand library collections to include human expertise, particularly in the STEM fields. This system will enable librarians to collect communities’ learning needs, identify relevant community experts, and link the resources to serve the learning needs in a cost-efficient manner. This 3-year project will accomplish four activities: 1) assess community members’ learning needs and identify community experts’ interests and their availability in participating different libraries’ services through survey and interview studies; 2) build data models that capture the various needs and dynamic people resources as collection; 3) develop a workflow by identifying librarians’ roles in data collection, organization, and validation; 4) prototype and implement the system with user interactions and privacy protection features, as well as evaluate the system prototype via a system pilot study and diverse test cases.

Link to IMLS Announcement