NEWS

Information and library science school offers study abroad in Prague, Oxford

Charles University in Prague will be the site of a study abroad course offered June 1-15 by UNC's School of Information and Library Science. Library science professionals and graduate students will hear lectures and take tours related to librarianship in the former communist nation. They also will visit centuries-old libraries that have not been readily accessible to Westerners until recent years.

Nicole Urquhart, a UNC graduate student who participated in the school's first Prague seminar last summer, called Prague "a wonderful city with many beautiful and interesting libraries. It was a pleasure to visit the different institutions, both old and new, and at the same time get to know the city."

A faculty member from the school will oversee the program, which offers three hours of graduate credit. Credit participants must complete a research paper that will be due after the seminar. For information on costs and other details, visit http://ils.unc.edu/ils/continuing_ed/prague or call the school at (919) 962-8366. Registrations are due by March 31.

The school also will offer its 11th annual seminar "Libraries and Librarianship: Past, Present and Future" at England's Oxford University. Participants will study the history and chart the future of information and library services at Oxford’s Bodleian Library, one of the world's greatest research centers, from May 18-31. This seminar also is available for three hours of graduate credit.

Information on the Oxford seminar is available at http://ils.unc.edu/ils/continuing_ed/oxford/. Space is limited; early registration is encouraged. For more information on that seminar, contact the school at (919) 962-8366 or oxford@ils.unc.edu.

Besides preparing students for careers in library administration, acquisitions, collections management, cataloging and other aspects of library research and practice, the UNC school readies students for work as database administrators, system administrators and web programmers.

The school offers master's degrees in information science and library science, a certificate of advanced study, a doctorate in information and library science, an undergraduate minor in information systems and a major in information science.

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Grant to pay tuition for two in information and library science

UNC’s School of Information and Library Science has received $6,024 from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that will aid two full-time students working toward their master’s degrees. The one-time award will cover the students' tuition for one academic year.

"Library staff are key players in providing individuals with free and open access to information," said Craig Arnold, director of the foundation’s U.S. Library Program. "We are proud to be working in partnership with the University of North Carolina to support future library professionals."

In selecting students to receive the grant, school officials will give first priority to those committed to serving a North Carolina public library for at least one year after graduation. The grant is designed to benefit students who are dedicated to improving public library service.

"Support for students is a key factor in attracting the best and brightest to library and information science," said Dr. Joanne Gard Marshall, school dean. "The future of our field, and of citizen access to information, depend on it."

The school is home to approximately 225 master’s degree students, 40 doctoral students, 75 undergraduate minors and 20 full-time faculty members. The school offers master’s degrees in information science and library science, a certificate of advanced study, a doctor of philosophy in information and library science and an undergraduate minor in information systems. A new major in information science began this fall.

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National society names Barreau outstanding teacher of the year

Dr. Deborah Barreau, an assistant professor at UNC’s School of Information and Library Science and a school alumna, was named Outstanding Information Science Teacher for 2002 by the American Society for Information Science and Technology.

Established in 1980, the award is co-sponsored by the society and the Philadelphia-based Institute for Scientific Information. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated sustained excellence in information science instruction. Professional activities and research contributions are also considered.

Barreau is the third faculty member at the school to receive the society's teaching award. Dr. Stephanie Haas, associate professor, won in 1996 and Dr. Barbara M. Wildemuth, professor, in 2000.

Barreau, who came to the school faculty from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., earlier this year, received her master’s of library science degree from UNC in 1986. She specializes in information systems and technology, organizational behavior and digital libraries.

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Contact: David MacDonald, (919) 843-8337, macdonald@ils.unc.edu