College of Information and Communications

2018 News Archive

The right information

Things have been falling neatly into place for Charles Rodriquez in the past 18 months — he started working on a bachelor’s degree in information studies at the University of South Carolina and completed an internship earlier this fall that has paved the way for a new job he’ll begin after graduation in December.

A legacy to crow about

From Captain Book to Mrs. Claus, Helen Fellers had a festive costume — and a stack of recommended reading — for nearly every occasion. Like the children's books she shared through her "Reading Rooster Recommends" videos, Fellers' legacy was "something to crow about." The longtime literacy advocate passed away on Dec. 15.

Sarah Keeling: Showing up for racial justice

On the wall behind Dr. Sarah Keeling's desk, among an assortment of calendars and pictures, hang the words "Jobs Peace & Equality." The display shouldn't come as a surprise for those who know her.

An innovator in information science

At USC, Ehsan Mohammadi is producing groundbreaking research and bringing new ideas to the School of Library and Information Science. But it was the journey that brought him here and made him the robust researcher and diversity-minded teacher that he is today.

From classmates to coworkers

When they’re not working together as library media specialists at Westwood High School, Marti Brown and Kathy Carroll are serving together as two of the newest members of the CIC’s Alumni Council.

Information science students present undergraduate research

Fourteen undergraduate students presented their research and internship experiences to judges who are currently working in the field. This year’s posters covered topics ranging from anxiety in college students to attitudes about autonomous aircrafts.

SLIS student to go behind the scenes at the ALA Annual Conference

When MLIS student Sarah Hodierne travels to Washington, D.C., next summer, it won’t just be to see the nation’s capital — she’ll also be working at the American Library Association’s annual conference as part of an exclusive student program.

Collaboration leads to global conversation

Since its publication in 2012, Dr. David Lankes’ book, “Expect More: Demanding Better Libraries for Today’s Complex World,” has been translated into Portuguese and German. Now, thanks to a dedicated team of volunteer translators, French speakers can enjoy it, too.

SLIS adds new informatics minor

What is informatics? Beginning in the 2019-2020 academic year, it will be the newest minor offered by the School of Library and Information Science. Informatics replaces the pre-existing information science minor and will give students a more flexible way to learn how information works.

SLIS students speak at national conference

The HBCU Library Alliance Conference offered three students — Patrice Green, Jocelyn Pettigrew and Ashley Silvera — the opportunity to network with professionals in the field and speak in front of all the attendees.

SLIS student interns at the Library of Congress

This summer, Patrice Green was able to explore potential careers through one of the most prestigious internships in the country. Green was one of 40 students selected from across the country to spend their summer working within the walls of the Library of Congress as part of the library's junior fellowship program.

Faculty Focus: Amir Karami

With a mind for business and research but a heart for teaching, Dr. Amir Karami has found a job that allows him to tap into all of his interests — and his work is influencing how researchers are exploring big data to make even bigger discoveries.

Bryan's donations provide opportunities for current students

Jack Bryan credits his degree from the then-College of Librarianship for making his long career in public service possible and hopes that by giving back he can empower others to do the same.

SLIS professors receive highly competitive grants

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded Vanessa Kitzie and Jennifer Arns, faculty in the School of Library and Information Science, grants for research focused on public libraries and their effect on local communities.

Father and son: A freshman steps up to help his dad

David Lankes, director of the university’s School of Library and Information Science, was diagnosed this past fall with lymphoma, his third bout with the cancer of the immune system. Help is on the way in the form of a bone marrow transplant from his son Riley, a freshman at Carolina.

Connecting people and information

People become empowered when they have an understanding of information. That idea is what drove Dr. Elise Lewis to become an information science professor. Now, she's recruiting the next generation of data analysts and information architects.

Alumna Susan Elofson reflects on lessons learned

During her time in the MLIS program, Susan (Altman) Elofson says the lessons she learned from her internships, professors and classmates helped prepare her for her current job as school librarian at Eau Claire High School. Read more about her experience at SLIS and how she’s making a difference in her students’ lives.

Student Spotlight: Nick Vera

Nick Vera is a first-year Ph.D. student in the School of Library and Information Science at the College of Information and Communications. Learn more about Nick and his experience in SLIS.

Faculty Focus: Dick Kawooya

How do laws influence access to information? Do they enhance knowledge creation or limit it? Can legal interpretation create information barriers for specific groups or populations? These are questions that Dr. Dick Kawooya explores in his research.

Lecture explores public trust in libraries, journalism

How is trust in media evolving, and is that trend spreading into the public’s perception of libraries? Lee Rainie with Pew Research Center shared research on these questions and others at the Deans' and Directors' Lecture.

Putting theory into practice

While some classes test students’ progress with exams, undergraduate students in this course had the chance to showcase everything they learned in the spring semester by developing real-world implementation plans for local businesses and nonprofits.

Pew Research Center speaker to deliver annual lecture

What does current research tell us about public trust in libraries and news organizations? Lee Rainie from Pew Research Center will explore that question and others in the 2018 Deans’ and Directors’ Lecture on April 26.

Libraries evolving with times

“Nostalgia is the biggest enemy of libraries today,” says Dr. David Lankes. In this interview with Columbia Business Monthly, he discusses the shift in identity and the challenges libraries face as they try to tailor their services to individual communities.

Alumni Spotlight: Ashley Stevens

Ashley Stevens, MLIS ’11, manages the emerging archival program at the Historic Ford Estates in Michigan. Read about how her degree from the CIC equipped her to preserve collections from one of America’s most famous industrialists.

Faculty Focus: Lucy Santos Green

Dr. Lucy Santos Green's enthusiasm for helping students started during her career as a music teacher in the '90s. Students who were failing classes lost their eligibility to participate in after-school choir activities -- a rule that meant Green was often left hanging when it came to choir competitions.

Building a stronger community through reading

A collaborative effort between the College of Education and the South Carolina Center for Children’s Books and Literacy, housed in the College of Information and Communications, is helping one community unify its literacy efforts.

Going global: SLIS connects through the Knowledge School

For those in the School of Library and Information Science at USC, libraries are not buildings with books — they're communities with the power to connect the world.

SLIS launches Library Scholar Program

The College of Information and Communications and Charleston County School District have established the first cohort in the School of Library and Information Science’s Library Scholar Program. The partnership will work to educate and prepare new school librarians for the district.

WeReadSC

A $100,000 grant from the Hearst Foundations is paving the way for the college to enhance literacy throughout South Carolina through WeReadSC.

Alumni Spotlight: Ron Stafford

Ron Stafford may be a recent alumnus, but he’s already applying the lessons he learned at SLIS in his work as a digitization technician. Read more about how Ron’s passion for preservation and information access is making a difference in his community.

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