The history of any institution is intimately tied to its leadership.  Since its founding the School of Information Sciences has benefited from a class of leaders whose vision has advanced and shaped the mission of the school.  This coming Wednesday (April 7) SIS is hosting a lecture delivered by Ann Prentice, the 2nd Director of the School who served from 1978 to 1988. Please come to this important event and join us for discussion and delicious hors d’oeuvres at the reception to honor Dr. Prentice just prior to her lecture.  See details below.

Ed Cortez

SIS Director

The School of Information Sciences invites you to hear Dr. Ann Prentice speak on “The Public Library in the Twenty First Century” on Wednesday, April 7, from 12:00 – 1:00 pm, in the UTK Communications Building, Scripps Convergence Lab, Room 402. A reception will be held beforehand from 11:30 – 12:00.

Dr. Prentice possesses a unique insight into librarianship, its mission of serving all peoples, and its multiple contributions to the societal fabric. This lecture will take an honest look at all aspects of the information revolution and provide insight into how libraries play a keystone role in this change.

Professor Prentice is a Professor Emerita and former Dean of the College of Information Studies at the University of Maryland. She was Director of the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences (now SIS) in 1978 and served as Director until 1988.

Next year, in 2011, the School will celebrate 40 years as an ALA-accredited program, and this lecture will be the first in a series that looks back to honor the school’s directors. Each of the former, living directors, hired as a result of a national search, will be invited to present at a research forum over the next two years. The roster of SIS directors is listed below.*

This talk is free and open to the public. SIS will host a reception with delicious hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and desserts from 11:30-12:00. This lecture will also be webcast at http://160.36.161.128/UTK/Viewer/?peid=7f204a637e3f4421808ebb87a2c65aa5

What: SIS Research Forum with Professor Dr. Ann Prentice

When: Wednesday, April 7, from 12:00 – 1:00 pm; Reception from 11:30 – 12:00

Where: UTK Communications Building, Scripps Convergence Lab, Room 402.      

Title: The Public Library in the Twenty First Century

Abstract:

Since its 18th Century beginnings, the public library has served the community by providing a path to education and cultural improvement. It has provided educational opportunities to an ever changing workforce, has served as a cultural bridge to the many waves of immigrants, has been a source of great joy to children, and has had an important role in creating and building community.

While the purpose of the public library has not changed, the tools provided by the information revolution have greatly expanded how the public library can fulfill its purpose. From online reference services to websites and social networking, the public library is at the forefront of the information revolution. And its door is open to everyone in the community who wishes to be a part of today’s world. In this presentation, I will discuss a number of the ways in which the public library has successfully entered the Twenty First Century with its values intact.

Brief Bio:

Ann E. Prentice was named Director of UT’s Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences (now SIS) in 1978 and served as Director until 1988. After leaving UT, she became the Associate Vice President for Information Services at the University of South Florida. In 1993 she became Dean of the College of Information Studies at Maryland’s iSchool, the University of Maryland until 2001; concurrently, from 1994 to 1998, she was Acting Assistant Vice President for Information where technical departments, including Academic Computing, Administrative Computing, and Data Administration, reported to her. She retired in 2001 as Professor Emerita.

Dr. Prentice is the author of Managing in the Information Age, which she uses in an online management course that she developed and teaches at the iSchool at Maryland. She also teaches a leadership course that she designed, and a seminar in public libraries. She is currently completing a book, titled The Public Library in the Twenty-first Century.

While at UT, Dr. Prentice developed research connections with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which set the stage for the school’s long-term relationship with the lab, beginning with numerous opportunities with students. She also supported Dr. Pemberton’s efforts to launch the university’s Records Management Office, and she hired Gerri Littlejohn as office manager. Dr. Prentice holds a Doctorate in Library and Information Sciences from Columbia University, and a BA in Political Science from the University of Rochester.

* Directors of the School of Information Sciences include:

1971       Gary Purcell is named director of the independent Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS).

1978       Ann Prentice is named director of GSLIS

1992       Jose Marie Griffiths is named director of GSLIS

1999       Elizabeth Aversa is named director of SIS

2005       Edwin Cortez is named director SIS

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Joel Southern
Communications Specialist
School of Information Sciences
College of Communication and Information
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
1345 Circle Park Drive, Suite 451
Knoxville, TN 37996-0341
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(865) 974-6727
jsouthern at utk dot edu
www.sis.utk.edu