Florida State University School of Information Studies 2003-4 Epps Lecture

1. Florida State UniversitySchool of Information Studies2003-4 Epps Lecture Fulfilling Our Destiny From Library to Information School Mike Eisenberg, Dean The Information School University of Washington January 30, 2004

2. Agenda • From There to Here • Trends in higher education • Implications and impact for library and information science • Critical mass and approach • Attributes of schools of information • Overall Attributes • Research • Academic programs • Outreach • Administration • The information school movement and some thoughts about librarianship • Summary and Q & A M. Eisenberg 2004

3. Change • Calvin says, “I thrive on making other people change.” M. Eisenberg 2004

4. Technology M. Eisenberg 2004

5. Technology M. Eisenberg 2004

6. The Traditional Library School • One degree program - professional master’s • Small numbers • students <200 • faculty <10 • staff <5 • budget <$1 million • Low, or even no visibility - on campus and in the broader community • Inadequate space and facilities • Low research profile and funding • Low level of gifts and fund-raising • Core constituency (library field) is often disgruntled and minimally supportive M. Eisenberg 2004

7. The Reality of Higher Education Today • The research imperative: produce or perish. • For academic programs, there is no free lunch. • If not high impact, at least high visibility. • Fund raising – who loves ya, baby? • Big (or at least critical mass) is beautiful. • While not futile it’s still feudal. M. Eisenberg 2004

8. The Result for Library Schools • Closings (although not as many as you might think, particularly in recent years). • Move to one of many departments in a larger unit (e.g., liberal arts). • Merger with another unit (communications, computer science, education) • Expansion, continued independence, success and flourishing! M. Eisenberg 2004

9. FTE Master’s Students in ALA Accredited Programs 18% increase Data Provided By ALA Office of Accreditation, Jan. 2004 M. Eisenberg 2004

10. The Independent Information SchoolCritical Mass • Programs on all levels – bachelors, masters, doctorate • Visibility-on campus & in the broader community; support by the library community • 300-500 students • 15-20 faculty, 5-10 staff • $2-3 million annual budget • $1+ million annually in research funding • $1 million annual fund-raising; permanent endowment includes funded chairs • State-of-the-art facilities and space M. Eisenberg 2004

11. The Independent Information SchoolCritical Understandings and Approaches • Recognize the politics, pressures, and priorities of higher education today. • Embody collaboration (on campus, in the community, and in the field). “Bake more pies.” • Be creative and entrepreneurial. Gain a “can- and will-do” reputation. • Have a clear sense of where you are and where you want to be. • Strive for identity, visibility and brand. M. Eisenberg 2004

12. Agenda • From There to Here • Trends in higher education • Implications and impact for library and information science • Critical mass and approach • Attributes of schools of information • Overall Attributes • Research • Academic programs • Outreach • Administration • The information school movement and some thoughts about librarianship • Summary and Q & A M. Eisenberg 2004

13. Example – The UW iSchool • Reputation – innovative and ambitious • The iSchool “gets things done” • Use diverse funding models • Leads in effective and efficient use of IT • Innovative in distance learning • A team-player • Active research agenda - involves the full range of faculty and many students across all programs • Committed to undergraduate and graduate education • Celebrate the professional and the academic • Collaborative • research • academic programs • service and outreach • management and problem-solving M. Eisenberg 2004

14. Overall Attributes • User-focused; value people. • Broad-based. • Celebrate the professional and the academic. • Innovative, entrepreneurial, risk-taking. • Committed to meaningful work--to making a difference. • View problems as opportunities; e.g., the information society is a mess – yippee! M. Eisenberg 2004

15. Example – The UW iSchool A broad-based, inclusive, global information school. Noted for collaboration, high quality, and high impact. The Information School of the University of Washington M. Eisenberg 2004

16. Research • Broad-based & inclusive • Across all faculty • Theoretical and applied • Collaborative (within faculty, across campus, and with colleagues nationally) • Involves students on all levels M. Eisenberg 2004

17. “We look at the world through information-colored glasses.” Common Binding Perspective M. Eisenberg 2004

18. The Information Perspective We all • think information • focus on people • help people learn M. Eisenberg 2004

19. biomedical informatics cataloging – conceptualization, use, and design classification cognitive work analysis computer-supported cooperative work electronic government design methods for systems and information digital libraries digital reference human-computer interaction human information behavior information ethics information literacy for life-long learning information management information and quality of life information policy information retrieval information services information technology management information and system dynamics information systems for children and young adults Research Areas M. Eisenberg 2004

20. intellectual property interaction design international aspects of information systems knowledge management knowledge organization natural language processing networks – technology, community, and society organizational impacts of information systems organizational learning organizational sustainability personal information management philosophy & theory of information and library privacy rights school and public library services for children and young adults socio-technical analyses of information systems text and data-mining user centered design & evaluation of information systems value sensitive design Research Areas M. Eisenberg 2004

21. A Sample of iSchool Research • A New Learning Opportunity for Librarians: The K-12 Library Initiative (Marcoux, PI) • professional development and "tool kit" of instructional resources for transforming school library media programs. • Keeping Found Things Found (Bruce, Jones, Eisenberg, PIs) • Once found, how are things organized for re-access and re-use later on? • Improving Information Interactions Online (Ivory-Ndiaye, PI) • Apporaches to to automate the evaluation of information-centric Web interfaces are being investigated as part of the WebTango project. • The Center for Human-Information Interaction(Fidel, Mai PIs) • Information systems and technology development based on understanding how humans interact with information. Focused on human-information interaction in the workplace, using the Cognitive Work Analysis framework. • Technology in Transition: The Cooperative Appropriation of Wireless Networking(McDonald, PI) • How the Seattle Wireless Network(SWN) group overcomes challenges to develop a public access wireless network? Focused on the collaborative activity among the group, relations with other community organizations. M. Eisenberg 2004

22. Research Program:Active Funded Projects M. Eisenberg 2004

23. Last 6 Months • 15 proposals submitted • 12 funded • 8 in process (this month) • 4 in development • Almost all tenure-track faculty represented • NSF, IMLS, corporate M. Eisenberg 2004

24. Research Programs:Expenditures M. Eisenberg 2004

25. Undergraduate Research Symposium • 54% of graduating Informatics majors participated = 14/26 • 30% of ALL Informatics majors participated = 21/69 • 2 presentations • 10 poster sessions M. Eisenberg 2004

26. Undergraduate Research Symposium Presentations • Andy E-Sok Hong and Anthony Bigalbal, “Making Environmental Policy: Human-Centered Analysis of Knowledge Sharing between Cross Functional Groups.” • Faculty Sponsors: H. Bruce and Oyler • Ann Hendrickson and Anna Stolyar, “Physiological Effects of Viewing a Plasma Display ‘Window’.” • Faculty Sponsors: Kahn and Friedman • Poster sessions - 10 • Key Faculty Sponsors: Hendry and McDonald M. Eisenberg 2004

27. Academic Programs:Broad-based, across all levels • BS in Informatics • Master of Library & Information Science • MS in Information Management • PhD in Information Science • Certificate and Outreach Programs M. Eisenberg 2004

28. Academic Programs:Enrollment M. Eisenberg 2004

29. Academic Programs:Projected Enrollment M. Eisenberg 2004

30. Service and Outreach • Community • Washington Research Foundation • School Districts: Seattle, Lake Washington, Shoreline, Marysville (and numerous others) • Washington State Library • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation • First Place Schools • OCLC • Seattle Public Library, KCLS, and numerous other public and academic libraries • Seattle Society for Information Management (SIM) • Campus • Computer Science & Engineering • Biomedical and Health Informatics • University Libraries • Education Partnerships and Learning Technologies • Cell Systems Initiative (CSI) • Department of Geography • Philosophy Department • Computing & Communications • UW Educational Outreach • Evans School of Public Affairs • Technical Communications • School of Art • IT Resource Sharing Group (small schools and colleges) M. Eisenberg 2004

31. Status in the Community • Private Sector • iSchool Connection – connecting the information industry with faculty and students through projects, meetings and presentations • Chief Information Officer (CIO) outreach project • Placement of graduates • Public Sector • Library connections • Involved with professional organizations in WA, OR, MT, AK • Washington State Library • Regular contact with Northwest Library Directors • Educational Partnerships - faculty involvement • Fisher and Marcoux • Sutton, Saxton, Marcoux, L. Bruce • Louis Fox M. Eisenberg 2004

32. Community Examples • First Place School – Lorraine Bruce • Washington Library Association – President’s Award 2003 – Michael Eisenberg • Washington Library Media Association – President’s Award 2003 – Betty Marcoux M. Eisenberg 2004

33. Administration • Not a dirty word. • The art and science of making dreams come true • Requires buy-in and participation by all members of the community. M. Eisenberg 2004

34. Administration M. Eisenberg 2004

35. Administration • Faculty • Processes, Policies & Procedures • Budget • Development • Facilities • Administrative Support M. Eisenberg 2004

36. ProcessesChanges in Structure and Staff • Student Services • staff restructuring • hiring new staff (Student Services Administrator, Program Assistant, Graduate Program Assistant) • Research • research processes and information • Roosevelt Commons facility • Information Technology • discussing collaboration with other small schools and colleges • Development and Community Relations • External Relations position • restructuring M. Eisenberg 2004

37. ProcessesPlanning & Decision-Making • Planning Days and Retreats • 2 Day Retreat (Fall) – All Staff and Faculty • Curriculum Planning Day (Winter Quarter) • Research Planning Day (Spring Quarter) • Faculty Meetings • Staff Meetings • Elected Faculty Council • Deans and Chairs (Kitchen Cabinet) M. Eisenberg 2004

38. Budget • State Support • Start-up and seed • Grants and contracts • Fee-based • MSIM • Distance MLIS • Evening MLIS • Certificates • Gifts and donations M. Eisenberg 2004

39. DevelopmentWithout 4 Major Gifts M. Eisenberg 2004

40. Agenda • From There to Here • Trends in higher education • Implications and impact for library and information science • Critical mass and approach • Attributes of schools of information • Overall Attributes • Research • Academic programs • Outreach • Administration • The information school movement and some thoughts about librarianship • Summary and Q & A M. Eisenberg 2004

41. The Information School “Movement” • Share common vision, concerns and issues, opportunities. • Supportive and collaborative – committed to working together. • Information School Deans (iSchool Deans) – originally 5, now 9, next ? • Other key associations • Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) • Computing Research Association (CRA) IT Deans • Professional associations • American Library Association (ALA) • American Society for Information Science & Technology (ASIST) • Association for Information Management (AIM) • Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) • Society for Information Management (SIM) M. Eisenberg 2004

42. Drexel University Florida State University University of Illinois Urbana Champaign University of Michigan University of North Carolina Chapel Hill University of Pittsburgh Syracuse University University of Texas University of Washington Some Information School Friends M. Eisenberg 2004

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45. Librarianship • Thriving in information schools • Enrollment is up • Status is high • Inclusive – traditional areas and new opportunities M. Eisenberg 2004

46. Michigan Perspective “From the start, the leadership of the School of Information was very concerned that taking library out of the title must not result in taking library out of the school.” Unpublished Email Communication John Leslie King, Dean and Professor, School of Information, University of Michigan, January 2004. M. Eisenberg 2004

47. UW Example • Beverly Cleary Chair in Children’s and Youth Services Fund-raising for new endowed chair at the Information School • Our most distinguished alum • Promoting children’s and youth services in libraries and communities • Representing our commitment to children’s and youth services. M. Eisenberg 2004

48. How Some View of Libraries • PASSIVE – STATIC • REPOSITORY OF DATED INFORMATION • A PLACE • OPTIONAL OR OBSOLETE M. Eisenberg 2004

49. How We View Libraries • ACTIVE – DYNAMIC • MEET TRADITIONAL NEEDS & THE NEW • WITH QUALITY, TIMELY CONTENT • VIRTUAL – PHYSICAL – 24/7 • ESSENTIAL • PEOPLE-FOCUSED M. Eisenberg 2004

50. Library It’s not print vs. digital Books Technology M. Eisenberg 2004