SLIS The University of Iowa

Home
United States
Iowa City, IA
SLIS The University of Iowa

Offering Professional Growth through Personal Engagement

The School of Library and Information Science at the University of Iowa, an ALA-accredited program since 1971, is a leader in curation, creation, and connection of communities. Through our engagement in education, service, and scholarship, we empower library and information professionals, promote the creation of responsible and informed seekers of knowledge, and perpetuate the fundamentals of our

democracy through equitable access to information for all. Degrees and certificates available: MA in LIS (online option), Joint MA in LIS and MFA Center for the Book, Joint JD/ MA LIS, Interdisciplinary Ph.D., Undergraduate to Graduate MA in LIS (online option), Certificate in Special Collections (online option), Certificate in Book Studies, Joint Certificate in Special Collections and Book Studies, and K-12 Iowa Teacher Librarian Certification (online only).

08/21/2026

Hi everyone! My name is Emerson Porter and I’ll be running the SLIS social media accounts again this next year as the SLIS Communications GA!

I’m a current MLIS student with a focus in public libraries, set to graduate at the end of this year. I hope to spend this next year celebrating all of you as we navigate GLAM together!

08/20/2026

The School of Library and Information Science at the University of Iowa (SLIS) invites applications for an academic-year instructional track faculty at the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor. The position will begin August 09, 2027, with the possibility of a January 04, 2027 start date, if desired.

This is a full-time academic-year (9 month) instructional track faculty position with an initial three-year appointment. Renewal is possible, dependent on recurrent funding and performance. We seek an individual with expertise and experience in special collections librarianship and archives, and/or academic librarianship, addressing research, preservation, and technical aspects of work with both digital and physical collections in academic, community, and cultural heritage settings.

The School of Library and Information Science offers MA programs at the main campus in Iowa City as well as fully online. SLIS offers classes synchronously, asynchronously, and hybrid. Distance students may participate in live hybrid classes with campus students, increasing opportunities to collaborate, build collegial relationships, and learn from practicing experts in the field. SLIS has a strong history of interdisciplinary projects and partnerships, including the UI Center for the Book, the English Ph.D. program, the College of Law, and the College of Education. All SLIS faculty have collaborative relationships with other units on campus, with such collaboration actively encouraged by both SLIS and College leadership.

To learn more: https://jobs.uiowa.edu/faculty/view/75969

08/10/2026

Dr. Angela Fritz, SLIS Assistant Professor, served as the guest editor a for a special focus issue of Collections: A Journal for Museum and Archives Professionals (June 2026). The title of the special focus issue, “Ethical AI in GLAM: Challenges and Opportunities for Digital Stewardship,” included an editorial “Finding Common Ground in GLAM: Ethical AI in Three Themes,” and a scholarly article, “'Learning in the Flow:’ AI Microskilling and Ethical Stewardship in GLAMs,” both authored by Dr. Fritz. The entire issue is now freely available to explore on the SAGE platform at: https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/cjxa/22/2. This summer Dr. Fritz also gave a panel presentation entitled, “Trust Indicators in AI: Balancing Low-Barrier Practices with an Archival Ethics of Care” at the Society of American Archivists 2026 Annual Conference which was held in New Orleans, LA. To learn more about this session visit: https://tinyurl.com/fritzatsaa

University of Iowa
Society of American Archivists

08/06/2026

FYI

08/05/2026

Congratulations to SLIS Associate Prof. Bobbi Newman on the upcoming release of her new book, "The Public Librarian’s Guide to Answering Health Questions.” Demonstrating why providing health information services are a natural part of what libraries do, alongside straightforward advice for effective interactions, this holistic guide will empower library workers to help their patrons find, understand, evaluate, and use information to make informed decisions.

For further details visit https://alastore.ala.org/PLhealthQs

07/24/2026

I’m completing my practicum in person in the Youth Department at the Council Bluffs Public Library in Council Bluffs, Iowa. As part of my work, I’m reviewing materials cataloged in both the Youth and Young Adult collections to determine where they fit best by evaluating their content, reading levels, and publisher recommendations. I’m also planning and leading storytimes and helping prepare a drop-in playtime event.

SLIS has helped me connect theory with practice, allowing me to begin my practicum with confidence and contribute to collections and youth programs that reflect the needs and interests of the community.

-Ana Vazquez Pryor

Council Bluffs Public Library
University of Iowa

07/23/2026

This summer, I am completing my practicum at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Patients’ Library, where I am primarily focused on outreach and programming for patients through mobile library services like free materials and adult engagement programs. My final project will be the creation of a collection development plan for the Adult Free Book Cart in the Cancer Center, allowing me to immediately apply my learning from SLIS’s summer Collection Development course in a real-world setting. I am incredibly grateful to Colleen Theisen for finding and helping me get placed in this practicum. I would also like to thank my practicum supervisor Shanel Wermerskirchen and the Patients' Library team for their kind welcome and support throughout this experience.

-Dani Youngberg

University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children's Hospital
University of Iowa

07/22/2026

My summer practicum is an in-person position with the Digitization Department at the University of Iowa Libraries Main Library. I have digitized paper materials from the University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections & Archives, including the Robert Hughes papers, used ABBYY FineReader to improve accessibility, and conducted quality control checks on missing transcripts for the Iowa Labor History Oral Project (ILHOP).

SLIS courses, including Introduction to Special Collections and Archives with Professor Colleen Theisen and Metadata Theories and Applications with Dr. Angela Fritz, prepared me for this work by emphasizing digital preservation, metadata, and accessibility. I learned about this practicum through Professor Theisen's interview with Bethany Davis in class, and after expressing my interest, Professor Theisen helped connect us for a meeting that led to this opportunity.

- Andrea Leusink

University of Iowa

07/21/2026

Hi! My name is McKayla Conner, and I am a second year SLIS student completing my practicum at the University of Iowa's Law Library. My practicum is primarily reference focused, which means that I am gaining practical experience helping students, faculty, staff, and public patrons conduct legal research. Being able to navigate the law library's print collection and use online sources like Westlaw, Bloomberg Law, and LexisNexis are skills that are already transferable to my current job as a paralegal. In addition, I feel as though I am getting a head start on the skills needed to conduct legal research on my own when I go to law school. I feel so thankful for this opportunity and am so excited to continue developing my research skills. Shoutout to Colleen Theisen for making this connection and to the staff at the law library for always answering my questions and welcoming me onto the team!

-McKayla Conner

University of Iowa
University of Iowa Libraries
University of Iowa Law Library

07/14/2026

SLIS Associate Professor of Practice, Bobbi Newman, and Sam Helmick, ALA Past-President, co-authored today's must-read on "The Case for a Professional Foundation in Librarianship.” The Inside Higher Ed article responds to recent calls to drop the MLS requirement, arguing that the degree provides the shared ethical grounding, professional identity, and information expertise that no subject or technical credential can replace. In an era of information abundance, AI, and misinformation, they contend, professionally educated librarians matter more than ever.

Link to the article: https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2026/07/14/librarianship-should-resist-credential-erosion-opinion

University of Iowa
American Library Association
Bobbi L. Newman
Sam Helmick

Address

125 S. Washington Street , Ste 3087
Iowa City, IA
52242

Telephone

+13193355707

Website

http://slis.uiowa.edu/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when SLIS The University of Iowa posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to SLIS The University of Iowa:

Want your school to be the top-listed School/college in Iowa City?