SLIS The University of Iowa

09/05/2026

Professor Bobbi Newman’s chapter in Librarianship Beyond the Textbook: A Practical Guide for Real-World Challenges, Chapter 7: “Burnout and Psychological Safety: Intertwined Challenges in Library Management,” was released on August 6th.

For more information, go to:
https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/librarianship-beyond-the-textbook-9798881801762/

09/03/2026

We asked the current LISSO board what advice they'd give their fellow SLIS students going into this academic year.

Start the SLIS portfolio early! Trying to cram it in right before graduation will be stressful.

Try to find activities to do with classmates that aren't school related.

Seek out work and volunteer opportunities in your area of interest, to beef up your resume.

Ask professors for help as soon as a problem arises, don't wait until the end of the semester to ask for help!

Come to LISSO events! This is a great way to meet fellow library science students!

09/01/2026

Dr. Iulian Vamanu gave his talk ”Zines, Documentary Governance, and the Politics of the Secondary” at the
The Swedish School of Library and Information Science University of Boras DOCAM conference on August 17th.

For more information, go to:
https://www.hb.se/en/the-swedish-school-of-library-and-information-science-sslis/about-the-swedish-school-of-library-and-information-science/news-and-events/events1/docam-2026/conference-program/

08/31/2026

We currently have 8 spots remaining for ILA for the $50 from SLIS to help cover the cost of ILA this year. These remaining 8 seats are first-come, first-served.

As a reminder, SLIS has secured the ability to cover $50 of the ILA conference registration fee for twenty students. The first twenty students to submit an entry on this form will receive instructions to complete that registration process. Please see below:

ILA Conference Registration SLIS Discount Form:

I understand that by completing and signing this form, I agree to the following stipulations: I will check in with Katie McCullough and Kate Woods at the SLIS exhibitor's booth. I will attend the SLIS evening reception on Thursday, October 8, 2026. Details below: Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m. Location: Cedar...

08/28/2026

Mckayla Conner is a second year online SLIS student who specializes in law librarianship and plans to attend law school after graduation. McKayla chose to attend the ALA conference in hopes of connecting with other law librarians. At the conference, McKayla attended a seminar on Bridging the Legal Information Gap in Prisons: A Dialogue between Librarians and Jailhouse lawyers where she connected with law librarians, publishing companies, as well as SLIS faculty and students who she has not met before. In addition, Mckayla had the opportunity to listen to one of her favorite authors, Lois Lowry, speak about her new book Building 903 which is said to be set in a dystopian society under tyrannical rule where all books are banned. Going into her final semester at SLIS, McKayla finds herself seeking a career path that intersects her love for librarianship and the law. That being said, McKayla's biggest takeaway from attending the ALA conference is that the opportunities for a future career that does so are endless.

08/26/2026

As a student chapter of the American Library Association, our mission is to promote the professional development of the students we serve. With initiatives like a student-run mentorship program, resume workshops, and mock job interviews, we try to provide multiple opportunities for students to practice the soft skills that lend themselves to future career growth.

In the coming year, LISSO will be partnering with the Iowa Library Association to recruit librarians across the state as mentors, and in the Spring, we will be hosting an online, multi-program Research Symposium, partnering with other ALA student chapters to allow presenters to practice in a low-stakes setting for future conferences.

08/24/2026

Looking forward to starting this year off strong!

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