Faculty, students, and alumni from SC&I’s Library and Information Science (LIS) Department will attend the annual New Jersey Library Association Conference. The theme for this year’s virtual conference, scheduled for June 3 and 4, is “All In,” with a focus on accessibility, equity, and inclusiveness.

“The LIS Department is honored to once again be a Platinum Sponsor for NJLA,” said LIS Professor and Chair Marie L. Radford. “We are proud of our MI/MLIS alumni, many of whom are deeply involved in NJLA leadership positions. NJLA also brings these alumni, our faculty, and current students together to celebrate our shared interest and support for New Jersey’s libraries. This year’s spotlight on the theme of accessibility, equity, and inclusiveness is especially critical in these times of divisive political polarization.”

On Thursday, June 3, three Rutgers faculty will lead a first look book talk session, “A Place for All of Us: Three New Books from RU Faculty on Libraries and Communities.” Associate Professor of Practice Marc Aronson will discuss “A Place for Us” (Candlewick, 2021), an innovative history of Manhattan (middle grade–adult) focused on its wide range of peoples, communities, and cultures. Professor Marie L. Radford will present inclusivity highlights from “Research Methods in Library and Information Science, 7th ed.,” co-authored by Lynn Silipigini Connaway (Libraries Unlimited, 2021). Professor Kay Ann Cassell will overview “Public Libraries and Their Communities: An Introduction” (Rowman & Littlefield, 2021), including advocacy and equitable services.

On Friday, June 4, Matthew C. Bridgeman MLIS’15, Information and Education Librarian, Robert Wood Johnson Library of the Health Sciences, and Victoria Wagner MLIS’97, Associate Director and Medical Education Coordinator, Robert Wood Johnson Library of the Health Sciences, will participate in a panel discussion, “Business Not as Usual: Medical Librarianship in the Time of Covid-19.” From work re-deployment to going all-virtual, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on the way health sciences libraries function. Panelists will share stories about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their libraries.

NJLA, the state’s oldest and largest library organization, advocates for the advancement of library services, provides continuing education and networking opportunities for librarians, and supports the principles of intellectual freedom and access to library materials for all. According to the NJLA Conference website, “Every year NJLA invites all types of librarians and library workers, supporters and vendors to participate in engaging discussion, thoughtful workshops and presentations and networking in what is typically a three-day conference. This year we have worked tirelessly to offer you the insightful and informative programs that you have come to expect while also keeping everyone safe.”

Image credit: NJLA Conference website