Incorporating Marginalized LIS Educators into LIS Programs Through Remote Work Options

Authors

  • Gary L. Shaffer University of Southern California
  • Nicole Cooke University of South Carolina
  • Africa S. Hands University at Buffalo
  • Sandra Hirsh San José State University
  • Mega Subramaniam University of Maryland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21900/j.alise.2022.1069

Keywords:

LIS education, LIS programs, Remote work, Online education, BIPOC

Abstract

The global pandemic has fundamentally changed the way that people work and learn, and has had a disproportionate impact on Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) (Marcelin, et al., 2021). Throughout the pandemic, all work (including higher education) moved to a fully remote work model. The goal of this panel is to explore the idea of remote work for library and information science (LIS) faculty in the long-term, and particularly discuss the positive implications that this work model could have for those who are BIPOC and/or otherwise marginalized. This is a critical discussion for LIS programs to engage in as the information professions currently face a moment of reckoning and they must work to bring equity for BIPOC colleagues and address the needs of LIS faculty.

Author Biographies

  • Gary L. Shaffer, University of Southern California

    Dr. Shaffer is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. He served as director of the 100% online USC Marshall Master of Management in Library and Information Science (MMLIS) program and director of the USC Libraries Center for Library Leadership and Management prior to scaling back his involvement within the program.

  • Nicole Cooke, University of South Carolina

    Dr. Cooke is the Augusta Baker Endowed Chair and Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina. Her research and teaching interests include human information behavior (particularly in the online context), critical cultural information studies, and diversity and social justice in librarianship. She received the ALISE Excellence in Teaching award in 2019.

  • Africa S. Hands, University at Buffalo
    • Hands is Assistant Professor of Library Science at the University at Buffalo. Her current research agenda examines public libraries as an information resource for college-bound patrons and the experiences of first-generation students - both as users of academic libraries and students and professionals in the LIS field. She is past-chair of the Library Research Round Table of ALA. 
  • Sandra Hirsh, San José State University

    Dr. Hirsh is Associate Dean for Academics at San José State University. She served as the director of the 100% online SJSU School of Information for ten years, during which time, iSchool faculty had (and continue to have) the option to live anywhere in the United States. She served as ALISE president in 2021-22 and ASIS&T president in 2015. 

  • Mega Subramaniam, University of Maryland

    Dr. Subramaniam is Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty at the University of Maryland. She also serves as co-director of the iSchool’s Youth Experience Lab. She conducts research on the use of libraries as effective learning environments for the development of digital literacies in non-dominant youth. She serves the ALISE board as Director of Programming. 

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Published

2022-10-20

Issue

2022: ALISE Proceedings

Section

Panels (Juried)

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Gary L. Shaffer, Nicole Cooke, Africa S. Hands, Sandra Hirsh, Mega Subramaniam

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