Graduate School of Library and Information Science
NEWS | EVENTS | CONTACTS | CLASS NOTES A Message from the Dean
As many of you know, Maggie Bush is retiring from full-time teaching. During an October 6 reception, we are celebrating her career and look forward to seeing many of you there. If you are interested in learning more about the reception or how to contribute to the scholarship fund set up in her honor, please contact us at gslis@simmons.edu. In the meantime, please be sure to read the March 2009 InfoLink article entitled "The Maggie Bush Years." (And while you're at it, please take a look at the most recent issue, too!)
September has been a busy month for us, with nearly 800 students enrolled in GSLIS - the largest group in our history. We're also in the midst of preparing the program presentation for the 2010 Re-Accreditation process. Look for further updates as we go through this process. And thanks to all of you who have participated in our focus groups.
 Best,
Michele V. Cloonan
Dean, Graduate School of Library and Information Science
A Message from the President of the Alumni Board, August 2009
Dear GSLIS Alumni and Friends,
In the current difficult economy we are challenged personally and professionally to find ways to do more with less. Librarians have always been good at that. The various alumni boards at Simmons work with the college to try to assist in a variety of ways. Serving on the GSLIS Alumni Board this past year several areas were identified in which alumni could be very helpful: recruiting future librarians; developing a broader base of financial support from alumni to assist with the increasing cost of library school education; and expanding the mentoring opportunities available to students and graduate librarians. In the upcoming year the GSLIS Board will be working on a number of things. - We will be working with the Development Office to try to increase alumni participation in fund raising. Major funders look at alumni participation both in numbers of donors as well as money raised. Board members all made donations this past year and will do so again this year. We can do much better than receiving contributions from only 12.5% of all GSLIS graduates. How can we take seriously our mission to recruit new librarians if we can't help find a way to make their education affordable?
- We will be looking at involving more alumni nearby and at a distance in mentoring relationships. GSLIS students as well as working librarians benefit tremendously from mentoring throughout their careers. Many of the nominees for this year's GSLIS Board expressed interest in mentoring. Increasing numbers of GSLIS students are entering graduate school right after college, with no library experience. Mentors will play a critical role in their professional development.
- We will be looking for ways to actively involve the many alumni who are spread across the globe and wish to remain involved with GSLIS.
We will be planning Alumni Day 2010. Evaluations of the 2009 Alumni Day were very helpful. Suggestions included a dinner meeting rather than a whole day; more time to interact with other alumni; more inspiring speakers like Brain Matthews and Sarah Thomas; more opportunity to hear from GSLIS faculty; and more details from library panelists on how they tackled specific problems. We have much to consider. Please contact the Board with any comments or suggestions. We have a great team this year with a broad range of experience and a lot of energy. We look forward to working with all of you in the year ahead. Sincerely,
Ann E. McLaughlin '71, '72LS
President, GSLIS Alumni Board 2009-2010
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