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“We are all used to getting newsletters and updates from our undergraduate and graduate programs. iConnect is a bit different than most because it is wholly a student product—developed and written by students in a class on public relations taught by Professor Frank D’Andraia. We hope all of our alumni will enjoy reading about some of the recent happenings in the Information Studies Department as well as appreciate the achievement of the students who created it."

Dr. Philip Eppard
University at Albany
Chair of Information Studies

Eppard holds a Ph.D. in American Civilization from Brown University and an M.S.in Library and Information Science from Simmons College. He joined the University at Albany faculty in 1988 and served as dean of the School of Information Science and Policy from 1995 to 2003. He has worked to develop a specialization in archives and records administration. In addition to archives, he teaches courses in preservation management, rare books, contemporary publishing, and the history of recorded information.  

“Dr. Eppard's leadership will continue to strengthen the department's Masters in Information Science degree programs,” CCI Dean Peter Bloniarz said. “Phil was instrumental in securing the reaccreditation of the MSIS program by the American Library Association.”        

“Graduating from an ALA-accredited program ensures that our students are able to qualify for a wide range of positions in libraries, archives, and many other information environments. ALA accreditation give prospective students real confidence about the quality of our program,” said Information Studies (IS) Department Chair Phil Eppard. “Most employers require an ALA-accredited Master's degree for professional-level positions, and some states require an ALA-accredited degree to work as a professional librarian in public or school libraries.”  

Dr. Eppard said that one of his primary goals as department chair is “to build stronger ties with our alumni and with prospective employers.”

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Accreditation is achieved through a review process conducted by an external review panel of practitioners and academics that verifies the program meets the Standards for Accreditation of Master’s Programs in Library and Information Studies.

“Graduating from an ALA-accredited program provides flexibility in the types of jobs our students can apply for and enhances their career mobility,” said Information Studies (IS) Department Chair Phil Eppard.  “Most employers require an ALA-accredited Master's degree for most professional level positions, and some states require an ALA-accredited degree to work as a professional librarian in public or school libraries.”

“We are proud that the College of Computing & Information’s MSIS program is one of only 63 Master’s programs in Library and Information Studies across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico,” said Dean Peter Bloniarz.  “Securing reaccreditation of the MSIS degree program required the effort of the whole college community, and the final summary report by the Accreditation Team praises the ‘quality’ of our students and faculty.”

Following are a few highlights from the summary report:

• Led by Dr. Stefl-Mabry, the IST faculty have developed the Student Learning Outcomes measurement (SLOAR), which is an excellent example of a solid technique for providing evidence that student outcomes are being achieved.
• Current research projects funded by external sources of Drs. Andersen, Yuan, Sinn, and Uzuner indicate that the faculty is active in areas that are relevant and important to the disciplines.
• The caliber of the archives faculty, particularly Dr. Eppard, is to be commended. The collaboration of these faculty members with faculty from converging fields, such as visual resources, multimedia, and e-government) is greatly beneficial to the program, particularly students.
• Given the length of time since the college was established, there is evidence of good communication and cooperation administratively and among faculty of the three departments in the college.

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Susan Hildreth's nomination to be director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) was confirmed by unanimous consent by the United States Senate. The Institute, an independent United States government agency, is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums.Hildreth will serve a four-year term as the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

“I am truly honored to have been appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as the fourth Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services,” said Hildreth. “I cannot imagine a more exciting and challenging responsibility than helping to create strong libraries and museums that sustain our heritage and culture and connect people to information and new ways of thinking.”

Hildreth was previously appointed as California’s state librarian by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Prior to her position as California state librarian, Hildreth was at the San Francisco Public Library, where she served as deputy director and then city librarian. Her background also includes five years as deputy library director at the Sacramento Public Library, several years as Placer County's head librarian and four years as library director for the Benicia Public Library, all in California. She began her career as a branch librarian at the Edison Township Library in New Jersey.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov