Library and Information Science Program News

Faculty Article Named One of the Best of 2007

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

LIS Program faculty members Robert Holley and John Heinrichs had their article, “Libraries as repositories of popular culture: Is popular culture still forgotten?” published in Collection Building, chosen as a Highly Commended Award Winner at the Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence 2008. Every year Emerald, one of the world’s leading publishers of management research, invites the editorial team of each of its journals to nominate articles for their Outstanding and Highly Commended Paper Awards. Holley and Heinrichs’ paper was selected as one of the most impressive pieces of work the editorial team saw during 2007.

LISP Professors Recognized For Best Business Paper

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Library and Information Science Program professors John H. Heinrichs, Hermina Anghelescu and Janice Utz, along with co-author Jeen-Su Lim from The University of Toledo were recognized for the “Best Business Paper” at the 2008 American Institute of Higher Education Conference. The conference was held in Orlando, Fla. April 3-5, 2008 where Heinrichs accepted the award from Dr. Alireza Lari, Conference Program Chair.

The paper entitled, “Testing an Integrated Model of e-Learning Adoption Decision” investigated the impact of content richness in the course materials and access ubiquity of the material on student’s e-learning course satisfaction and intention to take additional online courses. The rich content is used to engage the student and ensure the presented information facilitates shared understanding within a short time interval; whereas, ubiquitous access to online courses is defined in terms course and information availability. Along with content richness and access ubiquity, perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use were also incorporated into the model used in the study. The results from this study suggest that content richness of the course materials is a primary factor in predicting student satisfaction with e-learning courses and student’s intention to take another e-learning course.

The 2008 American Institute of Higher Education Conference focused on the role and importance of decision sciences in dealing with issues in business, economics, industrial engineering and education. Researchers explored, discussed and discovered how decision sciences can help individuals understand and shape the future research in these fields. The conference was an amalgam of conceptions, practices, and ideologies, exploring differing definitions and visions of decision sciences, appreciating existing contributions, and envisioning future possibilities.

In Memoriam: Edith Phillips, Professor Emerita

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The LIS Program mourns the loss of Professor Emerita Edith Phillips. Professor Phillips served the Program for 23 years after a successful career that began in 1949 when she received her AMLS from the University of Michigan. She worked in academic, public and special libraries in Michigan and Illinois, including serving as Head of the Cataloging Department for the State Library of Michigan. In 1968, she came to Wayne State University where she taught various courses in cataloging and technical services until her retirement in 1991. During her career, Professor Phillips taught over 3,500 students and gave multiple lectures and addresses, published and served as a consultant to libraries. At her retirement, she was remembered as not only a faculty member but “an advocate of faculty rights, an author, and an educator who has the highest ethical values.”

The Edith B. Phillips Endowed Scholarship was established by Professor Phillips as well as alumni and friends honoring her many contributions to the LIS Program. Awarded every academic year, this scholarship recognizes scholastic achievement, encourages continued professional development, and provides assistance to students enrolled in the LIS Program. If you would like to make a donation in Professor Phillips' honor, please visit http://www-dev.lisp.wayne.edu/alumni/give.php.

Professor Marcia Mardis Named a 2008 "Mover and Shaker"

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Congratulations to LIS Program faculty member Dr. Marcia Mardis who has been selected as one of Library Journal's 2008 "Movers and Shakers." Dr. Mardis is featured in the March 2008 issue sent to nearly 20,000 individual librarians, libraries and universities nationwide. The seventh annual "Movers and Shakers" supplement profiles more than 50 up-and-coming individuals from across the United States and Canada who are innovative, creative, and making a difference in moving our libraries -- and the library profession -- forward. Dr. Mardis, who joined Wayne State's LIS Program in 2005, was selected as a result of her visionary work in school library media that inspires researchers and practitioners alike. The "Movers and Shakers" will be formally honored at ALA's annual conference in Anaheim, Calif. in June.