Every year, professionals from across the state in the fields of library and information sciences, along with students and supporters, gather to share ideas, learn about new findings in the field, and award those who have shown exemplary leadership in the field.
This year, the School of Information Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, was well represented at the 2024 Annual Conference of the Tennessee Library Association (TNLA), which took place in Franklin, Tenn., from Tuesday, April 2, to Thursday, April 4. The purpose of TNLA is to promote the establishment, maintenance, and support of library services across the state.
Several SIS faculty members spoke at this year’s conference, including Associate Professor Awa Zhu and Assistant Professor of Practice Scot Smith.
Zhu and her former students, along with their community partner, gave a presentation titled Community Engagement Through a Digital Collection: An Educational Experience. Through the graduate course Digital Libraries, Zhu has helped bridge the gap between academic institutions and local communities through a collaborative project with SIS master’s students and the Girl Scout Museum at Daisy’s Place. The two entities were able to work together to create a digital collection for the Girl Scout Museum at Daisy’s Place scrapbooks.
“I’ve always been passionate about community engagement, and it was a great opportunity to share my experience with like-minded people and make connections with Tennessee librarians. Also, I was so thrilled to be surrounded by former and current students at TNLA,” Zhu said.
Smith presented two different programs. The first one was on Graphic Memoirs for Children and the second was on Teens and Disability is Diversity: Books for Children and Teens about the Disability Experience.
Smith said, “My experience at TNLA was wonderful.”
He went on to say, “It was great to spend a day with other TNLA members and talk with them about their libraries.”
Master of Science in Information Sciences student Michael Hale was one of several UT students who attended. He is currently the assistant director at the White County Library. Hale has been a long-time member of TNLA and was just elected to the Southeastern Library Association for the organization.
He added, “’I’m just so proud to be in information sciences and a student at UT. To be a librarian—this field is just full of great people.”
MSIS student Jude Romines won the Dr. Edwin S. Gleaves Scholarship. Romines is an aspiring archivist and has been involved in initiatives with Georgia State University’s Transgender Oral History Project, Nashville Queer History, Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project, and Nashville’s Metro Government Archives.
Meaghanne Hooberry is another MSIS student who attended this year’s conference. She is currently the senior library assistant for Tennessee State University’s Brown Daniel Library.
When asked how she got involved with TNLA, she said, “One of our coworkers has been on the planning committee for the conference for a few years and she mentioned that they have an internship program for students in MSIS programs. So I got involved with that and this is now my third conference. I am not an intern anymore. Now I’m on the conference planning committee and the advisory council.”
SIS alumna April Parker (’21) attended TNLA for the first time and found it to be a wonderful experience. She enjoyed meeting new people and learning about the various areas of librarianship and how they work together.
“I’m excited to come back for next year,” she said.
She was one of several dozen alumni who attended the SIS Alumni Reception at TNLA.
During the reception, SIS Director Abebe Rorissa thanked those who have supported the school and continue to stay involved with their alma mater.
“The TNLA Conference is one of my favorite meetings because I get to meet our alumni, students, and other professionals at the conference and the SIS reception. Our alumni continue to show their support for the School of Information Sciences through networking with students when they attend TNLA, making it an even richer experience for those students who attend,” he said. “Our faculty continue to excel in the work they do and present at conferences such as TNLA, reinforcing the positive reputation of our master’s program.”