The Tennessee Library Association (TNLA) Conference was held this year at the Chattanooga Convention Center in downtown Chattanooga. TNLA is a professional organization dedicated to supporting librarians and library staff throughout Tennessee. Its mission is to promote quality library services, collaborate with related agencies, and support its members. Founded in 1902, TNLA is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, and moves its annual conference every year across the state to help accommodate travel barriers.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s School of Information Sciences (SIS) is committed to engaging with the broader library community. SIS faculty, students, and staff attend several conferences each year to promote our academic programs and connect with our alumni and current students, who are located across the state and the country, thanks to an inclusive online master’s degree program.
At the conference, SIS was well represented in the exhibit hall, during its alumni reception, and through faculty and students who presented their research and volunteered throughout the week. Current master’s students Jenny Tudor and Krystal White assisted at the booth along with SIS staff members Lauren Boozer, the administrative specialist, and Kristen Gallant, the communications specialist.
MSIS Students Help to Recruit and Make Connections
Tudor graduated in 2020 from King University with a bachelor’s in English, focusing on creative writing, and is currently pursuing her MSIS with the goal of becoming a librarian. She works as a front desk clerk at a library and aims to grow in her career.
This was her first time attending TNLA, and she said, “It was such an informative, unique experience. I listened to several librarians from various backgrounds and had the opportunity to meet a couple of my classmates in person.”
She noted that her favorite part of the conference was networking, particularly through helping at the booth and attending the alumni reception.
“I talked with many alumni and a few prospective students. It was interesting to hear about previous students’ experiences and provide insight into the current program,” she shared.
During the keynote address at the conference, it was announced that the 2026 TNLA conference is in Knoxville, which was very exciting for Tudor and many others who live close to the area.
Krystal White, another master’s candidate at SIS, also attended the TNLA conference for the first time this year.
“I graduated with my bachelor’s in philosophy from Rhodes College in Memphis in 2008. Like many others, I kind of fell into library work. I didn’t have a 10-year plan to become a librarian, but once I was in the field, I quickly realized it combined many of my skills and interests. I discovered that I had a real aptitude for it, so pursuing a master’s degree in information sciences seemed like the natural next step,” she explained.
White currently works in information access services at the University of Memphis McWherter Library. She said it was wonderful to be surrounded by librarians from across the state while attending TNLA. She had the opportunity to meet some of her SIS classmates in person and benefited from the professional development offered through various sessions.
“The sessions I attended were all well-presented and informative, but there’s something truly uplifting about being around so many supportive, like-minded individuals who share the same struggles and successes,” she said. “As a distance education student, it can be challenging to connect with classmates and feel part of the community since we only interact online. Having the chance to meet in person is really special.”
White delivered a presentation called “Inventory: It’s more than scanning!” that SIS Professor and Director Abebe Rorissa was able to attend. She spoke about how inventory projects may be important for collection management, but how they often get overlooked, postponed, or given a scan-it-and-forget treatment. Her presentation offered an overview of current inventory practices at the University of Memphis McWherter Library, highlighting the people involved, the processes used, the reasons behind the work, and the positive impact on the print collection. Both Tudor and White received a travel award in recognition of their work at the SIS booth.
“Receiving the Graduate Student Senate (GSS) travel award truly made this trip possible for me,” White said. “It provided the final funding I needed to attend without facing significant financial stress, allowing me to focus on my presentation and enjoy my time there.”
Tudor added, “The travel award enabled me to participate in conferences and networking opportunities that I otherwise would not have had access to. As we all know, finances are tight in this economy, especially as a student.”
Both Tudor and White also attended the SIS Alumni Reception, where current students and alumni of UT had the chance to meet SIS faculty and staff, learn from one another, and get updates on the school’s performance from Rorissa.
White described the alumni reception as a highlight of the conference. “I was able to meet in person people I had only interacted with via Zoom or email, and have meaningful face-to-face conversations! The library and information science community is surprisingly small, so making these connections, especially with individuals outside of my immediate cohort, is crucial. These relationships are valuable as we enter the workforce and can lead to collaborative projects, research opportunities, and professional connections for years to come.”
Alumni Reconnect with Alma Mater
Jamie Osborne (‘08), a proud MSIS alumna and long-time supporter of the SIS, also attended TNLA and was present at the school’s alumni reception. Currently, she serves on the SIS Board of Advisors and is the reference services manager at the Knox County Public Library. Osborne shared that attending TNLA over the years has been a significant highlight of her decades-long career.
“The conference is great, but for me it’s the networking—it’s seeing alums, it’s seeing friends, it’s seeing co-workers,” she said. “I love the reception. I’m so glad we do that every year, even if it’s in between different things.”
Osborne graduated from the MSIS program in 2008, and said the flexibility of the program was key to her success as a working professional.
“I could not have had that flexibility anywhere else,” she said. “The online option makes it possible for working professionals to advance in the field without sacrificing their careers or personal lives.”
While attending the conference this year, Osborne participated in a panel on reading recommendations, a tradition led by TNLA President Kathy Farley, and served on the Mentor Tennessee Librarians Committee, a new initiative connecting early-career librarians with seasoned professionals.
Osborne also emphasized the value of professional service and staying engaged and encouraged others to do the same.
“I try not to say no to service, whether it’s with TNLA, ALA, or SIS. It has only enriched my career, and I try to instill that in the people I work with. For those who want that extra something in their professional lives, this is the way to do it,” she said.
Whether mentoring others, serving on panels, or reconnecting with fellow Vols, Osborne’s presence at TNLA reflects the deep and ongoing impact of SIS graduates across Tennessee and beyond.
Emory LaPrade (’21), a cataloging and metadata librarian at a public library, returned to TNLA this year to reconnect with fellow alumni, engage in professional learning, and share insights through a conference presentation.
LaPrade attended TNLA nearly a decade ago as a new student and spoke highly of the experience and the sense of community it fosters.
“It’s been really heartening to be among a group of people who are all on the same page, especially around issues like book bans and the state of the world,” LaPrade said. “It’s been a great learning experience and a good way to reconnect with people.”
LaPrade said she enjoyed conversations with current SIS students and celebrating the achievements of alumni and future professionals. She also spoke fondly about her time in the MSIS program, noting the impact of courses like Knowledge Organization Systems and the flexibility the program offered.
“It was really mind-boggling to dive in academically after working in a public library,” she said. “There’s so much more that goes into it: research, metadata vocabularies, and all those acronyms we love.”
LaPrade also served as a conference presenter, sharing a session on AI and information literacy.
“I’m taking more of a ‘pump-the-brakes’ approach,” she explained. “I think information literacy is so important, especially when it comes to how people, particularly in rural areas, are engaging with AI.”
SIS Looking Ahead
SIS Assistant Professor of Practice Scot Smith spoke on “They are called Comics for a Reason: Humorous Graphic Novels for Children and Tweens,” during the conference, sharing how humor is important in books for children and tweens and highlighting some recently published comics for kids.
TNLA continues to serve as an important platform for SIS to engage with the regional professional community, celebrate alumni achievements, and showcase the strength of its students, faculty, and programs. From conversations at the SIS booth to panels and presentations led by alumni and faculty, the event helped reinforce the school’s reputation as a leader in library and information sciences.
For students, the conference offered real-world exposure to the field, meaningful networking opportunities, and the chance to learn from professionals making a difference in their communities. The enthusiasm and involvement of alumni like Osborne and LaPrade speak to the lifelong connection many feel with the school and the profession.
As SIS looks ahead, continued participation in events like TNLA not only supports community engagement but also opens doors for future partnerships, mentorship opportunities, and professional development. We encourage current students, alumni, and friends of the school to stay involved and consider attending next year’s conference, whether as a learner, speaker, or proud representative of the School of Information Sciences. You can find more information about TNLA here.