September 19, 2007 – Syracuse University School of Information Studies

We were nearly made prisoners of campus security. I had the brilliant idea to call Professor Bruce Kingma, now Associate Provost for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Syracuse University. Way back when, he taught at the UAlbany library school which is how I know him.

Not only did he speak via our Bluetooth car phone to the guy in the security booth, he directed us to the loading dock, where we surreptitiously parked, and then escorted us to the classroom of waiting students.  

 The School of Information Studies at Syracuse University is beyond leading edge in the field. Just check out the news items on its web page on any given day:

10/30/2007	iSchool Alumna Selected to Participate in ALA’s Emerging Leaders 2008 program
10/30/2007	Crowston receives NSF grant to build research community on open-source software development
10/30/2007	iSchool Alumna Named Copyright Scholar by ALA
10/23/2007	iSchool Project Aims to Train Future Scientists on New Discovery Methods
10/23/2007	iSchool at Syracuse Secures Grant to Fund Five Future Library Professors
10/18/2007	Prof. Cogburn Part of a Team to Investigate How Technology Can Contribute to World Peace
10/18/2007	Convergence Center assists Korean government in developing its telecommunications policies
10/17/2007	iSchool Takes Leadership Role in Promoting Discussion of Global Internet Governance
10/16/2007	Three iSchool Faculty Members Receive Kauffman Grants to Support New Entrepreneurial Initiatives

I met with Associate Professor Scott Nicholson’s class, where they shared their concerns, and enthusiasm, for the future. Will there be jobs, and if so, where will they be? Entry level positions are few, and even those have daunting requirements.

These students believe that the iSchool has prepared them, a sharp contrast from some of the other library schools that I visited. But then, Syracuse is a private university with a technology focus, innovative programs, and grants and funding that just keep coming.

September 19, 2007 – Utica Public Library

September 19, 2007 – Mid York Library System

September 19, 2007 – Central New York Library Resources Council

September 19, 2007 – Onondaga County Public Library Beauchamp Branch