The School of Library and Information Science at Southern Miss began as early as 1926 with the first library science courses offered for undergraduates. Over the decades, the program grew from offering only undergraduate courses to establishing a Master of Library Science degree in 1965. Key events included receiving accreditation from the American Library Association in 1980 and transitioning many of its programs to online formats beginning in the early 2000s. Today the School of Library and Information Science offers both graduate and undergraduate online programs in library and information science.

1. HISTORY OF
LIBRARY SCIENCE
@ SOUTHERN MISS

2. 1910 - 1924: Mississippi Normal College

3. 1924 - 1940: State Teachers College

4. 1926: First Library Science Courses for Undergrads

5. 1939: Library Located in Southern Hall

6. 1940 - 1962: Mississippi Southern College

7. 1947: Cook Library in Kennard-Washington Hall

8. 1952: Anna Roberts (right) with Library Sci. Students

9. 1958: Department of Library Science established
Anna Roberts
 USM Library Director
 First Professor of Lib. Sci.
 First Chair, Library
Science Department

10. 1962: University of Southern Mississippi

11. 1964: Dr. Tracy becomes Chair of Library Science
Dr. Warren F. Tracy
 Ph.D., Univ. of Chicago
 Chair, Library Science Dept.
 Director, Cook Library
 Established MLS program

12. 1965: First Master of Library Science Awarded
 6 grads in first class
earning MLS
 2 males, 4 females
 2 PhDs (edu &
music), 1 Maj.

13. 1965: Library Science Courses

14. 1960s: Cook Library

15. 1966: Dr. Lena Y. de Grummond joins SLIS Faculty
 PhD, LSU
 Taught Children’s Lit
 Established Children’s
Lit Collection

16. 1966: Haders donate to de Grummond Collection
Berta & Elmer Hader
 First contributors to the
de Grummond Collection
 Illustrated over 100 children’s
books
 Created magazine inserts
such as finger dolls

17. 1960’s: Curious George to de Grummond Collection
H.A. & Margaret Rey
 Early contributors to de
Grummond Collection
 Original sketches,
photos, proof sheets

18. 1968: First Children’s Book Festival

19. L to R:
- Dr. Warren Tracy
- Vivian Thompson
- Dr. de Grummond

20. 1970s Chairs of Library Science
 1971 - Dr. John H.M. Chen, Ph.D.,
Penn State University
 1974 – Dr. George Whitbeck, Ph.D.,
Rutgers University
 1977 – Dr. Onva Boshears, Ph.D.,
University of Michigan
 Established School of Library Service
Dr. Boshears

21. 1974

22. 1975

23. 1976: 10th Anniversary of de Grummond Collection
Dr. Warren Tracy
presents plaque to
Dr. Lena de Grummond

24. 1979

25. 1980: Accredited by American Library Association
Dr. Aubrey Lucas presenting ALA Accreditation Letter to Dr. Mika, Dr. Boshears

26. 1980

27. 1980: SLS Accredited by ALA

28. 1980s: Cook Library Reference Room

29. 1984

30. 1986

31. 1986

32. 1986: Dr. Jeannine Laughlin, Director of Lib Service
Dr. Jeannine Laughlin
 Ph.D., Indiana University
 Director, School of Library Service
 Director, Children’s Book Festival

33. 1987

34. 1988

35. 1989: Joseph Anderson Cook Library

36. 1990: Dr. Antonio Rodriguez-Buckingham

37. 1992: Dr. Joy Greiner, Director
Dr. Joy Greiner
 Ph.D., Florida State University
 Director, School of Library
Service
 1993 - 1st IVN classes in
H’burg & Long Beach

38. 1995: Cook Library Builds Addition, Goes Online

39. 1996
 One-millionth item
added to Cook
Library collection
 Dr. Aubrey Lucas
with USM Librarian
Ann Branton

40. 2000: Dr. Tom Walker, Director of SLS
Dr. Tom Walker
 Ph.D., University of Illinois,
Urbana
 Director, School of Library
Service
 2002: MLIS online w/ live
Blackboard text chat

41. 2003: Dr. M.J. Norton, Director of SLIS
Dr. M. J. Norton
 Ph.D., University of North
Texas
 Director, School of Library
and Information Science
 2007 – online classes
w/WIMBA live audio chat

42. 2010: Southern Miss Celebrates 100th Anniversary

43. 2013: Dr. Elizabeth Haynes, Director of SLIS
Dr. Elizabeth Haynes
 Ph.D., University of Texas,
Austin
 Director, School of Library
and Information Science
 2012-13 – Bb Collaborate Live
Classroom w/interactive video

44. 2015: Dr. Teresa Welsh, Director of SLIS
Dr. Teresa S. Welsh
 Ph.D., University of Tennessee
 Director, School of Library
and Information Science
 LIS British Studies, 2007-2016

45. What SLIS programs are online now?
MLIS degree
MLIS w/School Licensure
Grad Certificate in Archives &
Special Collections
Grad Certificate in Youth
Services & Literature
LIS Bachelor of Science degree
LIS undergrad minor
Coming soon…. online dual
MLIS/IT degree!

46. Historic images courtesy of McCain Library & Archives
http://www.lib.usm.edu/spcol