The newsletter provides updates from the School of Library and Information Sciences at North Carolina Central University. It discusses the upcoming retirement of Dean Irene Owens after 11 years. During her tenure, the school achieved several "firsts" including new certificate programs and collaborations with other institutions. It highlights activities of the student chapters of library organizations, including fundraisers and tours arranged. Recent upgrades to classroom technology are noted. Finally, it summarizes a lecture given by alumna Rebecca Vargha on the future of the profession in the digital age.

1. N o r t h C a r o l i n a C e n t r a l U n i v e r s i t y
Number 5
Spring 2016
School of Library and Information
Sciences Newsletter

2. 2
MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
The past eleven years have been
productive and rewarding so it is with a
deep sense of gratitude that I write this last
letter as dean to alumni and friends. The
gratitude extends in several areas –
gratitude in being able to build on the past
of one of the most historically relevant
schools in the nation (I dare say the world –
in fact)! The contributions of all who have
gone before me, and particularly, Dr. An-
nette Phinazee, who is legendary and icon-
ic. To have served as the dean under whom
the School was first accredited (1975) and
upon whose shoulders she also stood, is a
debt that we can never repay to her. Grati-
tude for the support of organizations like
the Institute of Museum of Library and
Information Services (IMLS) who supported
this School with over 2 million dollars in
scholarship support and experiential expe-
riences of student travel to professional
conferences and meetings have been a
remarkable enterprise in which to have
been involved! Gratitude for the support of
faculty and staff for the 1,202 students
who graduated in the past eleven years
making a grand total over the history of the
program to 3,112 graduates.
During my tenure there have been
landmark celebrations – the 25th Serials
Conference sponsored by the School, the
75th Anniversary, and lectures by several
currently serving American Library Associa-
tion (ALA) Presidents – Michael Gorman
(2006), John Rettig (2008), Camilla Alire
(2009), Courtney Young, (2015) and visits
with students and faculty with other ALA
presidents. There have also been several
“firsts” for the School. The first Internship
for the JD/MLS program, established in
2015 with the largest and most prestigious
library in the world – the Law Library of
Congress! The first Study Abroad for stu-
dents to the Royal School of Library Studies
in Denmark (2006). The first Digital Librari-
anship course, subsequent concentration
and certificate program. Likewise, the first
Health Informatics course, concentration
and certificate program and the first Cer-
tificate in Information Policy Management.
Alumni who filled first Diversity Librarian
positions at UNC-Greensboro.
Collaboration efforts have been
significant, on the campus as well as exter-
nally. Grants for Diversity Scholars includ-
ed partnerships with public and academic
libraries in the state of North Carolina,
2006-2008, 2010, and a current grant, “
Education and Training for Improved Ac-
cess, Collaboration, and Professional Devel-
opment in Three Communities: The NCCU
School of Library and Information Sciences,
the Department of History and the NCCU
Art Museum with Practicums in the UNC-
CH Ackland Museum, the Nasher Museum
at Duke University and the North Carolina
Museum of Art.
The SLIS also enjoyed partnerships
on two grants with the School of Infor-
mation and Library Science at the Universi-
ty of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. San-
dra Hughes-Hassell served as PI on the
grant entitled, “ Building a Bridge to Litera-
cy for African-American Male Youth: A Call
to Action for the Library Community” and a
current grant entitled, “Project READY:
Reimagining Equity and Access for Diverse
Youth.”
As the only HBCU with a Library
and Information Science program, the SLIS
has long filled a substantive gap in library
education for all persons, minorities in par-
ticular. The mission has not been limited to
bridging the gap in the availability of practi-
tioners but to academicians as well. Provid-
ing both requires a dedication to research.
To that end, the SLIS created a Research
Committee in 2012, and the chair of that
committee, Dr. Joseph Meloche is provid-
ing leadership in encouraging and prepar-
ing students to participate in the NCCU
Annual Research Colloquium resulting in
the SLIS being awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
place in their division over the last three
years. Moreover, because of the dedica-
tion of students and faculty, there are sev-
eral of our alumni matriculating in Ph.D.
programs around the nation.
The SLIS faculty and alumni have
also been recognized by professional or-
ganizations for their contributions, leader-
ship and service to the profession. The
School has also figured prominently in ma-
jor rankings of the University. Finally, as a
tribute to the School, the dean has led
efforts to document the first seventy years
of the SLIS in the publication of a book on
the history and impact of the school on the
profession, not only in North Carolina, but
locally, nationally and internationally. I am
pleased to have been a part of these and
other efforts. Finally the document, the
North Carolina Central University School of
Library and Information Sciences: The First
Seventy-Five Years is currently under re-
view at the McFarland Press. This book,
hopefully will help tell at least a part of the
story of the contributions, growth, and
development of the North Carolina Central
University School of Library and Infor-
mation Sciences.
Dr. Irene Owens

3. 3
SCHOOL NEWS
The Student Chapter of the
American Library Association (ALA) in
the School of Library and Information
Sciences (SLIS) at NCCU has been
active throughout the spring semester.
They have conducted a successful fund
-raising project by printing and selling
ALA themed t-shirts and have also
conducted a very successful book
drive. The book drive’s initial goal was
to collect double the 27 books
collected last year. They have far
surpassed this, amassing over 200
books that will be split between two
non-profit organizations. The first of
these is the Book Harvest Organization
in Durham, NC. Book Harvest is a non-
profit organization with the mission to
provide books to Triangle children in
need. The second donation site is
Nigeria – ALA’s Public Relations Officer,
Maurice Hines, will ensure that the
adult educational books donated are
sent to Nigeria. Finally, on April 28 the
Student Chapter of the ALA will have a
dinner with Dean Irene Owens at the
Queen of Sheba restaurant in Chapel
Hill. During the dinner, guests will
recognize Dean Owens for her
continued commitment and support of
the students, faculty, and staff of SLIS.
SLA: The NCCU Student
Chapter of the Special Libraries
Association (SLA) held a special
presentation with guest Speaker and
EPA Library Director Susan Forbes on
April 5th
. Forbes spoke about the
work done at EPA library as well as
the internship opportunities that are
available for students in the School
of Library and Information Sciences.
The internship program at the
Environmental Protection Agency in
RTP allows master’s students to gain
experience in various aspects of
library services: reference, inter-
library loan, cataloging, serials and
literature searching in the sciences.
ASIS&T: The Student
Chapter of the Association for
Information Science and Technology
(ASIS&T) held a tour of “Eagle
General” simulation lab/hospital on
March 10th
. The tour highlighted the
unique learning capabilities offered
by this “robot hospital... with human
patient simulators (like robots) in
fully equipped rooms and wards --
with robotic patients of different
ages and sizes. The software and
hardware medical control systems
integrated there give students access
to patient care through state-of-the-
art technology.” The tour was led by
Ms. Tina Scott and Ms. Angeline
Baker, BSN, MBA, MHA, the
coordinator for the NCCU Clinical
Learning Resource Center. This
opportunity allowed students to
explore some of the technologies
and services related to informatics.
STUDENT CHAPTERS OF LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS ACTIVE IN 2016
SLIS Technology
Committee
Update
Dr. Gabriel Peterson has
reported that the SLIS technology
committee is pleased to announce
that SLIS has recently seen the
installation of one state-of-the-art
interactive 80-inch and three 70-
inch Smart AQUOS touch screens
in the classrooms. This technology
can be used to enhance the on-
campus classroom experience,
and also makes it even easier to
coordinate and share content with
online students. Additionally, SLIS
is pleased that the nccuslis.org
website has been renovated and
made easier to navigate. Students
and alumni are encouraged to con-
tact the webmaster if they would
like to contribute to one of our
blogs or volunteer in other ways.

4. 4
NCCU SLIS alumna Rebecca Vargha gave the third annual Special Libraries Association (SLA) Robert M. Ballard
lecture, sponsored by the Carolina's Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) chapter, at a program
on Saturday, April 23rd at the RENCI Center in Chapel Hill, NC. Her remarks were preceded by a short speech by Dr. Ismail
Abdullahi, who eloquently lauded the superlative accomplishments of Dr. Robert M. Ballard. Dr. Ballard was one of Dr.
Abdullahi's most influential teachers, and Dr. Abdullahi thanked Dr. Ballard for his guidance and outstanding pedagogic
skills. Dr. Ballard taught in the SLIS for 36 years and also acted as the Interim Dean from 2003 to 2005.
Following these comments, Ms. Vargha, spoke about “The Future of Our Profession in the Digital Age.” In this
lecture she shared her perspectives on digital information in today's environment and discussed what impact it has on a
wide variety of information-based professions. Ms. Vargha is the SILS Librarian for the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill's School of Information and Library Science (SILS) and an NCCU SLIS alumna. She is also a past president of
SLA; immediate past chair of SLA's leadership management division; chair for SLA's Museums, Arts, and Humanities
Division; archivist for the North Carolina SLA Chapter; and a faculty adviser for the SLA Student Group at SILS.
SCNA/SCAA CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS THE FUTURE OF LIBRARY
AND INFORMATION SCIENCES
College Choice, an independent online
publication, ranked NCCU as the 9th
best of the
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) in
the nation, citing the School of Library and
Information Sciences which has helped produce more
African-American librarians than any other institution
in higher education as a major reason for its success.
In a similar finding, the prestigious U.S. News
& World Reports listed NCCU as the 12th
best
HBCU in the nation for its 2016 report citing
the uniqueness of NCCU’s Master of Library
and Information Sciences program as being
augmented by the partnership that exists
between SLIS, NCCU’s School of Business, and
NCCU’s School of Law that affords students
the opportunity to obtain a dual JD/MLS
degree as well as a dual MBA/MIS degree.
Infoplease.com ranked NCCU as the 11th
best
HBCU in the nation for 2015. One last
accolade was recently bestowed upon the
School of Library and Information Sciences by the
website “BestMastersDegrees.com.” In the article,
“30 Most Affordable Top Ranked Schools for an
Online Master’s in Library Science Degree 2016,” the
website lists NCCU's SLIS program as the third “top-
ranked and most affordable online master’s in library
science degree programs for 2016.”
THE SCHOOL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCES HELPS
KEEP NCCU HIGH IN NATIONAL RANKINGS
Image via College Choice

5. 5
NCCU hosted its annual Research Symposium
this semester and ten SLIS students entered this
year’s competition. All contestants from SLIS chose to
present posters rather than making a presentation.
These posters reflected the high quality of the
research that each person or team conducted. The
University-wide contest was divided into three
categories: Social Sciences, Humanities, and Sciences.
The School of Library and Information Sciences’
contestants competed in the Humanities and other
categories. The names, fields, and titles of all
presenters and presentations are listed below.
Dewayne Branch; Library Science; “The Power of
Special Library Design in Interdisciplinary Pipeline
Development”
Shalini Acharya; Information Science; “The Use of
Corrected Literature in Human Subjects
Biomedical Research – A Controlled Bibliometric
Analysis” (Advisor: Dr. Gabriel Peterson)
Sindhura Gujjarlapudi, Abrar Khan, and
Courtney Miller; Information Science;
“Health Informatics Usability Study:
An Efficient Knowledge Base System “
MIGREX” for Migraine
Diagnosis” (Advisor: Dr. Deborah
Swain)
Lucy Brunner and Ruby Farrior; Information
Science; “Usability Study: Smart
Phone Usage among the
Elderly” (Advisor: Dr. Deborah Swain)
Susan Danaher and Ciera Fox; Information
Science; “Usability Study: The
Effectiveness of an Asian Restaurant
Menu Design” (Advisor: Dr.
Deborah Swain)
Maurice Hines; Library Science; “Ar-Razzaq Islamic
Center Oral History Project”
Selected from these entries, were three
projects – receiving 1st
, 2nd
, and 3rd
place! The winners
are listed below. Congratulations to them all!
1st
place - Sindhura Gujjarlapudi and Courtney Miller:
"Health Informatics Usability Study: An
Efficient Knowledge Base System 'MIGREX' for
Migraine Diagnosis" (Advisor: Dr. Deborah
Swain)
2nd
place - Sarah Danaher and Ciera Fox: “Usability
Study: The Effectiveness of an Asian
Restaurant Menu Design” (Advisor: Dr.
Deborah Swain)
3rd
place - Lucille Brunner and Ruby Farrior: "Usability
Study: Smartphone Usage among the
Elderly" (Advisor: Dr. Deborah Swain)
SLIS STUDENTS EARN ACCOLADES AT NCCU’S ANNUAL RESEARCH
SYMPOSIUM
From Left to Right: Dr. Joseph Meloche, SLIS Student Viviette
White, and Dr. Patrick Roughen

6. 6
On April 8th, 2016, twenty students from the
School of Library and Information Sciences were honored
for their academic achievements at the Sixty-Sixth Annual
Honors Convocation held in the McDougald-McLendon
Arena. The Keynote speaker at the event was Christopher
D. Lopez, the Program Manager and Executive Assistant to
the President & CEO at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund
(TMCF). The TMCF is the only national organization
representing the country’s 47 publicly-supported
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the
300,000 students matriculating on their campuses.
Participants were provided with a program
describing the process behind the convocation along with
its raison d'être. The program explained that, “North
Carolina Central University recognizes students with a
minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. The
University recognizes students in a number of categories,
from the Chancellor’s Award and University Award
recipients — the university’s top honors — to Deans’ Lists
and departmental academic honors. In addition, students
are recognized for distinctions in scholarly groups, honor
societies, and scholarships. The groups, societies, and
scholarships listed in this convocation program are those
submitted by deans, chairs, and directors of each respective
academic unit.”
The twenty students from SLIS that were
recognized for their achievements in making the Dean’s List
for Spring and Fall 2015 are as follows:
Shalini Acharya, Sierra Alley, April Blevins, Constance
Caddell, Sarah Danaher, Gauri Dave, Afua Ferdnance,
Manasa Reddy Gaddam, Sindhura Gujjarlapudi, Maurice
Hines, Jameka Little, Keelia McCaffrey, Tyron McLaughlin,
Brenda Mills, Crystal Mitchener, Keisha Parris, Bettina
Scales, Jillian Weaver, Sydney Wilson, and Ruddiyette
Yisak.
Congratulations to all the honorees!
SLIS STUDENTS HONORED AT NCCU’S SIXTY-SIXTH ANNUAL
HONORS CONVOCATION FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
The Institute of Museum and
Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st
Century Librarians Program awarded
$569,583 to a research consortium
that includes NCCU’s School of Library
and Information Sciences, UNC’s
School of Information and Library
Science, and staff from the Wake
County Public School system. The grant
was awarded to UNC’s Dr. Sandra
Hughes-Hassell for “Project READY:
Reimagining Equity and Access for
Diverse Youth.”
The Institute of Museum and
Library Services is the main federal
source of funding for the
approximately 123,000 libraries and
35,000 museums in the United States.
Its mission is “to inspire libraries and
museums to advance innovation,
lifelong learning, and cultural and civic
engagement.” In addition to supplying
grants, the institute also assists with
policy development and research with
the aim of helping libraries and
museums deliver services that help
communities and individuals to
flourish.
The aim of the project is to
help school librarians become more
“culturally competent educators.” The
team will create, implement, and then
evaluate a curriculum of professional
development for both online and in-
person learning. These materials will
ultimately be distributed for free to
libraries and schools nationwide.
Hughes-Hassell explained,
“The curriculum will help school
librarians and their collaborative
partners better understand how race
and culture affect learning, how they
can implement culturally responsive
teaching, and how they can
demonstrate their commitment to
equity literacy. Through their
transformed practice, we hope to
improve the educational experiences
and outcomes for K-12 youth of color,
who, current research shows often feel
like outsiders in library spaces.”
The project will begin in June
2016 and end in May 2019; however,
there is no doubt that the materials
and research produced by the project
will continue to benefit communities
across the country for many years to
come. The grant builds upon work
done in 2011 at the IMLS National
Leadership Forum entitled “Building a
Bridge to Literacy for African-American
Male Youth: A Call to Action for the
Library Community.”
UNC-CHAPEL HILL PARTNERS WITH SCHOOL OF LIBRARY AND
INFORMATION SCIENCES ON PRESTIGIOUS IMLS GRANT

7. 7
Aside from her role as a second-year MLS
candidate in the School of Library and
Information Sciences, Charmaine Bonner also
has become the Student Nonviolent
Coordinating Committee (SNCC) intern at the
John Hope Franklin Research Center for African
and African American History and Culture at
Duke University where she worked on the SNCC
Digital Gateway Project. Ms. Bonner explained
that “the project is a three-year Mellon
Foundation grant funded initiative charged with
creating a permanent digital home for the legacy
of the SNCC. My duties at the Franklin Research
Center were as follows: assisting the SNCC
Project team by locating materials in repositories
and contacting the repositories regarding use of
their material; transcribing oral histories in
preparation of audio visual segments for the
digital gateway project; identifying materials for
digitization and making note of conservation and
copyright concerns; researching, locating and
obtaining materials for the visiting scholars;
assisting in the development of donor
agreements and oral history release forms;
selecting content to be used in the audio visual
components of the project; and promoting the
collections within the Franklin Research Center.”
Ms. Bonner said that the internship has
been a “fabulous” experience. She also stated
that working with different departments within
the center as well as learning about how special
collections work and how to work with donors,
has given her a “well rounded experience for the
real world.” Ms. Bonner came to SLIS from
Michigan, and her specific related interests
include oral history, folklore, and genealogy.
SLIS Student, Charmaine Bonner, Becomes Student Nonviolent
Coordinating Committee Intern at the John Hope Franklin Research Center
for African and African American History and Culture at Duke University
New SLIS Staff Member:
Ms. Keondra Bailey, Executive Assistant to the Dean
We’d like to welcome Ms. Keondra Bailey to the SLIS team. Ms. Bailey is from Richmond, Virginia and joined the team in
January 2016. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BA in History. Prior to arriving at SLIS, Ms. Bailey
worked and volunteered at both state and academic libraries. Ms. Bailey’s research interests include 20th-century European
History, Archival Studies, American Historical Memory and Popular Culture, and Social and Cultural Web Phenomena.

8. 8
FACULTY NEWS
Dr. Patrick Roughen has received a grant from the North Carolina Central University Faculty Senate Executive
Committee and Faculty Research & Professional Development Mini-Grant Selection Committee that will allow him to
attend “a series of courses provided by the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP) as part of its
certificate program in competitive intelligence.” The courses will help to inform his upcoming class titled Business
Information Resources and Services (LSIS 5260). The program will help to ensure that the information taught in the
class is on the cutting edge of the information sciences. Speaking of his award, Dr. Roughen stated that “it is important
that our program, school, and university remain competitive; and, one way to do this is by providing courses which are
up-to-date, relevant, and innovative, but also by teaching students how to stay competitive in a dynamic and ever-
changing world.”
The upcoming course, Business Information Resources and Services, will cover the use and selection of
resources related to all aspects of business information as well as the needs and characteristics of typical users. The
knowledge he will gain from the SCIP certification will allow Dr. Roughen to better teach how competitive information
can be used both strategically and ethically.
DR. PATRICK ROUGHEN RECEIVES MINI-GRANT FROM FACULTY SENATE
FOR LSIS 5260, “BUSINESS INFORMATION RESOURCES AND SERVICES”
Dr. Meloche has
received a mini-grant for
his project, “Oral Histories
of NCCU International
Students.” Meloche has
produced a poster that “is
designed to collect the
oral histories of
international students
who attend North
Carolina Central
University (NCCU). It
includes samples from the
student’s histories and
accompanying visual
elements. A main goal of the project is to train graduate
students how to better
conduct oral histories.
The idea is that the
students will have
continuous involvement
in the process so that
the project can be a
continuing service
activity at NCCU.
DR. JOSEPH MELOCHE RECEIVES MINI-GRANT FROM NCCU

9. 9
On October 21, 2015, Shamella Cromartie, chairperson elect of the North
Carolina Library Association (NCLA) presented Dr. Ismail Abdullahi, professor at the
School of Library and Information Sciences at NCCU, with the “Roadbuilder’s” award
during the Round Table for Ethnic Minority Concerns. The award was presented for
“significant contributions to the field of librarianship education and for serving as a role
model for ethnic minority librarians.” Dr. Abdullahi will also serve as keynote speaker at
the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Building
Strong Library Association (BSLA) Regional Workshop for Francophone Countries in Africa
sponsored by the Association of Librarians, Archivist, Documentalists and Museum
Curators of Cameroon (ABADCAM) in May 2016. Congratulations also to Dr. Abdullahi
who, on July 1, 2016, will be promoted to full Professor.
DR. ISMAIL ABDULLAHI RECEIVES AWARD FROM THE NORTH
CAROLINA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
Dr. Patrick Roughen has been
selected to present a paper at the
Children’s Literature Association’s
2016 conference (ChLA 2016) about
the relationship between Maurice
Sendak (author of “Where the Wild
Things Are”) and animated film. The
talk entitled, “Intellectual Property and
the Artist's Creative Vision: Maurice
Sendak and Animation.” ChLA 2016 will
be hosted by Ohio State University and
is sponsored by the Department of
Teaching and Learning in the College of
Education and Human Ecology. The
conference will take place June 9th to
June 11th. Other featured presenters
will include Gene Luen Yang, Dr.
Charles Hatfield, and Dr. Joe Sutliff
Sanders.
Dr. Roughen’s presentation
will contain “insights drawn from an
interview with the author, recorded a
few months before Sendak passed
away,” and will give special attention
to Sendak’s strong sense of the
integrity and continuity of the artist’s
creative vision, as well as his zealous
regard for his intellectual property.
Sendak was associated with a number
of animation projects throughout his
career such as “Really Rosie” (1975)
and “Seven Little Monsters” (2000-
2003). Sendak’s work was also the
basis for one of John Lasseter’s (of
Walt Disney) earliest experiments in
computer animation.
DR. PATRICK ROUGHEN TO GIVE PRESENTATION FOR
CHILDREN’S LITERATURE ASSOCIATION

10. 10
We are honored to extend our
congratulations to Dr. Kim Pamela
Mayo! Dr. Mayo, has been nominated
for the prestigious title of “Teacher of
the Year” at Riverside High School. Dr.
Mayo’s nomination comes in addition
to her many accomplishments which
include having served as the chair of
Riverside High School’s media/
technology advisory committee, two-
term Chair of Riverside’s school
improvement team, Chair of
Riverside’s accreditation committee,
and on the faculty search committee in
the School of Library and Information
Sciences at NCCU. She has, in fact,
already previously won the award in
2007. Her second nomination is
therefore a further reflection of her
hard work, dedication, intelligence,
and the spirit of excellence that we
strive to nurture at the School of
Library and Information Sciences.
In addition to serving as the
School Media Coordinator at Riverside
High School in Durham, North Carolina,
Dr. Mayo serves as an adjunct
professor at the School of Library and
Information Sciences, where she
teaches Children’s Resources &
Services, Survey of Children’s
Literature, Adolescent Resources &
Services, and a School Media
Practicum.
The extent to which she is
deserving of the award is apparent in
the reactions of her peers who, among
other accolades, lauded her saying,
“Kim is constantly helping teachers,
students, and staff. She goes the extra
mile (staying late, getting in early,
coming in during the summer)
whenever extra help is needed without
any extra pay.” Further praise
continued, “Dr. Mayo has a pleasant
disposition with all, even when
demands are made that most people
would simply just not do. She has been
a faithful Riverside Pirate for over 20
years and is a cornerstone of the
Riverside family tradition.”
Responding to this news,
when it was given to her by Assistant
Principle Chaundra Clay, Dr. Mayo
humbly replied “I am honored to even
be nominated, given the number of
amazing and dedicated colleagues here
at Riverside!”
Dr. Mayo earned her Ed.D.
from the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill in 2007, her MLS from
North Carolina Central University in
1991 (graduating Cum Laude), and her
BA in English Literature and Secondary
Education from Hofstra University in
1982. Her other accomplishments
include being a member of a
delegation to Russia as part of an
educator exchange with Durham’s
sister cities (Moscow and Kostroma)
where she presented to Russian
government officials, library
professionals, and other dignitaries.
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SLIS GRADUATE AND
EDUCATOR, DR. KIM MAYO, NOMINATED FOR PRESTIGIOUS
TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Dr. EunYoung Yoo-Lee,
Dr. Gabriel Peterson,
and SLIS Alumna
Tamara Rhodes (MLS
‘13)
Published in Reference
Services Review
Dr. EunYoung Yoo-Lee
(Associate Professor), Dr.
Gabriel Peterson (Associate
Professor) and Ms. Tamara
Rhodes’ research
entitled, "Hispanics and public
libraries: Assessing their health
information seeking behaviors
in the e-health environment"
has been accepted to be
published in the special issue
"Health Literacy and Public
Libraries" in Reference Services
Review.
This is a great example
of research collaboration
between faculty and a student.
Tamara has been involved in
this research since she worked
as a graduate assistant to Dr.
Yoo-Lee. Dr. Peterson has also
worked with Dr. Yoo-Lee on this
project since 2013 in terms of
the questionnaire review and
data collection. Before this
publication, the preliminary
results of the research were
presented at the North Carolina
Library Association (NCLA)
Conference in 2013 and
Association for Library and
Information Science
Education (ALISE) in 2014.
Tamara Rhodes was an
IMLS Diversity Scholar when she
attended our MLS program and
is currently an Assistant
Librarian at University of
California San Diego libraries.

11. 11
FEATURES
On April 9, 2015, the School of
Library and Information Sciences
celebrated its 75th Anniversary. The
event was marked by a program
featuring a lecture by Courtney L.
Young, president of the American
Library Association (ALA). Young
served as president of the American
Library Association (ALA) for the 2014-
2015 term. She earned her BA from
the College of Wooster in English in
1996 and her MLS in 1997 from
Simmons College. She serves at Penn
State, Greater Allegheny campus as
head librarian and professor of
Women’s studies. She has also worked
at Ohio State, Michigan State, and
other Penn State campuses.
Young has been honored
especially for her work focusing on
issues surrounding diversity in
librarianship. It was for this work that
she was named a Library Journal
“Mover and Shaker” in 2011:
“Young is committed ‘to
fostering diversity of all types,’
says nominator Laurel Bliss, a
San Diego State University
fine arts librarian: ‘racial,
ethnic, gender, sexual
orientation, disability, religion,
and age.’ To that end, she led
a multiyear project to
evaluate diversity in the
libraries’ collections and
services, developing metrics
for collection development
assessment, tracking the
diversity of collections, and
making librarians accountable
for diversity in collections and
programming.”
She continued working on this
theme in her quest to become
president of the ALA, pointing out in
her campaign that “the profession
doesn’t always look like the
communities we serve. ALA should do
more to help the profession
be representative of the communities
we serve.” Towards this end, Young
focused on continuing work with the
Special Presidential Task Force on
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. She
collaborated with other members “to
improve our knowledge of and access
to diversity materials from across the
Association.”
Prior to her work as President of the
ALA, Young held many important
positions within the ALA: she was a
member of the ALA Executive Board
from 2009-2012; the Awards
Committee from 2012-2014; the
Planning and Budget Assembly from
2012-2014; the Fundraising Committee
from 2012-2013; the Resolutions
Committee from 2008-2009; and the
ALA Task Force on Electronic Member
Participation from 2007-2009. Her
leadership roles are almost as
numerous: from 2009-2010 she served
as the president of the New Members
Round Table (and served as councilor
for the same period from 2005-2008);
from 2003-2004 she served as the
Diversity Committee chair; and from
2004-2005 she served as the Student
Chapter of the Year chair.
The 75th anniversary is a
reminder of what is a long and
venerable history for the School of
Library and Information Sciences. The
School (along with the School of
Library and Information Sciences’
Library) was founded in 1939, and was
formally organized as a professional
THE SCHOOL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION
SCIENCES CELEBRATES ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Courtney Young, ALA President, 2014-15

12. 12
school two years later. The earliest part-time faculty for the
program was Parepa Watson - her assistant librarian was Mar-
jorie Shepard, the daughter of NCCU's founder, Dr. James E.
Shepard. Though the undergraduate program for Library Sci-
ence was discontinued in 1943, a master’s program was begun
in 1950 and the first Master of Library Science (MLS) degree
was awarded the next year. The School reached a major mile-
stone in 1975 when it was accredited by the ALA under the
leadership of Dean Annette Lewis Phinazee (1970-1983). It
has maintained its accredited status since that date.
In the next decades several additions were made to
the degree programs offered. The School began offering a
joint degree in law librarianship and legal information systems
in 1988 and an interdisciplinary program in information sci-
ence leading to the Master of Information Science (MIS) de-
gree in 1990.
Today, the School offers more options, such as con-
centrations in Digital Librarianship, Health Informatics, and a
study abroad program to the Royal School of Library and Infor-
mation Studies in Denmark. The School also offers a joint Mas-
ter of Business Administration/Master of Library Science
(MBA/MIS) degree.
The SLIS’ Library is a member of the Triangle Research
Library Network (TRLN), and through this network resources
are shared among the regional research libraries at Duke Uni-
versity, North Carolina State University, and the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Moreover, the library functions
as a teaching library, allowing SLIS graduate assistants to gain
hands-on experience in cataloging, reference services, and
strategic planning. Collections of note in the library include the
William Tucker Collection, which is comprised of children’s
materials, works by African-American authors and illustrators,
and the Black Librarians Collection, which contains personal
papers donated to SLIS by African-American librarians.
Program participants included Dr. (and Dean) Irene
Owens, who was appointed Dean of the School of Library and
Information Sciences in 2005. She has earned numerous
awards and distinctions in her career, including the 2011 Na-
tional Council of Negro Women, Inc. Award for Distinguished
Professional Achievement, and was selected in 2013 to attend
the “Inner Strengths of Successful Leaders” program at Har-
vard University. She was recently appointed to the Committee
on Accreditation of the American Library Association (July 1,
2014 – June 30, 2016). Other participants included Dr. Ismail
Abdullahi who has taught at SLIS since 2005. He is a distin-
guished member of the American Library Association (ALA)
and the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA).
He has acted as chairperson for numerous committees in both
associations, and has authored the widely used Global Library
and Information Science: A Textbook for Students and Educa-
tors. Dr. Tau Kadhi, the Associate Provost for Academic Pro-
gramming and Undergraduate Research at NCCU brought
greetings on behalf of the Provost and Chancellor of the Uni-
versity, Dr. Debra Saunders-White. Dr. Ira T. Wiggins, tenor
saxophonist and flutist and Director of Jazz Studies at NCCU
provided special music in honor of the 75th Anniversary cele-
bration.
A number of prominent individuals recognized the
School of Library and Information Sciences on its 75th Anniver-
sary. Karen L. O’Brian, Director of the ALA Office for Accredita-
tion, wrote that “as the only school within an HBCU to have an
ALA-accredited program, the occasion is especially significant
to the library and information services field.” She also praised
Dr. Irene Owens for her service as Dean, thanking her and
NCCU colleague Dr. Pauletta Brown Bracy for their “steadfast
service so graciously given to accreditation for continuous im-
provement in education for the profession.”
Dr. Debra Saunders-White, Chancellor, North Carolina
Central University, noted that in its 75 years the School has
“served as a true gateway to opportunity for alumni from a
diverse range of ethnicities,” and that the School “has been a
nationally ranked program for NCCU for several years.”
Cora Cole-McFadden, Mayor Pro-Tempore of the City
of Durham wrote that, “it is with a great sense of gratitude
that I salute Dr. Irene Owens and her leadership team for the
stellar contributions made in educating fellow Eagles as librari-
ans and information professionals who are recognized in the
city, the state, the nation, and internationally among the best
prepared for their careers.”
Finally, Dr. Gary Marchionini, Dean and Cary C.
Boshamer Distinguished Professor, at the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Information and Library Sci-
ence addressed the Dean, writing that, “the success of SLIS
over the past 75 years is a testament to the wisdom of North
Carolina citizens to support high-quality education as well as
to the leadership of [Dean Owens] and former deans in shap-
ing programs that lead our field forward.” It has been a re-
markable accomplishment for the School of Library and Infor-
mation Sciences to grow and prosper in the way it has over the
last 75 years. Students and colleagues from all the Library and
Information Science programs in North Carolina and South
Carolina as well as other universities, alumni, and friends
shared in this special occasion.
...continued from page 11, 75th Anniversary.

13. 13
The North Carolina Central University’s School of
Library and Information Sciences hosted the Twenty-Fifth
North Carolina Serials Conference on March 21, 2016 at
The William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education
located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The theme of the
conference was “NC Serials Conference at 25: The Age of
Discovery.”
Dorothea Salo, Faculty Associate at the
School of Library & Information Studies, University of
Wisconsin-Madison, delivered the keynote address
titled, “What Happens When It’s All on the
Internet?.” Salo addressed the issue of scholarly
publishing and open access. We as librarians know
that everything is not on the internet because as Salo
stated, “lots of stuff is still analog-only, what is digital
may not be online and what’s online, ESPECIALLY if
its academic scholarship, is probably behind a
paywall.” She also feels that librarians have a fear of
job displacement and doubt about moving away from
the, “personal-shopper-border-guard life toward a
more open life.” Salo believes that there will still be
“PLENTY” of work for librarians to do in fulfilling their
career goals. Ms. Salo’s complete presentation is
available on the conference website.
Other sessions included topics on visualizing
collections data, handling demand-driven acquisitions,
making the unseen seen, the power of EDS, useful
collection Metadata, taming the E-Chaos through standards
and best practices, using CORAL ERM for serials acquisitions
management, library roles in supporting creation of serials
and is this a quality journal to publish in? A panel
discussion on, “Serials: The Last 25 years and Looking
Forward to the Next 25” was also held. The closing session
was led by Rob Ross, Executive Director of NC LIVE entitled
“Discovery from the Outside In”.
A special 25th
Anniversary Celebration was held
during lunch honoring the founder, Dr. Benjamin F. Speller,
Jr. former Dean of the School of Library and Information
Sciences, the first conference coordinator, Duncan Smith,
Product Manager at Novelist/EBSCO Publishing, and two
founding planning committee members, Evelyn Council,
Fayetteville State University retiree and Eleanor Cook, East
Carolina University. Three of the honorees received
certificates of appreciation.
A poster commemorating the 25th NC Serials
Conference Anniversary was designed by Mrs. Virginia
Purefoy Jones and two Graduate Library Assistants, Alicia
Melton (MLS ‘2016) and Keisha Parris (MLS ‘2015). Ms.
Keondra Bailey, Executive Assistant to the Dean also
assisted in updating the poster. A Wordle using phrases
from the conference themes was created by Mrs. Purefoy
Jones and Keisha Parris.
SLIS SPONSORS TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL NORTH
CAROLINA SERIALS CONFERENCE
Honorees Left to Right: Evelyn Council, Eleanor Cook, Benjamin F.
Speller, Jr., and Duncan Smith

14. 14
...continued from page 13, 25th Annual NCSC.
Save the Date: 26th North Carolina Serials Conference will be held March 31, 2017 at the William and
Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Left to Right: Ms. Vanessa Lennon, Assistant to the Third Coordinator; Mrs. Virginia
Purefoy Jones, Third Coordinator and SLIS Librarian; and Mrs. Jamillah Scott-
Branch, Head, Reference Services, James E. Shepard Memorial Library and SLIS
Alumni President
Dean Irene Owens and Mrs. Virginia Purefoy Jones with the NCSC
Wordle.
This year’s conference introduced
two new posters designed for the
25th anniversary. The first poster
presented the NC Serials
Conference’s history and
showcased themes from the
conference’s inception in 1990 to
the 25th Annual in 2016. Also
listed were conference sponsors
and a list of the organizations and
institutions represented at the
conference.
The second poster introduced at this
year’s conference was a Wordle
highlighting the conference themes
in a colorful display.

15. 15
Dr. Mae Rodney graduated from NCCU's School of
Library and Information Sciences in 1969. and was the first
African-American to receive a Ph.D. in Library Science from
UNC-Chapel Hill. She recently retired from leading the C. G.
O'Kelley Library at Winston-Salem State University, where
she served for 32 years. Her contributions are manifold and
include fostering creativity, updating the library to mesh
with the latest technologies, developing partnerships
between librarians and faculty, and innumerable other
contributions, some of which are discussed below. Among
her positions prior to her work at the C. G. O'Kelley Library,
Dr. Rodney served as the head reference librarian at NCCU.
Ethan Margolis, Student Assistant to the Dean for
Communications, interviewed her via email on April 28,
2016.
Ethan Margolis: As the leader of the C. G. O’Kelley
Library, how did you foster an environment of creativity
that helped the library adapt so well to change?
Dr. Rodney: There were multiple strategies utilized:
I encouraged individuals to be involved in the upcoming
changes through planning and training. Training became an
integral aspect of the library program. Created a culture of
change where new ideas were introduced annually.
Selected new employees who wanted to grow within the
profession, and use as many of their ideas as possible. Kept
the community (staff, faculty, students and alumni)
informed about the changes. Kept students' needs and the
expectation for them to succeed in the forefront.
EM: In the previous year’s SLIS Newsletter it was written
that you began a transformation of WSSU’s library
services into a totally automated and technology-based
system of functioning in 1987. What did this entail? How
did you come to the decision to begin such a large shift?
Dr. Rodney: Transforming O’Kelly Library into a
technology-based enterprise was necessary because nation
-wide that was the direction of academic library services. In
addition, within the North Carolina University library
system, technology was being introduced, and upgrades
were made within each library, which resulted in a state
network being created. The WSSU strategies used included:
having a goal to have the best and most reliable technology
on campus in the library; incorporating mainstream
technology advances; using a large chunk of money
annually to enhance technology and access; adhering to the
goal to give students access to the information that they
required, and offering a learning environment comparable
to other libraries within the region. I also recognized that
technology had to be embraced to keep students in the
library, and hiring and maintaining a staff that was
technology savvy and staff who were committed to
assisting students.
EM: How did you accomplish the task of maintaining a
strong partnership between faculty and librarians?
Dr. Rodney: A strong partnership was established with the
faculty by recognizing that they were the agents who
required students to use the resources and acknowledged
that faculty needed to be informed about how to use the
new library technology and software. Librarians were given
the opportunity to share their knowledge with faculty
during faculty luncheons which were held about 4 years in
a row. (Librarians made presentations regarding the
services that they could provide.) Librarians were required
to meet with faculty either individually or within
departmental meetings to share information about new
resources or library services; and statistics were collected
monthly on their contact with faculty. Librarians were also
provided workshops on how to connect with faculty and
how to improve their presentation skills, which gave
INTERVIEW WITH DR. MAE RODNEY, RETIRED DIRECTOR
OF LIBRARY SERVICES AT WINSTON-SALEM STATE
UNIVERSITY AND SLIS ALUMNA

16. 16
...continued from page 15, Dr. Mae Rodney.
them new strategies to present to
faculty and the confidence needed
to make the contacts.
Librarians were expected to con-
stantly provide instruction ses-
sions within classes. To accom-
plish this goal, librarians called
faculty members to schedule clas-
ses as necessary.
The staff also had the opportunity
to share information with new
faculty members during university
-sponsored orientation sessions.
EM: Your book, Friends Inviting
Friends: Twenty-Five Years of
Friend-Raising, is a major accom-
plishment. How does “friend-
raising” differ from traditional
fund-raising?
Dr. Rodney: Friends Inviting
Friends was a fund-raising method
which recognized that the library
did not have a direct relationship
with the alumni to launch a fund-
raising effort. It was necessary to
build a database of names and
addresses of individuals who
would support the library. To
build the database and an audi-
ence, the WSSU Friends of the Li-
brary and the library staff had to
identify individuals who would
attend events and make a contri-
bution. When friends invited their
colleagues that increased the au-
dience, the reach of the organiza-
tion, and the possibility of success.
The important component of the
concept was that friends would
invite their friends to attend
events - this recognized that indi-
viduals attended events with their
friends.
EM: How did your work as Head
Reference Librarian at NCCU help
prepare you for your work at
WSSU?
Dr. Rodney: My NCCU work expe-
rience (serials, curriculum materi-
als center, reference, inter-library
loan, and library instruction) gave
me a broad view of library ser-
vices and the recognition that one
service was not the foundation for
quality library services. I recog-
nized that current resources and a
staff with a diverse knowledge-
base were important in research,
instruction, and learning.
EM: What role(s) do you see the
academic library providing in the
next 20 years? Will they be sig-
nificantly different from the roles
they play today?
Dr. Rodney: The role of the aca-
demic library in 20 years is not
clear at all. The factors that cloud
the picture include:
 How will the next generation
of users view the library and
how will they use technology
to locate information? Will the
library be part of their learning
process?
 Will faculty members incorpo-
rate new ways to engage
learners in how to use infor-
mation within the learning
process? Faculty will need to
move beyond writing the
standard research paper.
 Will learning be so textbook or
test focused that exploring
information will be lost?
 Will librarians be innovative
enough in their outreach
efforts to pull faculty and
learners into the facility to get
them to explore the services,
collections and resources?
 Will the technology utilized
become the most important
aspect of the conversation in-
stead of how to effectively lo-
cate, use, and transform infor-
mation?
 What areas/subjects will li-
brary school education/
curriculum emphasize?
 Will the role of information
literacy in life-long learning be
strengthened so that individu-
als will appreciate how to use
information to make intelli-
gent decisions?
Dr. Mae Rodney is the former Director
of C.G. O’Kelley Library on the campus
of Winston-Salem State University. Dr.
Rodney will be honored for her
achievements and contributions to the
profession at this year’s SLIS Awarding
of Degrees Ceremony on May 13th.

17. 17
ALUMNI NEWS AND PUBLICATIONS
Mr. Clayton Mack, a SLIS
alumnus, has helped to lead the North
Carolina Central University’s Quiz
Bowl team to the final four. The
accomplishment secured a $20,000
grant for the University. Mr. Mack
spent several months helping to
prepare the team for the tournament,
which began on April 2nd and took
place in Torrance, California.
NCCU was eliminated from
the tournament in the semifinal
round, losing to Chicago State
University by a score of 385-375, but
not before adding to the fantastic
record of teams past. The NCCU quiz
bowl team had previously advanced to
the final four six times (1993, 1997,
2006, 2009, 2010, and 2014), and,
including this year’s
winnings, they have
earned a staggering
total of $234,500.
Zuri M.
Gurganious, a
geography major, was
named one of the
tournament all-stars –
an honor that netted
another $1,000 grant
for the team. Mr. Mack
coached alongside of Mr.
Christopher A. Graves, and
together with Dr. Janice S.
Dargan who advised the team, they
have turned in yet another impressive
result for NCCU.
NCCU ALUMNUS LEADS NCCU TEAM TO THE FINAL FOUR AT THE
HONDA NATIONAL CAMPUS ALL-STAR CHALLENGE QUIZ BOWL
Front Row: Damian J. Medearis Back Row l to r: Emani J.
Mills, Captain; Zuri M. Gurganious; Joshua R. Strayhorn;
Jelaina R. Shipman
SLIS Alumnus Awarded American Library Association's Inaugural Ernest A. DiMattia Award for
Innovation and Service to Community and Profession
SLIS alumnus Kelvin Watson was recently awarded with the American Library Association's inaugural Ernest A. DiMattia Award
for Innovation and Service to Community and Profession. Mr. Watson is the Queens Library’s Chief Innovation and Technology Officer. His
duties in the position include upkeep of the library system's technology, but his efforts have extended far beyond that. Watson said that
he considers himself a “21st
century librarian,” and that his efforts have been directed at "thinking of new ways to deliver those new infor-
mation resources to tablets, mobile hot-spots and different electronic programs and services." Under Watson's leadership, the library
system premiered smartphone and tablet applications that provide access to the library's physical and electronic resources for patrons.
Siobahn Day (MIS, '09) started as a PhD student in Computer Science at North Carolina Agricultural and
Technical State (NCA&T) University last fall. She is interested in doing research in Artificial Immunity Systems specifically
focusing on author anonymity. Ms. Day was honored with the 2016 "Student Researcher Award" in her college at AT&T
on May 4, 2016. Also, her first publication was just printed in the Proceedings of the 27th Modern Artificial Intelligence
and Cognitive Science (MAICS) Conference (April, 2016) as a co-author of "Towards the Development of a Cyber Analysis
& Advisement Tool (CAAT) for Mitigating De-Anonymization Attacks." Congratulations to one of our alumni successfully
going on for another degree.
SIOBAHN DAY BEGINS DOCTORAL DEGREE

18. 18
SLIS Alumna (1996) and Ph.D. student at the University
of North Carolina’s School of Information and Library Science,
Nina Exner, recently published a new article entitled, “Trying to
Measure Success: A Mid-size Academic Library Grapples with
Assessing a Popular Tablet Loan Project” in the 2015 edition of
Library Technology Reports (vol. 51, no. 7). She and her co-
authors, Stephen Bollinger and Octavious Spruill, took it upon
themselves to study the effectiveness of a pilot program
undertaken by North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State
University's F. D. Bluford Library. In the program iPads were lent
to both students and faculty. They employed Kaplan and
Norton’s Balanced Scorecard evaluation to determine, in a real
world scenario, if the program had been effective and should be
continued. Their results were not entirely decisive, as,
depending on the funding that the library will receive, a case
could be made for both discontinuing the program or for
continuing to fund it. The article is an excellent example of using
scholarly methodology to help assess what the optimal actions
of a real-world library should look like.
NINA EXNER, SLIS ALUMNA, PUBLISHES “TRYING
TO MEASURE SUCCESS: A MID-SIZE ACADEMIC
LIBRARY GRAPPLES WITH ASSESSING A
POPULAR TABLET LOAN PROJECT”
SLIS alumna Ronnika Williams
(Class of 2014) has recently published her
well-received book, Adventures of
Alleykats: Historical Sleuths: The Missing
President. It has received excellent reviews
from readers. One reported that “'The
Missing President' was indeed the perfect
purchase. I love that the characters are
diverse and have unique personalities, yet
all share an eager desire to learn and
discover the unknown.” Ms. Williams was
also a second place winner in the NCCU
Research Colloquium in 2014.
RONNIKA WILLIAMS
PUBLISHES BOOK
SLIS alumnus Alan
Bailey recently published a
successful guide to building a
core collection for
preschoolers. The book,
which came out in 2014, is
entitled Building a Core Print
Collection for Preschoolers. It
is a guided annotated
bibliography that covers
books of all types that would
be valuable for a library to
purchase for its preschool-
aged patrons. He has hand-
picked over 200 titles, and thoroughly describes each – even
going so far as to provide reviews from scholarly journals for
many of them.
ALAN BAILEY PUBLISHES BUILDING A CORE
PRINT COLLECTION FOR PRESCHOOLERS

19. 19
SLIS Alumnus, Dr. Vann R. Newkirk, published a collection of essays
entitled New Life for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This book
explores the challenges that Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
face, while, at the same time, highlighting strategies for success to ensure that
HBCUs will continue to play a crucial role in the education of all Americans. Dr.
Newkirk has previously written the historical monograph, Lynching in North
Carolina in 2008, in addition to a number of articles. Most prominent among these
are “That Spirit Must be Broken: The Mutilation of Joseph Needleman and North
Carolina’s Effort to Prosecute Lynch Mob Participants During the 1920s,” Southern
Jewish History (Vol. 13, 2010), and “Washed Down in Blood: Murder on the
Schooner Harry A. Berwind,” North Carolina Historical Review (Vol. 91, no. 1,
January 2014).
DR. VANN R. NEWKIRK PUBLISHES NEW BOOK
Cynthia Ham-Oliver, a 2010 SLIS alumna, was part of the editorial team that published the
successful book, In the Eye of the Muses: Selections from the Clark Atlanta University Art Collection.
Cynthia graduated from NCCU with honors, and subsequently was accepted into Florida State
University’s Post-Masters Library Specialist online program in digital media. She is currently the
assistant curator of collections at Clark Atlanta University Art Gallery where she helped write In the
Eye of the Muses.
CYNTHIA HAM-OLIVER PART OF EDITORIAL TEAM THAT AUTHORS SUCCESSFUL
BOOK, “IN THE EYE OF MUSES: SELECTIONS FROM THE CLARK ATLANTA
UNIVERSITY ART COLLECTION”
On March 30, 2016, SLIS alumnus
Orolando Duffus was honored for his
service and accomplishments as Resident
Diversity Librarian at UNC-Greenboro’s
(UNCG) Jackson Library. Duffus began
serving as Resident Diversity Librarian in
2014, and during his term has overseen
the creation of an array of initiatives aimed
at promoting multicultural engagement.
He has received numerous awards such as
the International Federation of Librarians
(IFLA) 2016 Congress Fellowship, allowing
him to attend the 2016 IFLA World Library and Information
Congress in Columbus, Ohio. In 2015, he served as a co-presenter
on a panel entitled, “Diversity in a Flash: A
Lightning Showcase of Residency Diversity
Initiatives,” at the American Library
Association’s (ALA) Annual Conference in San
Francisco. His later poster session, “The Library
as an Incubator of Anti-Discrimination and
Multicultural Engagement,” won first place
during the ALA Diversity and Outreach Fair. On
campus, Mr. Duffus has organized original
programs such as the Diversity and Global
Engagement Expo, a program designed to
highlight and showcase cultural exchange and
intelligence throughout the UNCG campus. Mr. Duffus will serve
as Resident Diversity Librarian through June 2016.
OROLANDO DUFFUS (MLS ‘13) HONORED AT UNC GREENSBORO

20. 20

21. 21
CONTRIBUTORS
Chancellor's Circle
($1 million and above)
Institute of Museum and
Library Services (IMLS)
Ambassadors ($10,000 -
$49,999)
H.W. Wilson Company
Dean's Club ($1,000-$9,999)
Mrs. Ellen B. Arney
Mr. Gregory L. Battle
Mrs. Dorothy W. Campbell
Mrs. Marion G. Miles
Dr. Irene Owens
Ms. Hazel A. Sanders
Triangle Community
Foundation, Inc.
Affiliates ($500-$999)
Mrs. Marchyco J . Harrell
Mrs. Myrtle J. McNeill
Dr. Deborah E. Swain
Mr. Bobby Wynn
Associates ($250-$499)
Dr. Robert E. Burgin
Carolinas HealthCare System
Mrs. Lavonda G. Gillespie
Ms. Gloria K. Keyes
Dr. Mae L. Rodney
Mrs. Eliza S. Robertson
Mrs. Rosa W. Small
Supporters (Up to $250)
Dr. Ismail H. Abdullahi
ASIS&T Carolinas
Ms. Anne Berkley
Mr. Kyle Brady
Mr. Derek Brinson
Ms. Mary K. Chwialkowski
Ms. Melanie B. Collins
Mr. Harry L. Cooke
Mr. Jamal L Cromity
Ms. Siobhan Day
Ms. Emily D. Davis
Ms. Darrah Degnan
Ms. Ellen E. Dickey
Ms. Nicole Duggins
Ms. Latonya M. Everett
Mrs. Denise A. Friedrich
Ms. Stella Harrell
Ms. Sophia E. Harrison
Mr. and Mrs. William Harvey
Ms. Virginia Purefoy Jones
Mr. Walter L. and Mrs. Charlie
B. Lackey
Ms. Thelma Little
Dr. Kim P. Mayo
Dr. Joseph A. Meloche
Ms. Keyunda Miller
Mrs. Burma J. Paige-Stokes
Ms. Mattie Perry-Johnson
Ms. Verna C. Robinson
Ms. Eugenia R. Rogers
Dr. Patrick F. Roughen
Mrs. Norma McCoy Royal
Ms. Carla Sarratt
Mrs. Doris J. Tomlinson
Ms. Barbara A. White
We would like to thank the following people and organizations for their support of the North
Carolina Central University School of Library and Information Sciences.

22. 22
FACULTY AND STAFF
Owens, Irene – Dean and Professor
B.S., Barber Scotia College; M.L.S., University of Maryland;
M.A.R.S., Howard University; Ph.D., University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
Abdullahi, Ismail – Associate Professor
M.L.S., North Carolina Central University; Ph.D., University of
Pittsburgh
Amaniampong, Gyesi – Adjunct
M.S., Dresden University of Technology; Ph.D., University of
Cambridge
Bracy, Pauletta B. – Professor
B.A., Fisk University; M.L.S., University of Pittsburgh; Ph.D.,
University of Michigan
Chapman, Joyce –Adjunct
B.A. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, M.S.I.S.,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Cogdell, Edna—Adjunct
M.L.I.S., North Carolina Central University; Ed.D., Fayetteville
State University
Green, Ravonne—Adjunct
Jones, Virginia Purefoy – Librarian
B.A., M.L.S., North Carolina Central University
Mayo, Kim – Adjunct
B.A., Hofstra University; M.L.S., North Carolina Central
University; Ed.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Meloche, Joseph–Assistant Professor
B.A. – Simon Fraser University, BC, Canada, MLS – University of
Toronto, Ph.D. – University of Wollengong, NSW, Australia
Montgomery, Barbara J. – Adjunct
Ph.D. University of South Carolina
Morgan, Chad – Visiting Assistant Professor
B.A., University of Florida; M.A., Ph.D., University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill
Orblych, Michael Teague—Adjunct
Ozoh, Ruphina – Adjunct
Ph.D., Capella University; M.S.L.S, Clark Atlanta University; B.A.,
University of Nigeria
Payton-Johnson, Lori – Adjunct
Ph.D., UNC-Chapel Hill
Peterson, Gabriel – Associate Professor
B.S., New Mexico State University; M.S., University of Texas at
San Antonio; Ph.D., University of Missouri at Columbia
Roughen, Patrick – Assistant Professor
B.S., Armstrong State University, MLIS – Valdosta State
University, J.D. University of Georgia Law School, Ph.D.
University of South Carolina;
Swain, Deborah E. – Associate Professor
B.A., Duke University; M.A., Ph.D., University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
Terrell, Thomas – Adjunct
B.A., Florida Technological University; M.A., Ed.D., University of
Central Florida
Yoo, Eun-Young – Associate Professor
B.A., M.A., Sogang University., Seoul, Korea; Ph.D. University of
Wisconsin-Madison

23. 23
BRIEF HISTORY—SCHOOL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCES
The School of Library and Information Sciences of North Carolina Central University was authorized by the State Legisla-
ture in 1939 when the charter of the then North Carolina College for Negroes was amended for the purpose of allowing the estab-
lishment of graduate and professional programs at the College. That amendment established the program in library education and
the mission of educating African American librarians for the state of North Carolina.
In the fall of 1939, the College offered a course of study through the Department of Library Science. The School of Library
Science was organized as a professional school in 1941. Three programs were offered during the first two years of the operation of
the School of Library Science. The professional program for the Bachelor of Library Science (B.L.S.) degree was established for per-
sons holding a baccalaureate degree at the time of entrance, and undergraduate majors and minors were offered through the Col-
lege of Arts and Sciences.
The undergraduate major was discontinued in 1943. Ten years later, in 1953, the School awarded its final B.L.S. degree.
The master's program in Library Science was initiated in 1950, with the first Master of Library Science (M.L.S.) degree being award-
ed in 1951. The master's program in Library Science was originally accredited by the American Library Association in 1975. The
name of the school was changed to the School of Library and Information Sciences in 1984. In January, 1989, the School began
offering a joint degree program in law librarianship and legal information systems. Beginning with the 1990-91 academic year, the
School now offers an interdisciplinary program in Information Science leading to the Master of Information Science (M.I.S.) degree.
The SLIS also offers a Joint Degree Program with the School of Business (M.B.A./M.I.S.)
The first part-time faculty for the program was Parepa Watson, Librarian for the Shepard Library, and Assistant Librarian,
Marjorie Shepard, the daughter of founder, Dr. James E. Shepard. The first course was a general one in school librarianship. In 1939
Mary Peacock Douglas, State Library Advisor, came to the school and organized a program for school librarians, forming the nucle-
us of the School of Library and Information Science. That same year North Carolina College for Negroes received authorization from
the North Carolina General Assembly to establish a Department. By 1941, the school began operating as a professional school. The
faculty continued to grow, but most notably during the 1970s and then started peaking again at the turn of the century with the
continuing trend remaining. The Deans of the School are as follows:
Susan Grey Akers 1941-1946
Dorothy Williams 1946-1947
Benjamin F. Smith 1947-1949
Daniel Eric Moore 1949-1963
Evelyn B. Pope 1963-1970
Annette Phinazee 1970-1983
Benjamin F. Speller 1983-2003
Robert Ballard 2003-2005 (Acting Interim)
Irene Owens 2005-Present

24. 24
Editorial Staff:
Dr. Irene Owens, Dean of the School of Library and Information Sciences
Mr. Ethan Margolis, Dean’s Graduate Assistant for Communications
Ms. Keondra Bailey, Executive Assistant to the Dean
Mrs. Virginia Purefoy Jones, University Librarian for the School of Library and Information Sciences