Library and Information Science Program Guiding Council

Our guiding council carefully reviews course offerings, curriculum, and competencies to ensure that the iSchool is a leader in library and information science education.

The purpose of the LIS Program Guiding Council is to review the Library and Information Science Program, to study and evaluate information collected on the program’s impact, to make recommendations for future courses of action, and to serve in an advisory and advocacy capacity. The Guiding Council will review documents for ALA Accreditation and may be asked to meet with the External Review Team. The LIS Guiding Council is an outgrowth of the LIS Advisory Council, which was an ad hoc group formed in 2011 to give input into the program. The change to a Guiding Council provides more structure for the group including terms of service.

Membership of the LIS Program Guiding Council shall consist of regular members, with a minimum of 10 people in total. Members of the LIS Guiding Council may include:

iSchool members:

  • Dean of the School of Information Studies
  • Director of the iSchool LIS Program
  • Manager of the iSchool LIS program
  • One (1) LIS faculty member
  • One (1) LIS adjunct faculty member

Student/Alumni members:

  • Two (2) alumni of the iSchool LIS Program
  • Current president of the SU ALA Student Chapter, LISSA
  • One current LIS distance/online student

Non-iSchool affiliate members:

  • Executive director of a NYS-based library consortium
  • Two (2) public library directors
  • One (1) academic library director
  • One (1) corporate librarian or independent information professional
  • Dean of the SU Library
  • Manager or director in a non-library cultural heritage organization

Ex officio members may be appointed to the Guiding Council to provide additional input as needed.

Regular members shall serve for three (3) consecutive years, and may be reappointed for additional terms.

New members shall be appointed by the Director of the Library and Information Science Program, in consultation with the Dean of the School of Information Studies, iSchool LIS faculty, and other members of the Guiding Council.

Student members will serve for one year.

When appointed, ex officio members are given one (1) year terms. They may be reappointed.

The initial members for the LIS Guiding Council were given staggered terms, so that all member terms did not expire simultaneously.

The Council shall have a chairperson who shall preside at meetings, sign any necessary documents, and approve the agenda. The chairperson shall be elected for a one-year term, and may be re-elected.

The LIS Program Guiding Council shall hold at least one meeting a year either face-to-face, via audio/video conference call, or a combination of both. Special meetings may be held as necessary. The annual meeting shall be scheduled during the week prior to graduation weekend. Notice of the place, date, time and agenda for each meeting shall be mailed to each member by the Director of the LIS Program in advance. In order to obtain maximum participation in the yearly meetings, the preferred method of meeting will be via conference call. If a face-to-face meeting is required for all Council members, the iSchool will offer to reimburse reasonable travel expenses.

Draft meeting minutes shall be distributed to members within 30 days of the meeting. Approval of the minutes shall be the first item of business at the following meeting. All minutes will be kept on file in the office of the Dean of the School of Information Studies.

The initial bylaws were adopted by the Dean of the School of Information Studies and the Director of the LIS Program on August 1, 2013. The bylaws and any amendments thereto may be adopted by a majority vote of those present at any meeting. Read the bylaws. 

Amy Gay Senior Manager for Digital Humanities Outreach ITHAKA
Blythe Bennett Academic Affairs Syracuse University
Cara Howe Assistant Director, Archives & Special Collections Colgate
Dane Dell Director of Library Information Systems Onondaga County Public Library
Heather Owen Data Librarian U. Rochester
Laura Soto-Barra VP Research, Archives & Data Strategy Department National Public Radio (NPR)
Ryan Perry Executive Director Executive Director
Mary-Carol Lindbloom Executive Director South Central Regional Library Council
Petrina Jackson Executive Director and Librarian Schlesinger Library of the Harvard Radcliffe Institute
David Seaman Dean of Library Syracuse University
Rebecca Shaffer Mannion Adjunct Faculty, School Librarian Syracuse University
Scott Warren Associate Dean, Research and Scholarship Syracuse University
Shauntee Burns-Simpson Director, Youth and Family Services DC Public Library Foundation
Megan Oakleaf LIS Program Director Syracuse University
Jeffrey Hemsley Interim Dean of iSchool Syracuse University
Stephanie Crespo-Mendez LISSA President Syracuse University
Kelsey (Kye) Lombard Online Student Representative Syracuse University