School of Information Studies (iSchool) Professor and Dean’s Scholar for the New Librarianship R. David Lankes has been appointed as the Follett Chair in Library and Information Science at Dominican University’s Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS). Lankes will continue to hold his position at Syracuse while serving as the Follett Chair at Dominican for 2016-2017.
The appointment is the highest academic honor bestowed at GSLIS upon a master researcher and scholar in the profession. The Chair is selected annually for their outstanding teaching ability and superior scholarly achievement.
“I will be working not only with Dominican but also with libraries throughout the Chicago region by focusing on their ‘New Librarianship @ Dominican’ program,” explains Lankes. “This is a year-long program of activities that will serve librarians and library science students across Chicago, and help reinforce GSLIS’s dedication to librarianship in an expanded information environment.”
A cornerstone of the activities planned for Lankes includes coursework that connects GSLIS students with practitioners across the Chicagoland area, in all types of libraries and information settings. In addition, Lankes will present the 2017 Follett Lecture, which is planned for the spring semester of the 2016-17 academic year.
“I am excited about the timing of bringing Dr. Lankes to GSLIS at a time of growth and innovation while we continue to celebrate and enhance our commitment to the core principles and values of librarianship,” says Kate Marek, Dean of GSLIS. “He will continue the tradition of enhanced excellence and visibility the Follett Chair brings to GSLIS.”
“This appointment is an excellent recognition of Dave’s groundbreaking work to define 21st century libraries,” said iSchool interim dean Jeff Stanton. “I’m really looking forward to the insights that Dave brings back from the time he spends in Chicago.”