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January 20, 2006
Researching the impact of the closing of the CAU School of Library and Information Studies
Risa Mulligan is a Master's of Library Science candidate at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. She is interested in studying the closing of the Clark Atlanta University School of Library and Information Studies.
She approached the HBCU Library Alliance with the thought that some of the people involved in the HBCU Library Alliance would be willing to speak with her.
Her research is being conducted in order to find out more about the circumstances surrounding the CAU School of Library and Information Studies closure. Ms. Mulligan would like to know more about why the institution shut down, and how the event will affect the future of library education, and the profession in general. Such research can help both librarians and educators in the future. Any information from present or past CAU students, staff and/or administration would be wonderful.
Your responses posted here will be delivered to Ms. Mulligan, so anything you share will be helpful to her research.
Posted by hbculibraries at January 20, 2006 10:27 AM
Comments
I regret the closing of the CAU School of Library and Information Science. It has produced some of the finest Library Media Specialists in the country. As a graduate of the class of '73, I have experienced a heightened sense of respect and admiration when I mentioned my alma mater. It is such a pity that the school was forced to close. Any chance of revival?
Posted by: Carol D. James at January 23, 2006 02:03 PM
I was extremely curious about this subject, mostly because I did not have any "inside" information about what has occurred, or what will happen in the future of CAU SLIS. After having spoken with some participants, I feel the layers are there and should be examined!
I am sure anyone else with such details would be a welcome blogger to this site.
Does anyone know what happened with the Save Libraries and Information Studies group (they had a website that is now down)?
Posted by: Risa Mulligan at January 24, 2006 10:51 PM
Hi Risa,
Regarding your researching the closing of CAU and contacting those having direct knowledge about the event, you might want to contact Dr. Jane Robbins, former Dean of the College of Library and Information at Florida State University, and DR. Dan Barron, former Dean of the College of Mass Communications & Information Studies at the University of South Carolina. They both went to Atlanta and met with the committee fighting to keep the School open. In addition, Dr. Robbins served as a member of the ALA Accreditation Committee who conducted CAU’s last accreditation assessment.
You also might want to review the archives of the JESSE Listserv. There was quite a bit of discussion back in 2004 about CAU's closing and trying to keep it open. A letter or two from the previous Dean of CAU, a newspaper article, and other communications were also posted to Jesse. These communications included names of others who were involved in trying to keep the School open. Hopefully, this information provides you a bit of a lead in your research.
Ruth
Posted by: Ruth Hodges at February 6, 2006 11:39 AM
Thank you, Ruth! I will check all of those sources out. Your info is much appreciated.
Posted by: Risa Mulligan at February 8, 2006 10:22 AM