School of Library and Information Science

The idea for the latest MuseLab exhibit grew out of a Museum Communications course, and was later implemented by students completing their culminating experience: Four chairs rescued from a curb in Kent, Ohio. Four tales of an imagined past. Explore their unique "stories" in this new exhibit.

Watch for blog posts on June 1 and July 1 about this exhibit experience for the CE students.

• MuseLab, 3rd floor, University Library
• Mondays & Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Now through Aug. 16, 2017
• Free admission

If you don't know much about the world of animation, then you probably have not heard of anime. But chances are you have seen it, or at least passed over it while channel surfing. Anime is a distinctive art form of hand-drawn animation that originated in Japan. Its look is colorful - its characters eccentric - and its themes fantastical.

Put that all together and you get a magical form of telling stories that Andrew Badger could not get enough of as a college student searching for a purpose and a career.

“I was getting really, really intrigued by what’s being done in this medium,” Badger said. “It’s not afraid to tell more grownup stories, the kinds you would see on a regular cable network.”

Badger wanted to turn anime into a profession and surround himself with its imaginary wonder and endless options for intelligent plots; but as life would have it, Badger faced his first obstacle.

“Unfortunately, due to a condition that I was born with in my wrist, I can’t hold a pencil very well and so I can’t draw,” Badger said. “It makes it very hard for me to have finite motion control. In order to make animation, whether it be traditional, 2D, 3D, you need to have those skills and that motion control and I sadly don’t have that control, so I can’t make it.”

Badger did not let his impairment steal his passion. He turned his sights in a different direction, one that shifted from anime’s artistry to its history. With roots dating back to the 1910’s, Badger wanted to become an animation historian. He looked at anime’s century long existence and the research conducted. He learned of its emerging art style in the 1960s, its growth internationally, and its rising popularity on the internet. But the more Badger explored, the more he found scholars had exhausted most of the research he was interested in pursuing, leaving little left to study. Badger did not find a solid career path.

Disappointed and frustrated, Badger all but gave up on his dream of playing a role in the anime world. Collecting anime memorabilia from local trade shows was the only way he knew how to keep ties to the magical world. Over time, he expanded his collection’s reach to Akihabara, Japan - known as the best anime town in the world. He found toys, figurines, and special-limited edition materials. Badger also discovered how to find unique items wholesale and from proxy servers internationally. With his knowledge and passion, Badger tried to turn his hobby into a business. But just as his hopes of drawing and then researching anime struggled, so did his business ventures.

Badger eventually enrolled as a graduate student in the School of Library & Information Science in Kent State University’s College of Communication and Information.  It was here where it all started to turn in his favor. After strolling through the Kent Student Center, Badger made a life-altering decision to wonder into the LaunchNET Kent State office, which is the hub for helping entrepreneurs bring ideas, inventions and businesses to life.

At the time, Badger was frustrated with trying to get his business off the ground, and he lacked the confidence to communicate with customers. He was mostly concerned with the way he looked.

“I have a cleft-pallet, and I have some facial scaring. Most people don’t tend to see it, but when they do they seem, like, ‘hey, do I really want to buy from this guy? He looks weird.’” 

Through LaunchNET Kent State, Badger learned the skills necessary to both talk and listen to customers. In a short amount of time, Badger’s business, Anime Beach LLC, grew - as did his confidence. He credits LaunchNET Kent State for helping him flourish and keeping his dream alive.  

“They provided me with not only encouragement, but they gave me all the tools I needed, walked me through all the steps and helped me do it all on a very person level,” Badger said. It’s worth its weight in gold for me. I just can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done for my business.”

Lynn Buchinsky, advisor for LaunchNET Kent State, worked directly with Badger. She has enjoyed watching him flourish from the first day they met.

“He seemed overwhelmed and at a fork-in-the-road,” Buchinsky said. “Through hard work, determination, passion and start-up tools, he acquired the skills to launch his business successfully. We are so proud of Andrew's knowledge, open mindset and ability to collaborate with our team. Through the entrepreneurial process, Andrew has found purpose at Kent State.”

Badger’s goal is to grow his inventory and expand his business by taking part in more conventions and trade shows.  He says what makes Anime Beach unique is its focus on offering select merchandise in an honest and fair manner.

“I try and target the people who want this material and can’t get it and want to buy it from a physical person instead of the mystery of the internet, because sometimes that mystery leads to people getting ripped off,” Badger said.

His path to success has been an uphill battle filled with twists and turns, much like the plots of the stories anime tells. But through it all, Badger’s own character evolved. He never gave up on the hope of a fairytale ending. He has advice for anyone struggling to fulfill a dream.

“Don’t give up hope,” Badger said. “Even though it seems that you can’t get into it, keep trying and working at it because you will eventually get there. Just because something stops you from doing it now, doesn’t mean it will stop you forever.” 

New rankings released by U.S. News & World Report place Kent State University’s School of Library and Information Science among the nation’s top 20 graduate programs in library and information science – again.

Kendra S. Albright, who became director of Kent State's School of Library and Information Science in July 2016, acknowledges the program’s rigorous academic standards and renowned faculty as key factors in the strong ranking.

“Current and future students should be confident that they will receive a relevant, leading-edge education,” Albright said. “Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science has an international reputation for innovation in library and information science research and teaching. Our faculty earn acclaim for their work in emerging areas of the profession, such as new knowledge organization systems, linked data, human information behavior, museum studies, cultural heritage informatics, data sciences and social media studies, among others.”

The school also claims an outstanding history of and continued commitment to pioneering education and research in the information environment of children and youth, Albright adds. Activities include the Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature for Youth, the longest-running conference of its kind in the U.S.; the Marantz Picturebook Research Symposium; and the world-renowned research collection of children’s and youth literature in the Reinberger Children’s Library Center.

“The School of Library and Information Science consistently ranks in the top 20, which is wonderful news for Kent State," said Amy Reynolds, dean of the College of Communication and Information. "It testifies to the excellence of our faculty and staff, as well as the success of our alumni and students. It also proves that the school is headed in the right direction, preparing graduates who can create opportunities in and address the challenges of an information-based society.”

The rankings are based on a fall 2016 survey of deans, program directors and senior faculty at the 51 American Library Association-accredited schools in the U.S. The library and information science programs are ranked every four years. Kent State ranked 19 in this latest round.

With locations at the university's Kent Campus and in the State Library of Ohio in Columbus, the Kent State School of Library and Information Science has the only American Library Association-accredited Master of Library and Information Science program in Ohio and one of the largest in the country. It also offers three other master’s degree programs, in User Experience Design, Knowledge Management and Health Informatics. The M.L.I.S. and M.S. options are available completely online. The school also participates in an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in communication and information. 

In 2016, the school joined the prestigious, international iSchools organization, which includes 77 information schools worldwide. Kent State is Ohio’s only iSchool.

In recognition of the designation, the school will be renamed the School of Information, effective July 1, 2017, following the March 2 approval of the name change by the university’s Board of Trustees.  

Learn more about the School of Library and Information Science

The Women’s Center named 46 women, including five women from CCI, as part of its 2017 class of Mothers, Mentors and Muses.

The 2017 Mothers, Mentors, and Muses of CCI include:

• Jody Boles, Special Assistant, CCI

• Anna Gower, Senior Secretary, Library and Information Science

• Alice Kopunovitz, Administrative Assistant, Communication Studies

• Valora Renicker, Associate Professor, Visual Communication Design

• Molly Taggart, Faculty, Communication Studies

“It’s pleasantly surprising to be honored,” Taggart said. “It makes me feel good that people are noticing the work we do. If people paid more attention, we would be giving out awards constantly.”

All CCI honorees agreed they felt special when receiving notification of their nominations. Knowing their students and colleagues see the value in the work they do is touching, they said.

“My assistant heard I read my nomination email, and she was so excited,” Boles said. “She had been keeping the knowledge of my nomination a secret and couldn’t wait for me to find out. It was so cute.”

The Women’s Center 8th annual Scholarship Fundraiser will take place in the Kent State Ballroom 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, March 14. Connie Schultz, Pulitzer Prize-winning syndicated columnist and CCI professional-in-residence, will be the guest speaker at the fundraiser.

All CCI honorees are planning on attending the scholarship fundraiser. Collectively, they are eager to join the 350 women across campus recognized in previous years as Mothers, Mentors and Muses.

Students, faculty or community members interested in attending the event are invited to register as soon as possible.

EVENT UPDATE: In front of a sell-out crowd of nearly 1,000 people, professors, entrepreneurs, administrators, students and community members gave short, dynamic talks around the theme “Rewind, Rethink, React.” Check out online conversations using @tedxkentstate and #tedxkentstate. Also, KentWired reporters wrote synopses on each of the sessions. (Photos by Alex Ledet)

ORIGINAL STORY: Kent State University is hosting its first TEDx event on Saturday, Feb. 18 in the Kent Student Center Ballroom from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will feature a wide variety of speakers, many of whom are associated with the College of Communication and Information (CCI).

One of the featured speakers is Aaron Bacue, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the School of Communication Studies and an expert in interpersonal and relational communication. He specifically has focused his research on the “dark side” of relationships, such as hurtfulness, bullying and manipulation.

“I’ve always wanted to better understand how romantic partners generate and convey antisocial, relationship-damaging messages using the same skills used to produce prosocial relationship enhancing messages,” Bacue said.

Bacue’s talk will focus on describing different techniques for offering criticism of others’ ideas in a way that fosters dialogue and understanding, rather than defensiveness and aggression.

“From a receiver’s perspective, I am looking forward to learning from others’ knowledge and experience so we can begin to work together to improve society,” Bacue said.

Likewise, Amanda Leu, the coordinator of the CCI Office of Academic Diversity Outreach, will discuss her perspective on diversity initiatives in our society, with a focus on breaking down the systemic barriers that are preventing people from being successful in the first place.

Assistant Professor Marianne Martens, Ph.D., of the School of Library and Information Science, will present a case study of the popular Harry Potter fan site, Pottermore, to examine struggles between fandom and ownership in the digital realm.

Students have a voice in these conversations, too. Daniel Socha, a master’s student in the School of Communication Studies, was invited to speak about ways to re-imagine and think about culture.

“In this growing time of political turbulence surrounding immigration and refugees, I hope that my talk will help audience members think about ways to support refugees and immigrants,” Socha said. “I am honored to be giving the talk along with other incredible members of the Kent State community.”

Will Scharlott, a senior in the School of Visual Communication Design, will draw from his coursework and internship experiences at several internationally recognized design firms and at Facebook to discuss how designers are working with slow connectivity and other limitations in rural and low income regions to create engaging mobile experiences for a more socially-conscious market.

Senior public relations major Keri Richmond from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication will speak about finding value in the most painful experiences. She spent time in the foster system and has now become a big advocate for it.

“I was so excited when I heard Kent State would be holding a TEDx event,” Richmond said. “Ever since I’ve known what a TED Talk was, I have wanted to do one. I want the audience to leave feeling inspired and ready to take action. I hope by sharing a little bit of my story, I will empower others.”

TEDx is a local, self-organized event that brings people together to give audiences TED Talk-like experiences. For more information on TEDx Kent State, including speakers, ticket prices and scheduling, visit https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/20621.

Please join the Kent State University College of Communication and Information as we celebrate our inaugural group of Sichuan Scholars at the “丰(豐)富 Fēngfù: A Time of Abundance” student photography exhibit opening and reception. The exhibit captures Sichuan Province through the eyes of an intrepid group of young scholars and answers the question: Can two weeks in another country transom a student’s life?

When: 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15

Where: Kent State University Library, First Floor Quiet Study Area

RSVP: Meghan Caprez, mcaprez@kent.edu, by Sunday, November 13

Kent State University’s School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) is pleased to announce the winners of two $1,500 research fellowships: Vikki C. Terrile of Brooklyn, N.Y., will receive the Jacqueline M. Albers Guest Scholar in Children’s Literature Fellowship. Denice L. Baldetti of Tiffin, Ohio, will receive the Kenneth and Sylvia Marantz Fellowship for Picturebook Research.

Each fellowship provides a stipend of up to $1,500 for outstanding scholars to spend approximately one week on site at Kent State University, researching picture books, posters or ephemera related to picture books in the Reinberger Children’s Library Center and Marantz Picturebook Collection for the Study of Picturebook Art in the School of Library and Information Science.

Albers Fellowship

The Albers Fellowship, created by SLIS alumna Jacqueline M. Albers, M.L.S. ’94, allows a guest scholar to study children’s literature using the collections in the School’s Reinberger Children’s Library Center.

During her one-week visit to Kent State in July, Terrile examined “housing and homes in contemporary picture books” for young children. She currently serves as the director of community library services at Queens Library in Jamaica, N.Y.

Terrile received her undergraduate degree in English from Wells College, M.S. in library science from Long Island University Palmer School of Library and Information Science and M.A. in urban affairs from Queens College, City University of New York.

Marantz Fellowship

The Marantz Fellowship was created by Sylvia and the late Dr. Kenneth Marantz to encourage scholars from the United States and around the world to use the resources of the Marantz Picturebook Collection in their research on the study of picture books.

Baldetti’s research on “Picture Clues: Exploring Visual and Textual Clues in Children’s Mystery Picture Books” will offer a “critical examination of picture book illustrations, and particularly, how illustrations connect with the storyline to move the text of a mystery picture book forward.” She will visit Kent State in fall 2015.

Baldetti currently serves as the elementary library media specialist and computer instructor at Boulder Creek Elementary School at Paradise Valley Unified School District in Phoenix, Ariz. At the same time, she is pursuing her Master of Library and Information Science, with a focus in children’s literature and museum studies, in Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science. She holds a bachelor’s degree in interior design from Bowling Green State University with a library science minor and a master’s in elementary education with library endorsement from Arizona State University.

Studying and working abroad offer students the unique opportunity of immersing themselves in another country and its culture, as well as providing a competitive edge in the job market. Powell, Ohio, native Celia Emmelhainz, a 2014 graduate of Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science, discovered that for herself in Kazakhstan.

Emmelhainz first visited Central Asia when she was 16. After coming back to the United States, she was so interested in the region she decided to major in Russian area studies at Ohio Dominican University for her undergraduate degree.

Later, Emmelhainz did fieldwork projects in Kazakhstan and Mongolia while studying anthropology in grad school at Texas A&M University. Her studies focused on how people live and how culture, environment, history and economics all mix.

“It was great preparation for working in libraries internationally because it taught me to step back, observe, try to understand how people are thinking and not just react based out of my own American ways of thinking — although I still did that sometimes,” said Emmelhainz.

After receiving her master’s degree in anthropology, Emmelhainz went back to Kazakhstan to work in a new university library in Astana, the country’s capital. The Nazarbayev University library wanted to provide a Western-style education for local students and brought in faculty and staff from abroad.

“It was a really great opportunity for me. I got the opportunity to do professional librarian work even before getting my M.L.I.S., thanks to my existing cultural and research experience in the region,” said Emmelhainz.

Emmelhainz was later recruited to an international school in Astana to serve as its head school librarian. For two years there she ran two libraries at Haileybury Astana, set a long-term strategic plan, wrote new policies and structured new programs.

“In both cases, working with an international startup was really exciting as a young librarian because there was a lot of scope for building new things and sharing aspects of librarianship across cultures,” said Emmelhainz.

Before going to Kazahkstan, Emmelhainz read Getting Ahead By Going Abroad by C. Perry Yeatman and Stacie Nevadomski Berdan. The book highlighted benefits of working overseas and how it allows women to show leadership in ways they might not otherwise be given.

A survey from the book states that 85 percent of women agree their international experience accelerated their careers; 78 percent agree it had a significant, positive impact on compensation; and 71 percent agree they were given greater responsibility earlier in their careers.

Emmelhainz said this has proven true for her. “Working in Kazakhstan jumpstarted my professional career as a librarian. It had me making key decisions, managing staff, juggling all different aspects of the work and developing new collaborations far earlier than I would otherwise have done.”

Emmelhainz worked in professional roles while still a student in the M.L.I.S. program. She said she could directly apply what she was learning in classes to her work, and vice versa — using her work experience to address the readings and coursework with a perspective many other students didn't have. 

Based on her work and studies, Emmelhainz had a scholarly article published about expatriate faculty members and how they do research in Kazakhstan.

After working in Kazakhstan for three years, Emmelhainz returned to the United States in the summer of 2014 in time for graduation from Kent State. That same week, she accepted a social science data librarian position at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.

“It's a big change for me, from a capital city in Asia to a small town in Maine, but I'm really enjoying it,” said Emmelhainz. She now helps students find and use social science datasets at Colby’s academic library.

There are many paths in librarianship, and Emmelhainz said she encourages students and professionals to go abroad, especially as the United States becomes increasingly diverse.

Emmelhainz has also started a collaborative blog to help other data librarians gain the resources they need to be successful as a way of giving back to the profession she has found so rewarding.

Note: Celia Emmelhainz received the 2015 August Alpers award from the School of Library and Information Science. The award is presented to a library and information science graduate who contributed the most to the school as a student while maintaining a good grade point average.

It is late in the evening and the house is finally quiet. This is the time when Cathy Walsh transforms from a mother, a grandmother, a caregiver to her elderly mom, and a fulltime employee, into a Kent State University online student.

Walsh is majoring in organizational communication with a minor in public communication in the College of Communication and Information at Kent State.

She takes as many as three online courses a semester. Balancing home, work and school is not easy, but Cathy is determined to complete her degree.

“I appreciate the flexibility that online classes offer me, and my family does too,” Walsh said. “I am able to schedule my class time and course work around my other commitments which makes getting my degree so much more convenient. If I had to attend every class in person, I may only be able to handle one class each semester.”

In an effort to better reach a growing number of online students like Cathy, some Kent State professors are turning to students and to online faculty for input in helping design quality courses that are engaging and promote learning to new levels.

SURVEYING STUDENTS

Bethany Simunich, Ph.D., director of online pedagogy and research at Kent State, wanted to hear what undergraduates had to say about online courses. Simunich conducted a written survey over several semesters.  Over 250 students took part.

Among many discoveries, Simunich found two surprising. First, students say that online classes are a lot more work than a traditional face-to-face class. Secondly, students miss their professors.

“They miss interacting with the professor,” Simunich said. “They miss having that additional guidance through the course work and getting feedback and help from the professor.”

The gap between the student and professor is often referred to as transactional distance.  It can include both a geographic and a time distance. If students do not get over that barrier, they are less likely to interact in the online class.

“Without instruction, students feel like they’re floating in cyber space alone, Simunich said. “We need to bridge that gap by considering the design of the course.”

SURVEYING INSTRUCTORS

Designing online courses is nothing new to Belinda Boon, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Library and Information Science. Boon teaches nine online classes per year.

“Most of us came into this with no idea how to teach online,” Boon said. “We developed skills in the classroom over time and now we have to transition from being a good teacher in the classroom to being a good teacher online.”

In her quest to best make that transition, Boon developed a study based on existing research. She surveyed 60 full and part-time faculty.

She found that students succeed most in online courses when professors first establish a social presence. Boon says it is vital to connect with students early in the course, communicate with them on a personal level, and get to know them.

Secondly, Boon’s study found the importance of presenting a cognitive presence. This includes weekly instruction and providing content that encourages students to interact.

Thirdly, the research points to the need to establish a teaching presence; meaning they introduced themselves as the facilitator who is there to guide students through the class.

“Once people get acquainted with you they feel more comfortable asking questions and interacting,” Boon said.

Growing Online Courses

Simunich and Boon agree that online learning is here to stay for the sheer convenience of it. The growing enrollment numbers at Kent State are a glaring example of the need to intermix academic advancement with hectic lifestyles.

According to Valerie Kelly, executive director of Kent State Online in the Office of Continuing and Distance Education, there are 16,000 students taking at least one online class at Kent State, which is equivalent to 40 percent of the student population.  Online enrollment is at an all time high, increasing 900 percent from spring 2009 to spring 2014.

Kelly says that nationally, one-third of students taking online courses have a part time job or two. Many are working toward degrees that they never completed. Others are brushing up on classes to advance their careers. Many traditional students living on campus are also taking an online class to help meet requirements for gradation.

“Online courses are convenient for students,” Simunich said. “They find they can schedule them around their job, their family and around face-to-face classes.”

With the influx of students, come a growing number of online course offerings. According to statistics from Kent State Online, this year the Kent Campus alone is offering 677 online classes.  System-wide, Kent State is offering 1208 online courses.

“The focus now is on quality rather than quantity,” Kelly said. “Online courses are entering a new generation of sophistication. The emphasis is on using the digital environment to promote more engagement and better learning opportunities. Students often sign up for an online course because of convenience, but end up taking more because they had a good learning experience.”

Putting Survey Results into Practice

Walsh is familiar with the evolution of online classes. In addition to taking them, she also works as a special assistant in the Office of Continuing & Distance Education at Kent State.

From a student perspective, Walsh finds it essential for instructors of online classes to reach through cyberspace and make a connection. She recalls a favorite class in which the professor responded to every discussion post Walsh made.

“By the end of the semester, I felt like we had a true relationship and she cared that I succeed and really learned the material,” Walsh said. “I know it takes more time and commitment, but it meant a lot to me. It is very easy for an online class to lose any sense of a personal connection between students and the instructor.”

Walsh is on course to graduate in 2017. She says online classes are not the only way to complete her degree, but it is her preference when it comes to juggling family and career.

Kent State University will host more than 200 delegates representing the business community, technology sector, academia, nonprofit, civic and government organizations, and the broader workforce to consider how the university’s newly created Knowledge Sciences Center can help organizations meet the challenges of the 21st-century knowledge economy.

The Knowledge Sciences Symposium will take place Sept. 4 and 5 at the University Center, Kent State University at Stark in Canton, Ohio, and on Sept. 10 and 11 at the National Transportation Library at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.

Participants can attend either session in person or remotely. The free symposium is coordinated by Kent State’s Information Architecture and Knowledge Management program in the College of Communication and Information and is open to anyone interested in learning more about how to leverage knowledge management and engage with the university to transition to the knowledge economy. Organizations of all types and sizes are encouraged to add their voices to the discussion.

Advance registration is required due to the large numbers expected to attend. Visit www.kent.edu/knowledgesciences for details.

To facilitate the discussion and prepare delegates for the symposium, Kent State offered weekly webinars, which have been archived at www.kent.edu/knowledgesciences.

Top sponsors include The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and the Department of Transportation. Pawan Handa, Ph.D, Director of Strategic Integration at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, and Mills Davis, CEO, Project10X, a Washington, D.C.-based research consultancy that specializes in smart technologies, semantic solutions and Web 3.0 business models, will deliver the keynote addresses on the opening day of each session.  

“Goodyear’s longstanding relationship with Kent State University’s knowledge management program continues to be beneficial for both entities,” Handa said. “This symposium is an example of this continual collaboration. At Goodyear, we find that open exchange of knowledge is key to building a learning organization.”

Breakout sessions will feature a panel of experts representing different stakeholder groups, speaking to knowledge economy transition issues that affect their communities. On the second day of the symposium, working groups will help design a blueprint for Kent State’s new Knowledge Sciences Center.

At the Ohio event, Canton mayor William J. Healy II and Stanley T. Wearden, Ph.D , Dean of Kent State’s College of Communication and Information, will deliver opening remarks. In Washington, D.C., opening speakers are Amanda J. Wilson, director, and Mary Moulton, digital librarian, National Transportation Library.

Grounded on vision developed through the webinars and at the two symposium events, the Knowledge Sciences Center will provide learning and training opportunities, serve as a networking hub, support collaborative engagement opportunities, advocate for knowledge sciences issues, support and promote research and development, and provide opportunities to assist communities, cities and states transitioning to the knowledge economy.

“We expect the Knowledge Sciences Center to play a role similar to that of an agricultural extension service as the country built its robust agricultural economy in the 19th century,” said Denise Bedford, Ph.D., Goodyear Professor of Knowledge Management at Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science. “We will accept challenges and problems as well as convene teams of experts to develop affordable and effective solutions for all kinds and sizes of organizations and communities.”

The center will have a physical presence on Kent State University’s Kent Campus as well as a virtual presence on the Internet.

Kent State University’s Information Architecture and Knowledge Management (IAKM) program is part of the School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) in the College of Communication and Information. One of the nation’s top 20 programs (according to U.S. News & World Report), the school offers master’s degrees and certificates in library and information science and IAKM, along with a new, interdisciplinary Ph.D. For more information, visit www.kent.edu/slis.

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Media Contacts:
Cynthia Williams, cdwilla@kent.edu, 330-244-3262
Britney Sage, britney_safe@goodyear.com, 330-796-7067
Eric Mansfield, emansfie@kent.edu, 330-672-2797