Alumni Spotlight: Ron Stafford
After an early career as a photographer, Ron Stafford pivoted to library science, a choice he says changed the course of his life.
Information science graduate makes every course count
Army veteran, first-generation student and transfer Adam Hakes intentionally built a college experience that combined leadership, interdisciplinary learning and practical experience, preparing him to pursue a career in data analytics
First female Black Librarian of Congress offers impactful advice for MLIS students
Former Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden encouraged students to look beyond the stacks and become active community leaders, emphasizing that libraries are about serving people as much as providing information.
"Mark: A Call to Action" to screen in July at Richland Library
This documentary about disability rights advocate Mark Bookman, Ph.D., will screen July 26 at Richland Library Main in Columbia. The free event commemorates the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The evolution of libraries
McKenzie Lemhouse never expected to find her future in library science. Now a librarian at USC Lancaster, she combines research support, student engagement and advocacy to create a welcoming space where students feel seen, supported and connected.
Creating a third space: How Amanda Myers is redefining libraries as hubs for connection, community and service.
For Amanda Myers, libraries are about more than books — they are spaces for connection and community. Now director of events and experience at Richland Library, Myers began her career shelving books in 2007 and has spent years helping shape meaningful experiences for library visitors.
CIC researchers advance solutions for accessible course materials
CIC researchers are working to close the accessibility gap in higher education, introducing a collaborative model to ensure blind, visually impaired, and print-disabled students receive course materials without delay.
Reading between the feathers
You may know Cocky from game day at Williams-Brice, but some of his biggest fans sit on classroom floors, not stadium seats. Behind the yellow beak are two seniors who’ve been involved with Cocky's Reading Express for the last four years.
iSchool celebrates graduates with pride, purpose and a touch of humor
From heartfelt cheers to a memorable keynote on service and humanity, the School of Information Science's spring graduation honored 60 graduates — and even featured a lighthearted family moment that made the crowd chuckle.
Building trust, expanding access: iSchool researchers tackle Information poverty
Faculty member Kim Thompson and Ph.D. student Machiat Tabassum explore how trust in librarians shapes access to information, and how strengthening that trust can help reduce information poverty in today's complex landscape.
7th Annual Augusta Baker Lecture features author Emely Rumble
Rumble will present on her acclaimed book Bibliotherapy in the Bronx, a powerful exploration of how literature can serve as a tool for healing within marginalized communities. The lecture will be Friday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Richland Library Main,
Two universities, separated by an ocean, partner to improve outcomes
The new CIC partnership with Makerere University in Uganda engages them in global learning and supports international scholarly endeavors — both core aspects of Global Carolina.
Valerie Byrd Fort receives coveted I Love My Librarian Award
The American Library Association's award honors 10 exceptional librarians from academic, public and school libraries for expertise, dedication and profound impact on the people in their communities. Byrd Fort receives a $5,000 cash prize
Linda Lucas Walling keynotes the annual Deans' and Directors' Lecture and Awards ceremony
It was a night of both cheerful celebration and deep reflection at the annual event. Walling specialized in inclusive library services, especially for people with disabilities; her book The Disabled Child in the Library earned presidential recognition.
Story time
Cocky’s Reading Express has been promoting childhood literacy for 20 years. The folks behind the popular program revisit the journey.
University Libraries appoints Valerie Vera as research impact librarian
Vera, who earned her Ph.D. in 2025 from the School of Information Science, will partner with USC’s researchers to help showcase their work, be more competitive on grant applications and demonstrate the value of their work both within academia and beyond.
Exploring how artificial intelligence shapes human thinking
At the CIC, Alamir Novin is examining one of the most pressing questions of the digital age: how artificial intelligence shapes the way people think, decide and learn.
Librarians facing workplace trauma find support from CIC professor
A rise in troubling and sometimes aggressive incidents at public libraries highlights the growing challenges faced by librarians and staff. Nearly 70% of urban library workers report experiencing violent or aggressive behavior from patrons, according to a recent study.
ISSA: Growing strong in a rapidly expanding field
The Information Science Student Association is a student organization whose mission is to help students of all majors find internships, discover research opportunities, improve their resumes and network with alumni and other students.
Dispatch from the coop: Cocky meets his goal
Margaret Cook Jackson recaps the goals met during the year-long celebration of the Cocky's Reading Express 20th anniversary.
From the SJMC to the iSchool
When Megan Evans graduated from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications in 2018 she set out to be a voice for the voiceless, but her storytelling talents soon led her down a different path.
Growing collaboration with USC helps Beaufort County schools staff librarians
This fall, five teachers from the school district enrolled in USC's Master of Library and Information Science, a 100% online degree program that prepares certified librarians. The teachers make up BCSD's first cohort enrolled in the partnership.
New course focuses on the history of Black librarians
Public libraries in America are open to all today, but for decades they were segregated. A new summer course from the School of Information Science explored the 150-year history of Black librarians and their impact on the profession.
Garnet Apple Award: Vanessa Kitzie
Asking why is an integral part of Vanessa Kitzie’s personality. As a 2025 winner of the university’s Garnet Apple Award for Teaching Innovation, Kitzie is putting the question to her students in ways that force them to consider emerging technology from every perspective.
Recognizing the bias in AI
Assistant professor Alamir Novin conducted a volunteer-based study on user interaction with AI systems and how user bias evolves. Among the 200 participants, he found evidence of four basic types of cognitive bias.
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