News from the iSchools

The iSchools Welcome University College Dublin as Newest Member

The iSchools today announced the addition of the University College Dublin (UCD) School of Information and Library Studies to its collective of information schools dedicated to advancing the information field in the 21st century. The addition of UCD means the iSchools now number 28 academic institutions spanning eight countries worldwide.

“We are delighted to include University College Dublin as a member iSchool,” said Harry Bruce, dean of the University of Washington Information School and chair of the iCaucus, governing body of the iSchools. “UCD’s commitment to education and research mesh perfectly with the goals of my fellow deans in the iCaucus. It also furthers our vision for seeing the iSchools movement spread around the world.”

The School of Information and Library Studies at University College Dublin offers undergraduate, Masters, and Ph.D. programs. Their current research investigates ways that information is organized, searched, shared, and created within and across various organizations in industry, academia, government and medicine, as well as in everyday life. They also investigate how technology may facilitate and/or impede ways that information is organized, searched, shared and created.

Diane Sonnenwald, head of school at the UCD School of Information and Library Studies, commented:
“We are honored to become a member of the iSchools organization, and we look forward to collaborating with other iSchools to advance research and education in the information field globally.”

The iSchools organization was founded in 2005 by a worldwide collective of Information Schools dedicated to advancing the information field in the 21st Century. These schools, colleges, and departments have been newly created or are evolving from programs formerly focused on specific tracks such as information technology, library science, informatics, and information science. While each individual iSchool has its own strengths and specializations, together they share a fundamental interest in the relationships between information, people, and technology.

The iSchools also host the annual iConference, a gathering of researchers and professionals from around the world who share the common goal of making a difference through the study of people, information, and technology. The sixth annual iConference is slated for February 8-11, 2011, in Seattle. More information can be found on the iConference website.

For more information, contact

Clark Heideger, (206) 685-8746