Simmons School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) Dean Sanda Erdelez and Professor and Associate Dean Laura Saunders have been awarded a three-year Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) National Leadership Grant of $249,510 to “implement a nationwide system to develop, audit, and share LIS [library and information science] courses with an equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) focus.” (Quoted from the proposal, “Inclusive Library and Information Science Education (ILISE): Promoting Diversity Through a Shared and Inclusive Curriculum.”) SLIS PhD student Ramin Naderi, the Simmons SLIS Dean’s Fellow for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives, will be the program manager.
According to the project description, the program is "loosely modeled on the WISE [Web-based Information Science Education] consortium, a program created in the early days of online education to facilitate access to online courses from students across LIS programs, the ILISE platform aims to create a pool of EDI-infused courses from a range of iSchools and LIS programs in which students from any participating school can enroll and seamlessly transfer credits back to their home institution."
Laura Saunders, Professor and Associate Dean of SLIS, notes that, “It is impossible for each program to address every EDI topic or develop a course on every aspect of EDI. This model will allow LIS programs and their students to benefit from the expertise of faculty from other schools and expand their networks as they interact with peers across programs.”
That interaction across programs and the field at large is key. “We want to share access to courses focused on EDI with students and faculty in other schools,” says Dean Erdelez, who is mindful that the focus on these issues can vary depending on where you study. “This is closely aligned with the values of Simmons and those of SLIS.” These values include a fight for equality and a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, which also dovetail with the Core Values of Librarianship, as stated by the American Library Association (ALA).
The results of the project include, per the grant proposal, “Tools and training materials for inclusive pedagogy and anti-racist education.” These resources will be shared via open access on the project website, conference presentations, and through the ALISE (Association for Library and Information Science Education) webinar series and LIS Pedagogy Chat, in addition to other avenues of outreach.
Past collaborations beyond Simmons SLIS have uniquely prepared the School for this project. “We have established similar collaborative activities within the LIS field,” says Dean Erdelez. “This grant is a natural outcome of building networks with other schools.” Notable programs include the SLIS Library Fellows, which engages a diverse group of students in professional and academic skills, while offering mentorship from librarians. In addition, the 2023 IMLS-funded iLead project with San José State University School of Information enabled a collaboration with national, state, and local partners to plan the development of an openly accessible leadership program for LIS students with an EDI focus. These and other Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives exhibit the School’s support of these students.
With the shared resources that will result from this project, Simmons SLIS and its grant partners seek to benefit not only its own students, but the LIS field, overall. As the proposal states, “MLIS degree students will directly benefit from broader access to well-vetted courses with an EDI focus. However, the project will also impact the field and the communities these librarians serve by graduating students with a stronger grounding in EDI and … helping to increase the representation of historically marginalized and underrepresented communities. Upon successful completion, this nationwide course-sharing platform will democratize graduate students' access to EDI-advancing MLIS courses, regardless of their geographic location and political landscape…. By bridging geographical and political gaps, this project embodies our commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable LIS discipline and profession.”