« Hanover restores $30K to library budget, hours still cut | Main | Library computer resources in demand »

April 3, 2009

Librarians at Rutgers protest vote to drop 'library' from name of school

By ERICA HARBATKIN • Staff Writer • April 2, 2009

RUTGERS — In a move that incited strong protests from a group of librarians, the university Board of Governors voted yesterday to remove the words "library studies" from the name of the School of Communication, Information and Library Studies.

About 20 people involved with the library studies program attended the Board of Governors meeting to show their opposition against the name change proposal, which they said lacked sufficient public discussion and could be detrimental to the library studies program.

The school houses three academic departments — communication, journalism and media studies, and library and information science.

Advocates for the name change said the new name better reflects that range of disciplines, demonstrates a cohesive identity among the programs and provides a simpler identity.

"Our school needs to unify the image we present to the world," said Dan O'Connor, an associate professor in the deparment of library and information science.

The school's faculty voted Feb. 9 to endorse the change, by a vote of 30-10.

Opponents said removing "library studies" from the school's name will alienate alumni and damage the program's name recognition.

"There is a community identification with libraries and librarians and by removing this from the name of the institution, you're breaking it," Maurice Freedman, a library consultant who has a PhD from the school, told the Board of Governors. "Alumni that feel alienated and disconnected are not going to be opening their checkbooks as readily as they would with a name they know and accept."

Jerome Aumente, distinguished professor emeritus, noted that the journalism department developed a strong program despite the decision not to include "journalism" in the school name.

"Journalism was able to grow and thrive in the new school even though we agreed to keep our name off the marquee," Aumente said to the board.

Representatives from the Library and Information Science Student Association asked the board to table the issue until students had the opportunity to participate in the discussion.

"If there is good reason for the name change it would withstand the discussion," Laurie Feistammel, vice president of the student association, said after the meeting.

Jorge Reina Schement, the school's first-year dean, said he met with about 15 student leaders to discuss the name change.

Members of the New Jersey Library Association, which is composed mostly of Rutgers alumni, voiced concerns that the move could signal a decreased commitment to the library program.

"We would have preferred to have a discussion with (the dean) about his vision for the future of the school," said Patricia Tumulty, the executive director of the New Jersey Library Association. "Without knowing his intentions, we have to oppose it."

Schement said there are no plans to cut from the library studies program.

"That is not the case at all. We are investing in it. We believe in it," he said. "We are in a very tough economic situation and we are exploring every possible resource in order to grow the program.This is our great opportunity to invest in the program because everyone else in the country is cutting back."

About 560 students are enrolled in the school's master of library and information science program, while another 150 are enrolled in the PhD program in communication, information and library studies. The library master's program is ranked sixth in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

"If there is good reason for the name change it would withstand the discussion," Laurie Feistammel, vice president of the student association, said after the meeting.

Jorge Reina Schement, the school's first-year dean, said he met with about 15 student leaders to discuss the name change.

Members of the New Jersey Library Association, which is composed mostly of Rutgers alumni, voiced concerns that the move could signal a decreased commitment to the library program.

"We would have preferred to have a discussion with (the dean) about his vision for the future of the school," said Patricia Tumulty, the executive director of the New Jersey Library Association. "Without knowing his intentions, we have to oppose it."

Posted by tumulty at April 3, 2009 7:30 AM

Comments

Post a comment