Kathie Belgum, Exec. Librarian, Univ. of Iowa Law Library writes:
Dear Colleagues:
I am sending out an appeal for help.
You have probably seen the news item in LJ Hotline that the School of
Library and Information Science at the Univrsity of Iowa is targeted for
review and possible elimination. The University of Iowa and the State
of Iowa are in bad financial straits. The University has targeted 50
programs for this intense review with the possible result of phasing out
the programs. Those targeted for for closing appear to be programs
without a doctoral degree. Examples include (in addition to the Library
School): the Department of Dental Hygene, the Department of Home
Economics, the program in human nutrition, the Institute of Child
behavior and instruction in Dutch.
The librarians here at the University are greatly concerned about this
situation and believe strongly that the school should not be closed. It
is one of only 14 Library Schools located west of the Mississippi. It
supports a joint degree program in Law and Library Science with the
first candidate just having started the program this summer. There are
no comparable programs in Minnesota, tthe Dakotas, Nebraska, Colorado or
Wyoming.
I include here a few figures taken from a memo Carl Orgren, the Director
of the School of Library and Information Science. Currently there are
107 full time students enrolled in the MLS program. The average GPA of
entering students is 3.49. Placement results are strong: 91% of the
1990 class found library or information-related jobs. A recent study of
faculty productivity (Library Journal, May 1, 1990) showed Iowa ranked
second in publications per faculty member among non-docctoral programs.
Another personal concern of mine is that librarians are better trained
and more able to manage the collection and dissemination of information
- in whatever form than are computer science professionals. I would not
like to think that computer centers and technology are the be all and
end all of filling users needs for information. Librarians have a
history of able service in the area of research and collection
management. We need well trained, dedicated, enthusiastic members of
the library profession to provide the information retrieval services the
rest of the world - and in particular the legal community - relies on.
Help us if you can. Write a letter stressing the quality of a school
like Iowa and the centrality of libraries to the legal profession. Send
them to the names listed below:
Dean Gerhard Loewenberg
College of Liberal Arts
108 Shaeffer Hall
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa 52242
Dean Leslie Simms
Graduate College
102 Jessup Hall
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa 52242
President Hunter Rawlings III
101 Jessup Hall
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa 52242
The Mid America Association of Law Libraries has passed a resolution in
support of the School of Library and Information Science, University of
Iowa. We would also appreciate your support.
My colleagues and I thank you.
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