The mission of the Arizona Library Association shall be to promote library service and librarianship in libraries of all types in the state of Arizona.

• Developed statewide materials purchasing contracts
• Lobbied and obtained the end of use taxes on books
• Provide continuing education credits for school librarians
• Sponsor the Horner Fellowship
• Provide regional forums to obtain statewide input to the association
• Nominate young librarians to the Snowbird Leadership Institute

Webinar Description:  

This webinar will explore how to successfully pursue an MLIS degree and what may be missing from traditional MLIS curricula in today’s rapidly evolving information landscape. Presenters Jennifer Rochelle and Berlin Loa will share practical guidance for prospective and current students on navigating the UA MLIS program, making strategic choices, and building a strong foundation for a future in the information science world of tomorrow. 

Drawing on findings from a recent Arizona Library Association conference presentation on “What’s Missing from the MLIS? A Conversation with Working Librarians,” the session will highlight potential gaps and emerging areas of knowledge essential for today’s information professionals. The webinar will also include an interactive component, inviting participants to share their perspectives and contribute new insights to this ongoing conversation.

Presenters: 

Berlin Loa, associate professor of practice and Knowledge River Scholars Program manager at the University of Arizona College of Information Science, is an archivist and cultural anthropologist who works in the taskscape of cultural heritage. Her research encompasses the socio-cultural, technological, and historical aspects of collections preservation practices including traditional memory keeping practices, archival praxis, narrative agency and structure in archives and museums, place as cultural memory and identity, knowledge exchange in communities of practice, and community-driven cultural heritage preservation.

Jennifer Rochelle is an Assistant Professor of Practice and MLIS Academic Advisor at the University of Arizona College of Information Science. She holds a JD and an MLIS and is a licensed attorney in New York, New Mexico, and Arizona. She was previously a James E. Rogers College of Law Fellow at the Daniel F. Cracchiolo Law Library. Her work focuses on copyright, intellectual property, digital ethics, and the intersection of law and information practice.