Passion for Profession Lands SC Librarians on Movers & Shakers List
May 26, 2020 | Carol J.G. Ward, ward8@mailbox.sc.edu
Having an impact on their students and communities, being more inclusive for underserved populations and encouraging a lifelong love of reading and learning are passions shared by three alumnae of the University of South Carolina’s School of Information Science who have been recognized as 2020 Movers & Shakers by Library Journal.
“The information and resources available in libraries can provide empowerment, and we want everyone to have that access and opportunity,” says Caroline Smith, inclusive services consultant for the South Carolina State Library.
Smith earned her master’s degree in library and information science in 2011. She along with Christy James (2016 MLIS) and Tamara Cox (2010 MLIS) are among 46 librarians honored by Library Journal. They were chosen from hundreds of nominees nationwide.
James is library and media services specialist for Charleston County School District, and Cox is the school librarian at Wren High School in Piedmont, South Carolina.
“The fact that we have three alumnae on this year’s list and have had alumni included in the past demonstrates not only our commitment to librarianship but our commitment to preparing leaders and innovators,” says David Lankes, director of the School of Information Science and associate dean in the College of Information and Communications.
Having graduates included on the Movers & Shakers list is a recognition of the innovation throughout the field that represents a good cross section of the library professionals that UofSC is preparing.
“It's a field that touches just about every sector and every demographic from librarians who help scholars with research, who work in medical fields or business and government, law librarians, school and public libraries,” Lankes says. “We have graduates who work for places like Microsoft and Google and across the tech industry or who go to work at the Library of Congress and the park service.”