The School of Library and Information Studies

SLIS Vision

The University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) educates socially responsible information and arts professionals prepared to empower diverse populations in a multitude of contexts, communities, and cultures. Our diverse faculty contributes unique strengths that enable our students to address real-world challenges using socially just, innovative, and ethical solutions.

SLIS Mission

Advancing the theory, art, and practice of professions specializing in the creation and stewardship of information in traditional and emergent forms.

SLIS Values

SLIS has a unique interdisciplinary personality that blends the arts, humanities, and social sciences. We respect and support the diverse constituencies we serve.  We demonstrate a strong commitment to intellectual freedom, access to all, and the tenets of social justice through our community-engaged scholarship and service.

At SLIS, we’re developing creative and critical thinkers to lead the way in the fields of library and information. Our award-winning faculty, world-renowned online education program and MFA program in Book Arts have distinguished us as leaders in the field. Ranked in the top 27 programs of our kind in U.S. News, The University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies is setting the standard for library and information studies across the U.S. and around the world.

Whether you’re looking to study on campus or earn your degree online, we’re excited to welcome you to the SLIS network.

SLIS’s graduate programs are accredited by the American Library Association (ALA) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Master’s Programs

Have questions about our master’s programs? Reach out.

Course Schedule

Official course registration information is found in myBama on the Student tab. The schedules posted here, for the convenience of SLIS students, contain LS (Library Science 500 and 600 level courses), CIS (600 level courses) and BA (Book Arts) courses in one grid for each term. As you prepare to register for your next term, please remember to consider myBama as a resource for all class availability.

Doctoral Program

The C&IS doctoral program prepares students for top positions as researchers, scholars and thought leaders in academia, industry or government. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, PhD candidates work alongside world leaders in the field to develop research proficiency, breadth and a depth of knowledge. The doctoral program is available in both main campus and online distance modes. The main campus mode allows for specific concentrations. Online PhD students can pursue a focused area of study in library and information studies in either school library media or social justice. For the online degree, courses may be a combination of synchronous and asynchronous courses from CIS as well as the College of Education. For more information on the Online PhD, please visit the OTide website.

Have questions about our doctoral programs? Reach out.

SLIS PhD Concentrations

The following are two SLIS-specific doctoral concentrations available for main campus students. Additional information about the specific courses in each concentration can be found in the Graduate Catalog. Please contact the faculty below if you have additional questions about these specific concentrations. General questions about the doctoral program should be directed to Dr. Jameson Hayes.

Undergraduate Programs

Informatics Major

The Bachelor of Science in Informatics is an interdisciplinary program that prepares students to design and implement information-based solutions to real-world challenges from a human-centered perspective. Students learn to apply cutting edge technology to create practical, innovative solutions that improve lives. Our program empowers students to become socially responsible innovators with technical skills to transform information into tangible benefits for individuals, organizations, and society. Please see the undergraduate catalog  and the Informatics website for more information about this major.

SLIS offers three undergraduate minors one in Book Arts and one in Informatics.

Faculty & Staff

Innovators in their field. Partners in your success.

At the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS), we take pride in the accomplishments of our faculty and value the dissemination of knowledge through teaching relationships, service engagements, mentorships and research partnerships. Our faculty are recognized, nationally and internationally for contributions made to archives, book arts, information science and library studies. Current SLIS faculty include national research award winners, past presidents of major professional associations in archives and library studies, global scholars, internationally recognized artists, award-winning authors and poets, and members of prestigious advisory boards.

To find contact information for SLIS staff and faculty, click here.

Advising

Advising is core to your experience in the MFA or MLIS programs. We encourage you to meet with your advisor at least once per semester to review your academic plan and prepare for course registration. Faculty advisors are assigned to students upon admission into the program. To find your faculty advisor, go to MyBama and consult DegreeWorks.

Funding

SLIS is committed to helping students finance their graduate education. We offer a number of graduate assistantships and scholarships and provide you with the resources necessary to pursue funding from outside sources.

Scholarship Application Deadlines

The SLIS scholarship application for spring scholarship awards will open on September 1, 2026. The application will remain open until October 13, 2026. 

SLIS offers scholarships throughout the academic year. To apply, new first time graduate students and returning graduate students must access the scholarship application portal, ASAM, via the Admissions & Scholarships page in myBama.

• Assistantships and Scholarships
• American Library Association Scholarships
• UA Online Scholarships
• Graduate School Scholarships

SLIS Student Travel Support

All SLIS graduate students (main campus and online) have access to the SLIS Sandoval Student Research and Travel Support Fund. This fund helps cover some of the costs to support registration, travel, and other expenses to present research at a professional conference.

The Graduate School provides supplemental funding for graduate research and conference/exhibit/performance participation, to advance students’ research and professional goals. Each application is routed through the department, which must provide matching funds.  Information about the Graduate Schools’ funding support is available on their website under “Conference and Research Funding.”

How to Apply:

Students initiate their requests for both the Sandoval Student Research and Travel Support Fund and Graduate School funding by logging into the UA Grad Student Portal. Once logged in, students should select “Funding”, then “CRF Request Form.” Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the form.  Students will need to provide an estimated budget of overall expenses as well as the name and dates of the conference where they are presenting research.

After the student submits the request, it is routed through the student’s advisor and SLIS Director, for confirmation of matching Sandoval Funds. The request is then routed to the Graduate School for final approval of Graduate School conference and research funding. Typically SLIS awards up to $500 to students presenting research at a domestic conference and up to $800 to students presenting research as an international conference. The UA Graduate School will match up to these amounts in each of these categories. Once a student has applied in the online UA Grad Student Portal, they should also email their advisor to notify them that they have applied for support.

Students not presenting research are not eligible for travel support through these funds.

Graduate School Fellowships

The UA Graduate School offers competitive fellowships designed for exceptional applicants and current students. Nominees must be admitted main campus students. All admitted and current main campus MLIS and MFA students are considered for graduate school fellowships. An application by students is not necessary.

Get Involved

Student Organizations

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Alumni

Near or far, you’re always part of the family.

Cultivating relationships with our alumni is critical to the success of the School of Library and Information Studies. We value your experiences and perspectives in furthering the mission of our school, and we offer a variety of ways for you to stay involved after graduation or give back later in your career.

Friends of UA SLIS Network

The Friends of UA SLIS Network is a community of alumni, current students, faculty, and
supporters of the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) at the University of Alabama.

The mission of this group is to support libraries, librarians, and the profession of librarianship.
We achieve the mission of this group by:

• helping to build community among SLIS alumni and supporters
• facilitating mentorship and engagements for current SLIS students
• supporting SLIS leadership and faculty in developing SLIS academic programs for the
  future.

Interested in joining the Friends of UA SLIS Network? Join the SLIS-A list-serv here.

Friends of UA SLIS Network Planning Committee

The Friends of UA SLIS Network Planning Committee is a group of dedicated alumni who work
to coordinate and support the efforts of the Friends of UA SLIS Network.

Planning Committee:

Kate Bennett

Digital Archives Coordinator
Southern Utah University
Cedar City, Utah

Connie Chow

Executive Director
Huntsville-Madison County Public Library
Huntsville, Alabama

Ron Harris

Digital Accessibility Technologist
Wake Tech Community College
Raleigh, NC

Ron Schwertfeger

Instruction, Outreach, and Assessment Librarian
The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville, AL

Chantelle Swaren

Info Analyst and Visualization Librarian, Associate Professor
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN

Joi Mahand (SLIS liaison)

SLIS Academic Program Manager
University of Alabama-SLIS
Tuscaloosa, AL

History

The history of the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) began in 1929 when the university instituted an academic program in school librarianship within the College of Education. In the 1960s, leaders of the Alabama Library Association sought to establish in Tuscaloosa a general purpose graduate school of library service. An Alabama Senate joint resolution in 1969 authorized the Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama to establish the Graduate School of Library Service. Students were first accepted in 1970. SLIS’s founding dean, Dr. James D. Ramer, was appointed in 1971 to develop the curriculum, recruit faculty and students, and plan for the school’s quarters. In 1972, the Graduate School of Library Service received full accreditation of its Master of Library Service (MLS) degree program from the American Library Association.

In the intervening years, the school pursued a mission to provide students with skills and knowledge required to meet the information needs of a diverse population. It also grew substantially. In 1985, the school began to offer a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree through its Book Arts program, including specializations in printing and binding. Since then the MFA program in The Book Arts has established itself as an international leader in the field.

In 1988, faculty member Dr. Philip M. Turner was selected to serve as the school’s second dean. The PhD program was first offered by the school in 1988, and, one year later, the school was renamed the School of Library and Information Studies, reflecting the increasing academic and professional emphasis on emerging technologies. Early in 1997, SLIS programs were merged into the renamed College of Communication & Information Sciences. At this point, Dr. Joan Atkinson became director of the school.

In 2003, Dr. Elizabeth Aversa was named director of the school, and by 2005, under her leadership, SLIS launched a fully online, synchronous distance education MLIS program, one of the forerunners in the nation. The first class had forty-three students, representing Alabama and 14 other states. Over the next three years, SLIS moved up eight places in the US News national rankings for Library and Information Studies programs from 30th position to 22nd.

From 2011 to 2013, Dr. Heidi Julien served as director, and under her leadership, the SLIS research mission was re-charged and several international initiatives were developed. By 2013, the program made another jump in the US News rankings, up to 18th position. Under the leadership of Dr. Ann Prentice (2014-2017), SLIS continued its academic tradition of preparing the next generation of library and information professionals and formalized its archival program with a specialization and certificate. Later in August 2017, Dr. Jim Elmborg became SLIS’s director and lead the school in starting the SLIS EBSCO Scholars Program in audio-visual preservation and archiving.

In Fall 2021, Dr. Jamie Campbell Naidoo took over leadership of SLIS and with the faculty developed several new programs which included minors in book arts, children’s media, and informatics; an informatics bachelor’s of science; and graduate certificates in Archiving and Preservation of Audiovisual Media, Youth Literature and Services, and Book Arts (online). SLIS moved up in the US News and World Reports rankings up from 27th to 21st in 2025. Dr. Naidoo also lead SLIS in moving from the top floor of Gorgas Library, where SLIS has resided for over 50 years, to a newly renovated McLure Library with specialized facilities to meet SLIS’s unique needs. Under his leadership, MLIS enrollment grew by over 200% and SLIS lead the charge in the college to offer an online version of the college-wide doctoral program.

In Summer 2026, Miriam Sweeney became SLIS Director where the program continues to prepare professionals specializing in the creation and stewardship of traditional and emergent forms of information, while also demonstrating a strong commitment to intellectual freedom and access to all. Presently, we are planning additional new programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

SLIS Renewals

SLIS newsletter is back in a quarterly format. We will be sharing news and achievements of alumni, faculty, and current students in each in-house written issue.

We’d love to hear from you!

• Volume 12
• Volume 11
• Volume 10
• Volume 9
• Volume 8
• Volume 7
• Volume 6
• Volume 5
• Volume 4
• Volume 3
• Volume 2
• Volume 1

SLIS Listservs

SLIS has a variety of listservs to keep our students, alumni, and the profession connected.

SLIS-A

The Friends of UA SLIS Network is a community of alumni, current students, faculty, and supporters of UA SLIS. The Friends of UA SLIS network is for all alumni, and here at UA SLIS we aim to create ways for alumni to stay connected with each other and stay up to date on all the things SLIS. Connect with alumni and SLIS by subscribing to The Friends of UA SLIS Network list-serv (SLIS-A) to stay informed and involved. To join SLIS-A, click here, simply send us an email, leaving the subject blank, and edit your first and last name. Confirm your subscription by clicking the link in the following “command confirmation request” email. Unsubscribe here.

And remember, whether near or far, you’re always a part of the SLIS family. Roll Tide! 

SLIS-J

The SLIS-J listserv is a space for job postings. Faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of SLIS use SLIS-J to post job announcements and share information about open professional positions and internships.  SLIS-J is not a list for general conversation.  Use SLIS-L to communicate with the entire SLIS community. To join SLIS-J, click here, simply send us an email, leaving the subject blank, and edit your first and last name. Confirm your subscription by clicking the link in the following “command confirmation request” email. Unsubscribe here.

SLIS-L

The SLIS-L listserv is a vital part of the SLIS experience. Faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of SLIS use SLIS-L to communicate with one another. Class cancellations, building closures, social and educational events, and other information of community interest is shared via SLIS-L. Join or unsubscribe from SLIS-L. To join SLIS-L, click here, simply send us an email, leaving the subject blank, and edit your first and last name. Confirm your subscription by clicking the link in the following “command confirmation request” email. Unsubscribe here.

SLIS-S

SLIS-S is a read only listserv reserved for current SLIS students, and is used by SLIS faculty and staff to send important announcements. For general discussion, please subscribe to SLIS-L. Students are automatically added to the list, so if you are a current student and not receiving messages on SLIS-S, please contact the SLIS Administrative Office to be added.

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Connect

Whether you’re considering one of our programs, looking to partner with our world-renowned faculty, or simply want to know more about what we do at the School of Library and Information Studies, we’re happy to schedule a time to meet with you virtually or in person. Fill out our online contact form and we’ll be in touch soon.

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