Sarah Bryant Wins International MCBA Prize for Small Patches of Land
A single saved collard seed connects the stories of two Alabama farmers. In the hands of book artists Sarah Bryant and Katie Baldwin, that seed became the starting point for a story about land, community and the people who cultivate both. Bryant, a professor of book arts in The University of Alabama School of Library…
IMLS Grant Supports C&IS Research on Libraries and AI Literacy
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly embedded in everyday life, but understanding how it works, how it should be used and what ethical questions it raises can be difficult. As communities navigate those questions, three College of Communication & Information Sciences researchers are looking to a familiar and trusted resource for help: libraries. Dr. Yuan Li and Dr.…
SLIS Professor Kyle Clark Earns International Recognition for Bookbinding
Books are more than the words printed on their pages. Their materials, structure and craftsmanship can reveal how they were made and the people who shaped them. As an assistant professor of book arts at the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS), Kyle Clark explores that history through bookbinding, preservation and the close examination of books as physical objects.…
Expanding Excellence: C&IS Welcomes New Faculty Members
As a new academic year begins, The University of Alabama’s College of Communication & Information Sciences is welcoming its largest group of new faculty in recent years. Fourteen educators, researchers and industry professionals are joining the college this fall, bringing expertise that spans journalism, advertising and public relations, communication studies and library and information studies. Together, they represent an investment in…
Windgate Foundation Grant Expands SLIS Book Arts Program
The Windgate Foundation awarded the School of Library and Information Studies an impactful $4 million grant to expand its nationally recognized book arts program. The funding will support graduate scholarships, assistantships and studio resources, helping ensure the program’s continued growth for years to come. Established in 1993, the Windgate Foundation is a Little Rock, Arkansas…
Miriam Sweeney Named Director of the School of Library and Information Studies
The College of Communication and Information Sciences is proud to announce that Dr. Miriam Sweeney has been selected as the incoming director of the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS). Dr. Sweeney will be stepping into this administrative role on July 1st as Dr. Jamie Naidoo returns to the faculty in Fall 2026 after concluding…
C&IS Celebrates 2026 Honors Day
Honors Day is a cornerstone of the spring semester for the College of Communication and Information Sciences (C&IS). As the academic year draws to a close, the event allows the College to pause its frantic pace and come together to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments within C&IS. It serves as the official stage for recognizing the…
SLIS Professor Jeff Weddle Wins Feathered Quill Silver Medal
School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) associate professor and poet Jeff Weddle has earned national recognition with a silver medal in the 2026 Feathered Quill Book Awards for his poem collection Letter to Xhevdet Bajraj. Letter to Xhevdet Bajraj is the condensed English edition of the collection of poems first published in Albanian translation. The project reflects an ongoing international dialogue in Weddle’s work, particularly his literary connection to Kosovo. The book has received high praise from American…
A Vision 50 Years in the Making: McLure Reopens after Major Renovations
McLure Library has been a familiar presence at The University of Alabama, serving students and faculty since 1925. But starting 50 years ago, conversations about reimagining and fully realizing the library’s potential resurfaced, shaped by shifting needs, advancing technology, and the evolving role of information studies. What existed functioned well, but the idea of what McLure could become remained. That long-awaited…
SLIS Alum Honored with Librarian Appreciation Award
Candice Hardy, a School of Library and Information Studies alum, has been selected as an honoree of the I Love My Librarian award by I Love Libraries, an initiative of the American Library Association. Hardy was awarded with a cash award during an award ceremony at American Library Association’s LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience. The…