School of Information Science hosts Library Research Seminar 8: Telling Library Stories

The School of Information Science hosted the Library Research Seminar (LRS) VIII Sept. 16-18 on the University of Kentucky campus. The Library Research Seminar, a program of the American Library Association's Library Research Round Table, brings together library practitioners, scholars and students to share ideas and explore emerging research in the field of 21st century library and information science. 

The theme, “Telling Library Stories,” featured discussions, research and presentations on how libraries can tell stories to promote themselves and their communities, with the end goal of connecting scholars and encouraging engaging discussions on communicating library value. It also highlighted presentations by local library professionals Roda Ferraro, director of the Keeneland Library, and Nick Laracuente, archivist at Sazerac/Buffalo Trace. 

The School of Information Science proposed hosting the 2024 conference as the conference had not been held since 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Brian Real, School of Information Science assistant professor and conference planning committee member said the venture paid off as LRS8 was one of the most-attended conferences in LRS history with nearly 140 participants from 61 institutions, across 24 states and five countries.

In addition to Real, the full conference planning committee included:

• Colleen Barrett, rare books librarian, University of Kentucky Libraries

• Sean Burns, associate professor, School of Information Science

• Maria Cahill, professor, School of Information Science

• Shannon Crawford Barniskis, assistant professor, School of Information Science

• Scott Johnson, director of research and innovative technology, College of Communication and Information

• Shannon Oltmann, associate professor, School of Information Science