Earlier today, I wrote about the plans for the School of Communication, Information and Library Studies (SCILS) at Rutgers to change its name by dropping Library Studies. As I also noted in that post, there would be a lot of discussion about the proposal.
On one listserv to which I subscribe, someone wrote:
I think that, personally, I can best voice my protest to this name change by not contributing to the Rutgers Annual Fund this year. I have contributed to the Annual Fund every year since I got my degree in Library Science in 1962. However, since the word Library no longer seems important to the Rutgers administration, I don't think that my contribution is that important either.
To that person, via the listserv, I replied:
Withholding contributions or other forms of support as a means of protest can often be very effective. This will make an impact however, only if it is accompanied by a message to the school explaining the reason you are withholding your support.
It was not my intent to get explicitly involved in the SCILS name-change “battle”, I was merely offering some sound advice to the person who posted the message. Having participated effectively in my share of protests, I know that withholding support CAN only be effective if the would-be recipient of the support knows why it has been rescinded. I have given, on occasion, to the Rutgers Annual Fund but not regularly and not in amounts that would make a difference; my withholding that support would be meaningless. In response to my message however, I received a personal note from one of the faculty members at SCILS. The letter reads, in part:
I hope you will re-consider your comments that you made on the [listserv]. We are not diminishing library science or our commitment to library education. Our Department of Library and Information Science will remain -- currently we are thriving and we plan to continue our high quality programs on campus and online. Our commitment to librarianship will never weaken.
We just have so many programs now -- we can't possibly cover all of them in our school's name. School of Communication and Information is something of a compromise name, but it does encompass all our departments and programs in the school.
Please know that we value all of our stakeholders. I'm glad you contributed to the discussion, but do know that cutting monetary contributions only harms students. Virtually all the money that's contributed directly to SCILS from alumni goes to scholarships.
After a fairly quick response from me, affirming my position and restating some of the information I shared via my aforementioned post, another reply:
I respect your opinion, and see that you hold it firmly. However, I think you're reading something into the process that is not there -- that somehow people at Rutgers and SCILS are ashamed of librarians. The Dean's own wife is a leader in the library world.
However -- let me ask you this -- what would you say to my journalism and media studies colleagues who want their names included in the school's name?
So, I decided to do some research (isn’t that what Librarians do?) I don’t necessarily recommend this form of research, but I didn’t have the time to go to the library at Rutgers to get the information that would be needed. I have therefore relied on Wikipedia for the information here:
Although the SCILS was established in 1982, the roots of the academic programs housed at the school date back to the 1920s.
1926 Undergraduate program in Journalism established at Rutgers College
1927 Undergraduate program in librarianship established at the New Jersey College for Women, later Douglass College. This became defunct two decades later.
1953 Graduate School of Library Service (GSLS) opens its doors to its first class of master’s students
1971 Undergraduate major in Communication established
1978 Name of the GSLS changes to Graduate School of Library and Information Studies
1982 School of Communication, Information and Library Studies is established. At the time of its inception, the school offered two undergraduate majors (Communication, Journalism and Mass Media), a master's degree in Library Service, and established an interdisciplinary doctoral program
1983 Names of the departments at SCILS are denoted as Department of Communication, Department of Journalism and Mass Media, and Department of Library and Information Studies
1987 Master of Communication and Information Studies established
2001 Undergraduate major in Information Technology and Informatics begins accepting students
2005 Online Master of Library and Information Science program admits its first students
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_of_Communication,_Information_and_Library_Studies_(Rutgers_University), accessed 02/11/09]
It appears that each of the programs within the school has a rich history at Rutgers, although the program in Communication is the youngest of the three. It is interesting that the youngest program gets top billing in the school’s current name. But for 25 years, the three departments appear to have lived harmoniously with the SCILS name. The name, in my opinion is quite inclusive. Communication and Information addresses the programs in communication, journalism and mass media. “Library studies” is obvious. As information now plays a more prominent role in the school – perhaps in the journalism and media studies department (is that where the pressure is coming from?) they now need to examine this seemingly harmonious relationship.
What are these departments designed to do? I reviewed the mission statements from the respective web pages. They are copied below:
The Department of Communication teaches about the nature and effects of communication on the individual, social groups and society. We emphasize theories about communication processes that involve messages, meanings and media. We also investigate a variety of ways in which communication is practiced in everyday life and the choices about communication that affect individuals and their situation.
[http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/communication/communication-department.html, accessed 02/11/09]
The Department of Journalism and Media Studies is concerned with both the practice of journalism and mass media and the impact of media on society; public policy and understanding; and the planning and development of public information systems. The department has its own facilities for television and radio production and newswriting.
[http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/journalism-and-media-studies/journalism-and-media-studies-department.html, accessed 02/11/09]
You wield it and you are governed by it. You possess it and it overwhelms you. You seek it out and it finds you wherever you are. Information and you - a powerful but complex relationship. The Department of Library and Information Science makes this relationship our focus.
You will learn to lead in information rich contexts and systems: from knowledge management to children's literature; from digital libraries to information technology and informatics; from information interfaces and economics to the design and evaluation of information, information services, and information agencies.
[http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/library-and-information-science/library-and-information-science-department.html, accessed 02/11/09]
I don’t know when these mission statements were written, but it is very evident here – as it is in the reasons to change the name – that the school is not about libraries. Even in the department descriptions there is only one direct use of the “L” word. Communication, media, journalism and information are clearly the focus of the school. The argument was advanced that the name change will be more inclusive of the many programs offered by the school. I’m generally not in favor of lengthy names, but in response to the question, “what would you say to my journalism and media studies colleagues who want their names included in the school's name?” I would reply, would adding “media” to the current name not be an option – School of Communication, Information, Library and Media Studies? SCILMS isn’t a pretty acronym, but is SCI? Or, how about the School of Library, Information and Media Studies (SLIMS)? Is that broad enough, or would the Communications folks be offended?
All this is particularly distressing considering the wonderful press libraries have been getting during this economic downturn. Story after story about the increased use of libraries. Libraries and librarians are trying to make a difference in people's lives. The current state of the economy - as tragic as it is - might serve as a recruitment tool for librarians as people will see - even more clearly - the valuable services we provide.
Ultimately, the Board of Governors will have to approve the change. As I had not planned on getting as involved in the discussion as I am now, I won’t contact them to share my opinion. Even if the Board decides against the name change, the damage is done. The damage is done by the faculty members who voted, by a 3 – 1 margin for the name change. Perhaps these faculty members can put this discussion behind them and focus on what has made the school good – what has made be proud to be an alumnus. I will always be a proud alumnus of SCILS. It may, however, take some time for me to develop some affinity with a new school.
03 April 2009 Addendum. The Board voted to change the name to SCI.
Posts
