University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Library and Information Science Program

Category: Events

  • LIS Celebrates our 60th Anniversary!

    LIS Celebrates our 60th Anniversary!

    Aloha kākou! In honor of our program’s 60th anniversary, Governor Josh Green, M.D., proclaimed November 16-22, 2025, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library & Information Science Program Week in Hawaiʻi. To students, alumni, staff, faculty and the Hawaiʻi LIS community past, present and future, this is your celebration too. We have the deepest respect for all the work you do, and we’re honored to have been part of the LIS community for 60 years!

    To start the week, we held an informal gathering in the LIS space in Hamilton Library where current students mingled with alumni from as far back as the 1960s, and enjoyed food, conversation and slideshows of decades of LIS photographs from Dr. Wertheimer’s collection!

    The LIS Program was established in 1965 under the deanship of Dr. Ralph R. Shaw, and has maintained full accreditation status through the American Library Association for 60 years, graduating 1,841 students who now serve in public, school, academic and special libraries, as well as museums and archives in Hawai‘i, the continental United States and around the world. LIS graduates constitute approximately two-thirds of the professional workforce for librarians, archivists and other information professionals in the Hawai‘i, and we continue to evolve our curriculum and student experience to prepare our graduates to become compassionate, effective and reflective information professionals.

    LIS is one of five Programs within the newly formed School of Communication and Information, in the College of Social Sciences. Our mission is to educate leaders in the information professions. Through research, teaching and service, we contribute to knowledge, solve problems and prepare individuals to thrive in diverse information environments, with an emphasis on Hawaiʻi and the Asia-Pacific region. Our values guide our activities, priorities and interactions, and reflect those of the State of Hawaiʻi and University of Hawaiʻi. We honor and strive to continuously deepen our understanding and practice of the Native Hawaiian values embedded in the concepts of aloha, ʻohana and kuleana.

    In Governor Green’s proclamation, he “encourage[s] all residents to join in celebrating the 60th anniversary of the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoaʻs Library and Information Science Program. Mahalo to the faculty, staff, students and graduates for all you have and continue to do to bring the guiding principles of aloha, ʻohana and kuleana to the people of Hawaiʻi.”

  • LIS Students Help Raise Over $5K to Support School Librarianship

    Students in Dr. Wertheimer’s LIS 650 Management of Libraries and Information Centers class this spring completed service projects in the local community to practice their managerial skills. Jennifer Duncklee, Michelle Hatami, Lori Misaka, and Jesse Shiroma worked with Kalani High School librarian Daphne Miyashiro to raise funds for the Hawai‘i Association of School Librarians (HASL). Daphne was the HASL National Library Week chair, and set up a fundraiser at Barnes & Noble; the LIS student group helped coordinate marketing, scheduled volunteers, created promotional and advocacy materials, and worked at the book fair. They are pleased to report that this year’s fundraising total is $5056.46 from in-store and online sales, which will go toward supporting HASL’s efforts for school libraries. A big mahalo to the volunteers, Barnes & Noble, and Daphne for helping to make Jenn, Michelle, Lori, and Jesse’s project a success! 

    Other student team projects included a “Lei Making 101” event at a local library (Kylee Munro & Jessika Ross), WCDI / Salawaket Crossing (Michelle Carino),  “Ka Hana Mana a Nā Haumāna”(Ikaika Keliiliki), and creating a plan for a STEM-lego event on a Hawaii Island Public Library (Hayley Barte, Bianca Nabarrete-Lopez, & Bonnie Barron). Wertheimer explained that these projects highlight our program’s interest in community engagement and also let students experiment with doing real-world projects and employing  different managerial competencies. He added that all of these projects demonstrate the importance of developing leaders who can help libraries to meet local problems with innovative solutions. 

  • UH Mānoa LIS Students Speed Networking with Hawai‘i LIS Professionals at the 2020 HLA/HASL Conference

    UH Mānoa LIS Students Speed Networking with Hawai‘i LIS Professionals at the 2020 HLA/HASL Conference

    On December 5, 2020, 18 UHM LIS students, along with 10 LIS professionals from academic, school, public, and special libraries on Oahu, participated in a virtual speed networking event. Students had an hour to move among Zoom breakout rooms, in the hopes of connecting with as many professionals as possible in a meaningful way.

    UH Mānoa LIS student Stephanie Robertson worked with LIS instructor Meera Garud to plan and run this event. To make sure conversations stayed focused, Robertson and Garud provided two questions relevant to students in the midst of crafting their careers during this unprecedented time: “How has your role in the library pivoted because of COVID 19?” and “What skills have you needed to sharpen or gain as a result of that shift?” Students were also free to ask and discuss other questions they brought to the event.

    In the end, the LIS professionals made this event a success, using this event as a platform for LIS students to make meaningful connections, in spite of the challenges of Zoom fatigue and uncertainty in the profession because of the pandemic. The LIS professionals facilitating the breakout rooms, many of whom were alumni, generously shared the knowledge they had developed over time. When surveyed, the students reported feeling comfortable, inspired, and motivated to work hard in order to be a successful member of the thriving library community in Hawai‘i.

    Huge thanks are due to the following LIS professionals who made this event a success!

    Annie Thomas, Acting Head Librarian at the Kapiolani Community College Library
    Brian Huffman, Electronic Services Librarian at the UH Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law
    Darren Tanaka, Librarian at Kailua Elementary School
    David Wee who is Mid-Pacific Institute’s (Pk-12 independent school) Director of Library and Media Services
    Helen Wong Smith, Archivist for University Records at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
    Janel Quirante, Head Archivist at ‘Ulu‘Ulu Moving Image Archive University of Hawai‘i – West O‘ahu
    Mary Campany, Collections Librarian at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i
    Natalie Wahl, Instruction Librarian from the Leeward Community College Library
    Sheryl Lynch, Branch Manager at Waianae Public Library
    Tamara King, Branch Manager at Kahuku Public and School Library

  • LIS Alumni at SAA 2017

    LIS Alumni at SAA 2017

    LIS Archives Program Coordinator Dr. Wertheimer joined a number of UHM LIS alumni and colleagues from Hawaiʻi at the Society of American Archivists 2017 Annual Meeting in Portland, OR. The conference featured several sessions dealing with diversity, immigration, technology, and indigenous collections.

    (A few other alumni who missed the Hawaiʻi informal dinner were not pictured)

  • Dr. Anne Gilliland Guest Lecture

    Dr. Anne Gilliland Guest Lecture

    Join the LIS Program for a guest lecture by Dr. Anne Gilliland of UCLA Information Studies on Thursday, February 16, 2017 from 5:00 to 6:40 p.m. in Hamilton Library, Room 003F.

    Professor Gilliland is one of the leading forces in Archival Studies today, and is one of the founders of the Archival Education and Research Initiative (AERI) conference. Join us from 5:00-5:20 to learn about AERI as a forum for emerging research. We will then take a break from around 5:20 to 5:40. After light snacks, we will have the chance to hear her research on how archives and information agencies are making a difference with refugees and others.

    Presented by the UH LIS Program Archival Studies & UHM SAA Student Chapter.

  • An Evening with Felton Thomas, Jr.

    An Evening with Felton Thomas, Jr.

    Join us on February 6, 2017 for an evening with Felton Thomas, Jr.

    Felton is the Executive Director of the Cleveland Public Library System, President of the Public Library Association, and a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Mānoa LIS Program.

    The event is free, but registration is required. Parking is available in the structure next to the Hālau for $6. Check-in begins at 6 p.m. Official opening is at 6:30 p.m. Closing is at 8 p.m.

    When: Monday, February 6, 2017 6pm – 8pm
    Where: Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, 2645 Dole St., Honolulu, HI 96822
    Registration: http://hifeltonthomasjr.eventbrite.com.

  • Lynn Smith @ SAA-sc September Brown Bag

    Lynn Smith @ SAA-sc September Brown Bag

    lynnsmithThe UHM LIS Society of American Archivist Student Chapter (SAA-sc) is happy to present a pop-up brown bag guest lecture with Audio-Visual Archivist Lynn Smith from the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, run by the National Archives and Records Administration.

    Date: Tuesday, September 27, 2016
    Time: 4:00p – 4:45p
    Where: Room HL 003F, LIS Commons

    Topic: National Archives and NARA Presidential Libraries

  • Research Colloquium Fall 2016

    Research Colloquium Fall 2016

    The LIS Research Colloquium is a weekly series sponsored by the UHM Library & Information Science Program’s Research Committee to spotlight various research projects and efforts at UH Mānoa. This is a great opportunity for those interested in learning about the various types of research conducted in the LIS field and their methodologies.

    Each session occurs on Wednesdays from 3:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. in room 003G in the LIS Commons, located on the ground floor of the UH Mānoa Hamilton Library.

    November 9: Bibliographies — Really?

    Patricia Polansky, Russian Bibliographer at the UHM Hamilton Library, will discuss the role bibliographies play in the digital age. Do we need them? A bibliography’s objective is to control the literature about a topic, an area, or a person. A reliable bibliography is the best place to start when working on an unfamiliar subject, to answer reference/cataloging questions, or to direct users to sources unknown and/or forgotten. They are essential for developing research collections. Will electronic databases replace this need / usefulness?

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  • Research Colloquium Spring 2016

    The LIS Colloquium is a weekly series sponsored by the UHM Library & Information Science Program’s Research Committee to spotlight various research projects and efforts at UH Manoa. This is a great opportunity for those interested in learning about the various types of research conducted in the LIS field and their methodologies. A schedule of upcoming events is available online.

    Each session occurs on Wednesdays from 4:00 P.M. to 4:50 P.M. in room 003G in the LIS Commons, located on the ground floor of Hamilton Library.

    May 11: Conferences 101: A Primer for Students and New Professionals by Sveta Stoytcheva, UH Mānoa librarian (BHSD)

    Conferences are a wonderful opportunity to meet other LIS professionals and to share and workshop your research. However, navigating conference protocols for the first time, as an LIS student or new professional, can be intimidating. This session will provide an introduction to LIS conferences, including advice on how to propose a session, prepare your presentation, and connect with others during the conference. The presentation will be followed by a discussion during which participants can ask questions and share resources. The presenters will also share their experiences during the process of getting their work published.

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  • Governor Ige Declares LIS Program Week

    On Friday, September 11, 2015, Govenor David Ige and Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui recognized the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library and Information Science (LIS) Program by proclaiming September 13 through 19 UH Mānoa Library and Information Science Program Week in honor of the program’s 50th anniversary.

    “We’ve gone through many changes in 50 years, but what we all share is a sense that information is more than words on a page,” said Library and Information Science Program Chair Rich Gazan. “We create systems and spaces where people can connect with the knowledge and stories of others, so they can find their own voice.”

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  • 50th Anniversary – Information Horizons Lecture

    In honor of the 50th anniversary of the LIS program, we are pleased to announce the inaugural Information Horizons lecture. Dean Emeritus Miles Jackson will reflect on our history and discuss connections with the Asia-Pacific region.

    Please join us in celebrating this milestone on Sunday, September 13 at 2:00 p.m. in Hamilton Library room 3F (ground floor). All are welcome and refreshments will be provided.

    Co-sponsored by Hui Dui, ALA Student Chapter, and SAA Student Chapter.

  • Community Libraries Day @ UH-Manoa

    Community Libraries Day kicks off National Library Week on Sunday, April 12 (10 AM-3 PM) with twenty libraries, archives, educational institutions, and professional organizations showcasing their innovative programs, digital initiatives, and outreach activities on McCarthy Mall, near Hamilton library at UH-Manoa.

    Learn how libraries promote information and technology literacy in their communities and discover how archives preserve Hawaii’s history for future generations. Find out how librarians and information professionals help individuals and organizations manage information overload. Learn whether a career in the information professions is right for you. Behind-the-scenes library tours, a children’s book fair, used CD/book sale, food vendors, activities, prize drawings and more will be provided so there’s something for everyone. Parking at UH-Manoa is free on Sunday!

    Community Libraries Day is an event sponsored by the Hawaiian-Pacific Chapter of the Special Libraries Association. For more information, visit hawaii.sla.org

  • LIS spring lecture featuring Dr. Debbie Reese

    Native Sovereignty, American Indians in Children’s Literature and #WeNeedDiverseBooks

    We Need Diverse Books was created in 2014 to address the lack of diversity in children’s literature. That lack of diversity includes American Indians. For centuries, American Indians have been misrepresented in children’s literature by images that stereotype them, thereby obscuring the diversity that exists across the 566 federally recognized sovereign tribal nations.

    Dr. Debbie Reese of American Indians in Children’s Literature will share information that can help attendees see problematic imagery in classic works like Little House on the Prairie. She will also talk about what teachers and librarians can look for in selecting and weeding books in their collections as they seek to support the goals of the We Need Diverse Books.

    We are pleased to welcome Dr. Debbie Reese to lead a discussion on March 4 at 4:30 pm in Hamilton Library room 3F. Reese will also offer the Hawaiʻi Association of School Librarians (HASL) Spring Conference keynote on March 7.
    All are welcome! | Refreshments provided. | Co-sponsored by Hui Dui and ALA-SC.

  • Alumni and Students Play Large Role in Inaugural Hawaiʻi Digital Resources Symposium

    On August 1, 2014 at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa – Hamilton Library, the first ever Hawaiʻi Digital Resources Symposium was held.

    Many of the presenters were our own UH LIS graduates and current students! The presenters were Keikilani Meyer (current MLIS Student) and Lokoʻolu Quintero for the Ulukau Hawaiian Electronic Library, Keau George and Annemarie Aweau (Archivist & MLIS Graduate) for the Hula Preservation Society, Shavonn Matsuda (Assistant Archivist & MLIS Graduate)  for the ʻUluʻulu: The Henry Kuʻualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive of Hawaiʻi, and Martha Chantiny (Librarian & Head UHM, DNS), Jennifer Beamer (current MLIS Student & former Project Manager HDNP)  and Alice Kim (Graduate Student and MLIS Graduate) for the HDNP.

    The event was well attended with approximately 60 participants and sponsored by the Hawaiʻi Digital Newspaper Project (HDNP).

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