University of Alberta: School of Library Information Studies

By John Wright

Notable Events

1964	The Coburn Report explores the location of a library school at the University of Manitoba, the University of Saskatchewan, and the University of Alberta.
1965	The Board of Governors of the University of Alberta decides to establish a Library School; the Edmonton campus is designated.
1967	Sarah Rebecca Reed is appointed as the first Director of the new School.
1968	The School of Library Science offers a BLS as the first professional degree. The School's first quarters are in the Education Library.
1970	The School receives its first accreditation
1971	The School moves to permanent quarters in the Rutherford Library. Sarah Rebecca Reed resigns, and Mary E. P. (Betty) Henderson succeeds her as Director. The School offers an MLS as a second professional degree.
1975	The School becomes the Faculty of Library Science with Mary E.P. (Betty) Henderson as its first Dean.
1976	The B.L.S. is replaced by a two-year MLS as the first professional degree.
1988	The School becomes the Faculty of Library and Information Studies.
1989	The Faculty undergoes a status review from the President's Advisory Committee on Campus Reviews (PACCR).
1990	The Faculty Mission Statement is approved.
1991	The Faculty becomes the School of Library and Information Studies within the Faculty of Education Dean Sheila Bertram continues as Director. The School's Library-Laboratory is named Henderson Hall in honour of the School's first Dean. The MLIS Goals and Objectives are approved. The first PhD in Library and Information Studies is granted. The program is reviewed by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.
1992	The MLIS Vision statement and Motto are approved.
2000	The second PhD in Library and Information Studies is granted.

Deans And Directors

1967- 1971	Sarah Rebecca Reed
1971- 1976	Mary E. P. (Betty) Henderson
1976- 1979	Charles H. Davis
1980- 1984	William J. Kurmey
1984- 1987	John G. Wright
1987- 1996	Sheila K. Bertram
1996 - 2003	Alvin Schrader
2003 -	Anna Altmann