Dr. Samantha Kelly Hastings has joined the School of Library and Information Science as director. Dr. Hastings, formerly was associate professor in the School of Library and Information Sciences at the University of North Texas , succeeds Dr. Daniel Barron who retired July 31.
“The role of information professionals continues to expand and gain importance in our social and cultural structures,” Dr. Hastings said. “At the very least, we have the responsibility for assuring perpetuity of access to the information that people need to live full and productive lives.”
Hastings ' previous work has concentrated on the value of libraries and museums as cultural institutions. She served as interim dean at North Texas, was a consultant to the Bureau of Library Development for the state of Florida , and has been both a teacher and medical librarian in Tucson , Arizona . She was president of the American Society of Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T). Dr. Hastings received her Ph.D. from Florida State University .
The School of Library and Information Science has received approval to begin a doctoral program in 2007.
The library school, founded in 1972 became part of USC's College of Mass Communications and Information Studies when it merged with the journalism school in 2002. Together, the college and its schools enroll nearly 2000 undergraduate and graduate students. The library and information science school has been a national leader in distance education. In addition to being the only ALA ( American Library Association) accredited school in South Carolina, it has served via distance education as the primary educator for librarians in Maine and West Virginia and has also served students in Virginia and Georgia.
