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School of Information and Library Studies Dean's records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 45-1-1129

Scope and Contents

Collected by Dean George Bobinski, the records reflect the administrative history of the School of Information and Library Studies. Records include committee and task force files, establishment of SILS and its degree programs, planning files, department and student newsletters, publicity clippings, reports, correspondence, faculty memoranda, SILS events and activities, subject files, sound recordings, video recordings, photographs, and alumni association records.

Dates

  • 1965-2002
  • Majority of material found within 1967-1995

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection material in English.

Terms of Access

School of Information and Library Studies Dean's records, 1965-2002, are open for research.

Restrictions

Access to portions of boxes 2 and 11 is restricted.

Copyright

Copyright is held by the State University of New York at Buffalo, University Archives. Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.

Historical Note

Buffalo's first library studies program started in 1919, when university was still the private University of Buffalo. Under the leadership of Dr. Augustus Hunt Shearer the program, which offered a library science certificate and eventually a bachelor in library science, supported and aided the development of libraries in Western New York. In the early 1940's, Dr. Shearer's health began to fail and a closer examination of the program raised several concerns, including the lack of accreditation from the American Library Association (ALA). The program was phased out and eventually closed in 1945.

The University of Buffalo joined with the State University of New York (SUNY) to become the University at Buffalo (UB) in 1962. Shortly after, in 1965, SUNY began exploring the establishment of a library science program at Buffalo. UB President Clifford Furnas welcomed the idea and created an ad hoc committee to organize the new school.

The School of Information and Libraries Studies (SILS) began offering classes in the fall of 1966 as part of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Dr. Vincent Giuliano, a computer expert and mathematician, was hired as dean in 1967. SILS had a rocky beginning, with Dr. Giuliano's resignation as dean in 1969 and lack of resources for the school.

In 1970, the students revolted at SILS' status and undetermined future. By means of response, a search committee for a new dean was quickly established and an offer of deanship was extended to Dr. George Bobinski. With construction of the new north campus in Amherst in the 1970's, SILS moved from Hayes Hall on South Campus into Bell Hall. In collaboration with the Higher Education Department of the Faculty of Educational Studies, SILS began to offer a Ph.D. in Higher Education in 1977. In 1979, a dual master's in music librarianship was established.

The 1980's was a period of growth for SILS. In 1982, the MLS program at SUNY Geneseo was ended. This affected SILS in a number of ways: Geneseo had a Rochester extension program that SILS resumed management of, several thousand monographs and serials of the Geneseo library were transferred to Lockwood Memorial Library, and SILS had an influx of new students. SILS moved to the third floor of Baldy Hall because of the additional facility needs. SILS faculty began work on a proposal for a library and information studies Ph.D. program, which was approved by SUNY and sent to the State Education Department.

Growth surged and continued into the early-mid 1990's. SILS was on the leading edge of technology and Dr. Neil Yerkey was instrumental in the establishment of Buffalo Free Net, a community information portal. An exchange program with the Jagiellonian University of Krakow, Poland took place over three years and brought international attention to SILS. In 1995, SILS established the Center for Applied Research in Library and Information Science, a research institute that was to be staffed with Doctoral candidates and conduct empirical studies for libraries and library networks. In 1997, Dr. John Ellison began offering online classes and developed them further, becoming a national expert on LIS distance education.

The 1990's also brought the end of SILS. SILS faculty began dialogues with the Department of Communications in the late 1990's and merged in 1999 to become the School of Information Studies. This new school was to integrate library and information studies, communication, and computer science. With Dr. Bobinski's announcement that he would step down as dean to resume full-time teaching, the new school was without a dean. After an unsuccessful search, Dr. Thomas Jacobson, chair of the communications department agreed to serve as acting dean.

The School of Information Studies changes its name in 2001 to the School of Informatics and Dr. David Penniman was appointed dean. Unfortunately, the School of Informatics was unable to realize its goal and never persuaded the Computer Science department to join. Provost Satish Tripathi dissolved the School of Informatics in 2006 and formed the Department of Library and Information Studies (DLIS) within the Graduate School of Education.

For a more detailed history of SILS, please see George Bobinski's A History of the School of Information and Library Studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo (1966-1999) in >IV. Subject files.

Chronology

1919
Library studies begins at the University of Buffalo
1945
Library studies program ends
1966
School of Information and Library Studies is established within the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences
1967
Dr. Vincent Giuliano appointed as Dean
1969
Dr. Vincent Giuliano resigns as Dean
1970
Students revolt at lack of dean and program development
Professor Dr. Edward O'Neill is appointed Acting Dean
Dr. George Bobinski is appointed Dean
1972
American Library Association accredits SILS
1975
SILS moves to Bell Hall on the new north campus
SILS separates from the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences to become its own autonomous school
American Library Association reaccredits SILS, under new standards
1977
Ph.D. in Higher Education is started with cooperation with the Higher Education Department
1979
Double master's program in music librarianship starts
1982
SILS awards its one-thousandth MLS degree
SUNY Geneseo announces closing of its MLS program; SILS takes over its Rochester extension program
1983
SILS moves to third floor of Baldy Hall
1984
American Library Association reaccredits SILS
1991
American Library Association reaccredits SILS
25th Anniversary Capital Campaign
1992
Exchange program with Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland begins
SILS awards its two-thousandth MLS degree
1995
Center for Applied Research in Library and Information Science is established with Dr. George D'Elia as its director
1996
SILS moves to fifth floor of Baldy Hall and gains instructional technology lab in basement of Baldy Hall
US News and World Report ranks SILS as 18th in LIS programs
1997
Dr. John Ellison begins to offer online classes
Ph.D. program is approved by New York State Education Department, but its establishment is delayed
1999
American Library Association reaccredits SILS
Dean Bobinski announces his intentions take a sabbatical and return as teaching faculty
SILS merges with the Department of Communications and forms the School of Information Studies with Dr. Thomas Jacobson serving as acting dean
2001
The School of Information Studies changes its name to the School of Informatics and appoints Dr. David Penniman as dean
2006
The School of Informatics is dissolved and the libraries studies program becomes the Department of Information and Library Studies within the Graduate School of Education

Extent

6.26 Linear Feet (15 manuscript boxes)

Abstract

Collected by Dean George Bobinski, the records reflect the administrative history of the School of Information and Library Studies at the University at Buffalo.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in 6 series: I. Administration, II. Correspondence, III. Events and activities, IV. Subject files, V. Audio/Visual, VI. Alumni Association.

Acquisition Information

The School of Information and Library Studies Dean's records, 1965-2002, were donated to the University Archives by George Bobinski in 2007. Additional materials were deposited by Mr. Bobinski in April 2009. Additional materials were deposited by Mr. Bobinski in 2022 as accession #2022-009.

Accruals and Additions

Future accruals for Record Group 45, School of Information and Library Studies, will be found in Record Group 17, Graduate School of Education, due to the Schools re-allocation as a department within the Graduate School of Education. Further accruals are expected.

Related Resources

3/6/269 Middle States Association reports, 1956-1993; See Box 4 for SILS reports.
5/4/268 Annual files of the Office of the President, 1937-1969; See Box 13 for SILS reports.
5/4/288 General files of the Office of the President, 1969-1983; See Box 21 for SILS reports.
13/1/88 University Libraries, Assistant to the Director records, 1955-1967; See Box 11 for records on the Committee to select a Dean of the Library School.
13/2/99 University Libraries, Oscar A. Silverman papers, 1956-1970; See Box 6 for records on the Ad Hoc Committee on the Establishment of a Library School.
45/1/655 School of Information and Library Studies, Public Relations scrapbook, 1974
45/F/1000 Helen H. Lyman papers, circa 1890-2002 (bulk 1955-1998)
45/1/1083 School of Information and Library Studies, reports and studies, 1966-1999
Archives periodicals
3/7/00-24 Bulletins and catalogs of the School of Information and Library Studies, 1968-2000
45/0/00-1 SILS Newsletter, 1971-1977
45/0/00-2 SILS Memo, 1977-1999
45/0/00-3 In Sight, 1986-2000
45/0/00-4 SILS Alumni Newsletter
45/2/00-1 Newsletter, SILS Student Association
45/2/00-2 Buckram
45/2/00-3 Biblio File

45/F/1435: George S. Bobinski papers

Processing Information

Processed by Nathan Tallman, March 2009.
Finding aid encoded by Danielle White, January 2015. Additional materials processed and finding aid updated by Jessica Hollister, May 2023.

Title
Finding Aid for the School of Information and Library Studies Dean's records
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Nathan Tallman.
Date
2009
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the University Archives Repository

Contact:
420 Capen Hall
Buffalo New York 14260-1674 US
716-645-2916
716-645-3714 (Fax)