The Informatico! 2023

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News from Chicago State University (CSU) Programs in Information Studies including: Archives and Records Management, Library and Information Science (LIS) and PK12 School Library Information Specialist Endorsement

Content

News and Updates 1

Alumni/Student Notes 2

Student Voice 3

Faculty Highlights 4

Keep in Touch 4

News and Updates

Welcome New CIMST Chair!

In June, Dr. Mohammad Salam joined the CSU Department of Computing, Information and Mathematical Sciences, and Technology (CIMST) as our new chairperson. Dr. Salam was a professor at Southern University and A&M College - Baton Rouge. Previously, he completed his Ph.D. and M.E. at the University of Fukui, Japan, and his B.Sc. at Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology. His research interests include machine learning, data science, data visualization, wireless sensor networks, wireless communication, cybersecurity, and information and coding theory. Welcome, Dr. Salam!

Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Continued Accreditation

An HLC accreditation team visited the CSU campus February 27-28. On April 28th, CSU received formal notification of continued accreditation status.

CSU faculty and friends rally outside the Gwendolyn Brooks Library (GBL) during a 10-day faculty strike

(UPI Local 4100), April, 2023. 📸: RAM

Banning Book Bans

The Illinois Library System Act was amended to protect the freedom of Illinois libraries to acquire materials without external limitations and “to be protected against attempts to ban, remove, or otherwise restrict access to books or other materials.” This critical legislation comes in the wake of a dramatic rise of challenges and systematic attempts to ban literature and other library services.

According to the press release, HB2789 tasks the State Librarian with adopting the American Library Association's (ALA) Library Bill of Rights,” which indicates that reading materials should not be proscribed, removed, or restricted because of partisan or personal disapproval.

In response to the rise in challenges, ALA and a coalition of more than twenty-five organizations recently launched the national initiative #UniteAgainstBookBans to “empower individuals and communities to fight censorship and protect the freedom to read.”

CSU LIS Hosts National Convening

In conjunction with the 2023 ALA Annual Conference, CSU hosted a Convening of Librarians and Information Professionals Who Work with Incarcerated People and People in Recovery. Leaders from CPL, ECCSC, Freedom Reads, Ithaka S&R, EJP, Heal Inc., and other organizations took part in a series of lively discussions and activities. Thanks to SFPL and Mellon Foundation for facilitation and support!

Stephen Jackson, Sr. Director of Equity and Anti-Racism at Oak Park Public Library, led a session at the Convening. 📸: RAM

Alumni/Student Notes

ALA Student Chapter

The American Library Association (ALA) Student Chapter at CSU was founded on November 18, 2009. The mission is to embody the values of the ALA and foster growth for future librarians at CSU. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are fundamental values of the CSU ALA Student Chapter. The current president is Nicole R. Cowan, VP is Mary Kroeck, and Secretary/Archivist is Nathan Jernigan. The Student Chapter meets regularly to plan virtual and campus/community-based events.

Illinois Library Association Reaching Forward Conference in Rosemont CSU Presenters: Nicole Cowan, Macklyn Thornburgh, Dr. Rae-Anne

Montague, Hedessah Sanders, May 5. 📸: RAM

Service Excellence

In 2022, the Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School (OLHMS) was recognized as an Association of Illinois School Library Educators (AISLE) Exemplary School Library. CSU LIS alum Heather McCarthy leads the OLHMS library - and she recently shared details of some of the programs she has developed emphasizing literature and service learning including a road race, food packaging, and outreach to a children’s hospital. Thank you for leadership and for sharing insights and encouragement with CSU students!

Travis Givens (MSLIS, 2023) speaks with Dr. Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, during the ALA

Annual Conference. 📸: RAM

Student Voice

Provident Hospital: A Black Chicago Achievement by N. Jernigan, MSLIS student

Provident Hospital, located on Chicago’s Southside, was founded in 1891. It was the first U.S. hospital to complete open-heart surgery successfully (PHMC - Provident Hospital/Medical Center, 19861). It was also the first Black hospital to provide Black physicians and Black nurse students with training programs (Kreigh & Cooksey, 19982; PHMC). Thirdly, it was the first Black hospital to secure approval from the American College of Surgeons for full-time graduate training (Kreigh & Cooksey; PHMC).

Provident was sorely needed by the growing population of 14,271 Blacks of 1,099,850 total Chicago residents as of 1890 (US Census). Blacks owned many businesses, yet lacked a hospital (Jefferson & McKenzie, 2017). The vision of a Provident surfaced in 1889 due to the racism suffered by Ms. Emma Williams, who was denied admittance by Cook County Hospital nursing school because she was Black (PHMC).

She asked her brother, Rev. L. Reynolds of Chicago, to help her solve the issue. Rev. Reynolds asked the well-known Dr. Daniel H. Williams to help him (Kreigh & Cooksey). Dr. Williams then organized a

group of Black and White professionals to consider and help solve the concern (Kreigh & Cooksey). Initial supporters included Black leaders: Lloyd G. Wheeler (attorney); Charles E. Bentley, (dentist); Allen A. Wesley, (physician); Fannie B. Williams (writer); Edward H. Wright (politician); as well as several wealthy White people. (Provident Hospital, 1941; PHMC; Jefferson & McKenzie, 2017; Reed, 20053).

Their efforts were realized on January 23, 1891, when Provident Hospital and Training School opened in a three story brick building, with 12 beds on the corner of 29th and Dearborn (Spear, 19674; PHMC). Dr.

Williams was appointed chief of staff. By 1892, the hospital had: seven nurse students (including Emma Reynolds); a multi-racial staff and clientele (Kreigh & Cooksey).

In 1894, when Dr. Williams left Provident for a new position, the hospital named Dr. George C. Hall to be its medical director (Kreigh & Cooksey). Provident continued to grow. In 1896, it made plans to build a new facility at 36th and Dearborn (Kreigh & Cooksey; Provident Hospital).

On June 7, 1898, the hospital finally moved into its newly built facility that had 75 beds (Kreigh & Cooksey; Provident Hospital; PHMC).

Later when a bigger site was needed, Provident donors gave 3.2 million dollars to buy a larger building (PHMC). In 1933 Provident moved into its site, formerly owned by the Chicago Lying-in Hospital at 426 East 51st Street (Kreigh & Cooksey; Provident Hospital; PHMC). It was a large hospital with: seven floors; 144 beds; and an adjoining four floor clinic building (Provident Hospital).

In August 1982, Provident built a new hospital at 500 East 51st Street after many years of fundraising (PHMC; Kreigh & Cooksey). Major gifts were given by wealthy Blacks such as John H. Sengstacke (Kreigh & Cooksey). The facility managed 300 patient beds; nurse quarters; and training programs (Kreigh & Cooksey; PHMC). In 1987 Provident’s poor funding-flow, led it into bankruptcy and closure (Kreigh & Cooksey).

In 1993, with the help of John Sengstacke and other County leaders, it reopened in order to serve anyone with a medical problem including the indigent (Cook County Health, 2023; Kreigh & Cooksey).

Notes

This study includes references to documents consulted from the Leonidas Berry papers at the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of

Afro-American History and Literature, CPL.
Kreigh, R.M. and Cooksey, J.D., (1998) Provident Hospital: A living legacy. The Provident Foundation.
Reed, C.R. (2005). Black Chicago’s first century: Volume 1, 1833-1900. U Missouri Press.
Spear, A.H. (1967). Black Chicago: The making of a Negro ghetto, 1890-1920. U Chicago Press.

Faculty Highlights

✪ Dr. Kimberly Black is co-PI for Chicagoland Partnership for Semiconductor and Microelectronics Experiential Learning.

✪ Dr. Kimberly Black co-presented Making a Difference: Translating Information Research into Practice, Policy, and Action at the ASIS&T Annual Meeting.

✪ Dr. Gabriel Gomez presented The Nature of Science Communication in a Time of Partisanship and Social Media at the International Colloquium on Science Communication India National Science Day - Global Relevance of Science Communication in 2023 e-hosted by the School of Media and

Entertainment, Goenka University, India.

✪ Dr. Rae-Anne Montague published Information Justice Institute: Initiating a project to increase critical understanding and community engagement in the International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion 7 (1/2).

✪ Dr. Chi Young Oh co-presented Toward an Understanding of University Students’ Information Behavior and Challenges When Experiencing Mental Health Symptoms at the Association for Library and Information Science Education Annual (ALISE) Conference.

LIS faculty helped staff our information table at the CIMST faculty met with a delegation of representatives from ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, June 24, 2023. Kirikkale University and Islamic Science History Research

Pictured: Dr. Gomez, Dr. Montague, Dr. Oh 📸: RAM Foundation, Türkiye. October 12, 2023. 📸: JJC

Keep in Touch

We have established a LinkedIn Group and an Instagram account - lis_csu to facilitate exchange of ideas and information. Join us! Alumni and others are encouraged to share updates and/or request to be added to our mailing list (lis@csu.edu).

Support CSU - Are you interested in supporting CSU students, programs, and/or initiatives? Learn more/make a donation via the Chicago State Foundation (https://www.csu.edu/foundation), an independent 501(c)(3) that serves as the chief fundraising partner for CSU. You may designate the Library and Information Science Program (CIMST Department) in the comments section.

Do you have news to share or a comment/suggestion? Please contact lis@csu.edu.