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The University of Maryland (UMD) College of Information is a teaching and research college located just outside of Washington, DC on the UMD College Park campus in the state of Maryland, USA. The UMD College of Information, also known as the INFO College, offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree and certificate programs. Research at the college spans areas of information science, from AI to cybersecurity to archives, and is driven by a mission to use information and technology to solve real world problems and do good.

History

Founding 1965

The College of Information was founded in 1965 at the University of Maryland (UMD) in response to demand for library education in the DC/MD/VA area, which lacked a library school in a public university at that time. Originally named the School of Library and Information Services, the school's first home was in the University's McKeldin Library and it offered a Master of Library Science (MSL) degree program.

Paul Wasserman was the school's first Dean, bringing with him extensive experience as an educator and librarian, with notable appointments at the Brooklyn Public Library, NY 1949-53 and Cornell University, Graduate School of Business and Public Administration 1953-65. Wasserman, who served as Dean for five years, was known for his advocacy of research and innovation in the field of information science. Under his leadership, the school became the first Information School to require a technology course, began recruiting international faculty and students, became accredited by the American Library Association in 1967 (which the college maintains today), established the controversial High John Library in 1967, and launched a PhD in Information Studies program in 1969.

In 1970, the school moved to UMD's new Undergraduate Library, which was later named for R. Lee Hornbake, the University Vice President and VP for Academic Affairs, a strong supporter of library education and services. In 1973, the school was renamed the College of Library and Information Services.

Challenge of 1991

In the 1980s there was heated debate over whether Library Schools should be a part of major research-oriented universities. The University of Chicago's Graduate Library School was closed in 1989 and its closing was attributed to "the divorce of the School's research activities from what the profession perceived as its needs for training." Shortly thereafter, in 1990, Columbia University's School of Library Service was closed. There were reports of fierce opposition from tenured faculty to sever ties to all library communities and reorient priorities to support newly emerging information communities as well as deemphasize professionally relevant education and practitioner connections.^[2] In 1991, coupled with the economic downturn (the University had implemented furloughs as well) there was a call for the College of Library and Information Services at Maryland to be shut down. It was proposed that the college became a department rather than a self-standing college. There was a public, open meeting where the issue was debated. The college was given support by Representative Steny Hoyer. In addition, past deans, faculty and alumni were on hand to counter the proposal. Former students spoke up in defense of the program, attributing their successes in public service jobs to the college's educational programs. The college was able to avoid being shut down.

Transition Phase & Renaming 1993 - 2001

In the 1990s, library schools, including the UMD College of Library and Information Services, began to expand their areas of research and education in response to the rapidly advancing information age. More and more information was being produced and being disseminated from ever-increasing sources. The college was expanding into data science and policy, digital literacy, and how the new world of information and technology could be leveraged to benefit individuals and social challenges.

In 1993, Ann Prentice became dean of the college. During this time period, the University of Maryland's Provost prompted a general review of the college and a reexamination of the goals and mission statement. The Provost wanted to promote more innovation, creation, research, and services. Therefore, the college went through significant changes as the MLS curriculum was revised and the college began to morph into what it is now, the College of Information.

In 2001, to reflect this evolution in its scope of academics and research, the school was renamed the College of Information Studies. Dropping “libraries” and replacing “services” with “studies” was deliberate, and reflected both the broader scope of its research while still respecting its impact on practice and policy in libraries.

The 2000s Information Age Prompts Growth of the College

Bruce Dearstyne took over as Interim Dean in 2001 after Prentice retired, and the transformation continued under his leadership. His signature initiative was introduction of the Master of Information Management program (MIM) in 2003.

In 2005, Jenny Preece became Dean and served through 2015. Under Preece, in 2005, the UMD College of Information Studies joined the growing iSchools Organization (now an international organization of over 120 Information Schools). The iSchools Organization, of which the College of Information remains a member today, promotes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the opportunities and challenges of information management, with a core commitment to concepts like universal access and user-centered organization of information.

Under Preece, the MIM program grew substantially. In addition, in 2011, the Master of Human-Computer Interaction (HCIM) program was launched. The college was emerging as a leader in research and education in data science and human-computer interaction. In the summer of 2015, Brian Butler took over as interim dean as Jenny Preece stepped down, which coincided with the college's inaugural MLS program being renamed the Master of Library & Information Science (MLIS).

In 2016, Keith Marzullo accepted the position of Dean of the College of Information Studies. Marzullo, a noted computer scientist, ACM Fellow, educator, and policy leader, spearheaded expanding the college's research areas of expertise and leadership in multidisciplinary collaboration, particularly within the University of Maryland (UMD) community. The college launched a Bachelor of Science in Information Science degree program (InfoSci) in 2016, Master of Professional Studies in Game, Entertainment, and Media Analytics (GEM) in 2021, Master of Professional Studies in Data Journalism (MPDJ) in 2022 in collaboration with the UMD Philip Merrill College of Journalism, Bachelor of Science in Social Data Science (SDSC) in 2022 in collaboration with the UMD College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, and Bachelor of Arts in Technology and Information Design (InfoDesign) in 2022.

In 2021, the College of Information Studies' Master of Library & Information Science (MLIS) program was ranked #4 in the USA in the U.S. News & World Report's 2021 LIS college rankings. This was a jump from the college's previous #8 ranking earned in 2017. In 2024, the Bachelor of Science in Information Science (InfoSci) program became the second largest degree program at the University of Maryland College Park.

As Dean, Marzullo continued the college's commitment to its membership in the iSchools Organization, becoming the iSchools Americas Chair in 2018-current, representing Canada, the United States, Central America, and South America. Under Marzullo, in 2024, the college changed its name to the College of Information, representing the college's evolving mission and growing scope, and aligning more closely with modern nomenclatures within the information field.

Deans

• Paul Wasserman: 1965-1970
• Michael Reynolds (interim): 1970
• James Liesener (interim): 1970-1971
• Margaret Chisholm: 1971-1975
• Henry Duebster (interim)
• Keith Wright: 1977-1980
• Michael Reynolds (interim)
• Anne MacLeod (interim)
• Claude Walston: 1983-1992
• Ann Prentice: 1993-2001
• Bruce Dearstyne (interim): 2001-2005
• Charles Lowry (interim): 2005
• Jenny Preece: 2005-2015
• Brian Butler (interim): 2015-2016
• Keith Marzullo: 2016-current

Degree Programs & Launch Dates

• Master of Library & Information Science: 1965
• Doctor of Philosophy in Information Studies: 1969
• Dual Master of Arts in History and Library & Information Science: 1979
• Master of Information Management: 2003
• Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction: 2011
• Bachelor of Science in Information Science at College Park: 2016
• Bachelor of Science in Information Science at Shady Grove: 2018
• Master of Professional Studies in Game, Entertainment, and Media Analytics: 2021
• Bachelor of Arts in Technology and Information Design: 2022
• Bachelor of Science in Social Data Science: 2022
• Master of Professional Studies in Data Journalism: 2022

Research Areas & Groups

• Accessibility and Inclusive Design (Research Groups: MIDA)
• Archival Science (Research Groups: CAFe)
• Data Privacy and Sociotechnical Cybersecurity (Research Groups: STC)
• Data Science, Analytics, and Visualization (Research Groups: SoDa)
• Digital Humanities
• Future of Work (Research Groups: OTTRS)
• Health Informatics
• Human-Computer Interaction (Research Groups: HCIL)
• Information Justice, Human Rights, and Technology Ethics (Research Groups: i3r@UMD)
• Library and Information Science (Research Groups: Search Mastery)
• ML, AI, Computational Linguistics, and Information Retrieval (Research Groups: CLIP, AIM, VCAI)
• Smart Cities and Connected Communities
• Social Networks, Online Communities, and Social Media
• Youth Experience, Learning, and Digital Practices

Name Changes

• The School of Library and Information Services (1965)
• College of Library and Information Services (1973)
• College of Information Studies (2001)
• College of Information (2024)

References