Legacy of Excellence

2014

• Nine Faculty of Information Masters and Doctoral students awarded more than $440,000 by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
• Associate Professor Alan Galey named the MISC Outstanding Instructor of the Year by Master of Information Student Council.
• Establishes the “Susan A. Brown Administrative Staff Achievement Award” to recognize outstanding staff members, with the first award going to 33-year veteran, Nadia Moro, a Senior Library Technician at the Inforum.
• Establishes a new partnership to bring all iSchool Institute (iSI) courses under the School of Continuing Studies’ umbrella of continuing education offerings.
• The Faculty of Information’s first “My Choice Video Contest” announces three winners, one alumna and two students.
• The 6th annual Faculty of Information Student Conference, Information in Formation: Building a Profession, a success.
• The Museum Studies students launch their “Musings(link is external)” blog.
• Professor Rhonda McEwen and Librarian Kathleen Scheaffer’s research published in the Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, investigating the online information practices of people grieving, commemorating, and mourning a loved one through Facebook.
• Dr. Mark Chignell joined the  Faculty of Information with a 33% appointment as the Bell University Laboratory Chair in Human Computer Interaction.
• Professor Matt Ratto and PhD student ginger coons use 3D scanning design and print technology to address the shortfall of available prosthetics for children in Uganda.
• Museum Studies students and faculty members travel to the American capital of Washington, DC to see some of the most well-known museums in North America.
• Ravit David, Digital Content Production Coordinator at Scholars Portal, announced as the Winter 2014 Faculty of Information Librarian in Residence at the Inforum.
• Professor Patrick Keilty publishes the first feminist and/or queer reader within the field of information studies: Feminist and Queer Information Studies Reader (Litwin Books, 2013).

2013

• The Faculty hires Dr. Christoph Becker to teach Digital Curation / Preservation.
• The Faculty of Information hosts the Oxford Internet Institute Summer Doctoral Programme.
• Survey to recent graduates show that nearly 90% of graduates had secured a job before graduation, or within six months, and in fields closely, or somewhat closely, related to their studies.
• The Faculty of Information will provide a Personal Librarian to incoming students in the fall.
• Dr. Keren Dali is named the Master of Information Student Council (MISC) Outstanding Instructor Award recipient, a new award designed to recognize the Faculty of Information’s exceptional course instructors.
• The Faculty announces two new concentrations — Culture & Technology and Knowledge Media Design — in the Master of Information program, to begin in September.

2012

• The Faculty of Information hosts more than 500 participants at the International iConference, which runs February 7–10.
•  The Faculty of Information welcomes five new professors in the areas of museum studies, communications, databases, and libraries. One of the professors is the new Director of Museum Studies.
• In September, the Faculty launches an undergraduate program in collaboration with the Institute of Communication, Culture, and Information Technology (ICCIT) at the University of Toronto’s Mississauga Campus.
• Master of Information student, Greg Hughes, creates Faculty of Information-branded mobile app for both Android and iphones that gives students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends a new medium to explore what the program has to offer.
• The iSchool Institute, the continuing education arm of the Faculty of Information,) partners with the Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC/CBUC) to establish the Public Library Leadership Fellows (PLLF) program to train senior administrators.
• In November, the Faculty of Information hosts the Canadian premiere of Linotype: The Film(link is external), a feature-length documentary that centres on the Linotype type casting machine.
•  Professor Matt Ratto and then-student Mike Borg (MI 2012) designed and built a collaborative tool, creating Shotlst(link is external), that enables users to track their progress by uploading, annotating, and commenting on photos as a project goes through various stages of development.
• The Faculty of Information launches its $7.8 million fundraising campaign as part of university-wide Boundless project.
• The Faculty announces two new concentrations — Culture & Technology and Knowledge Media Design — in the Master of Information program, to begin in September 2013.

2011

• This year marks the centenary of Marshall McLuhan’s birth. In celebration, the University of Toronto, McLuhan’s home for decades, is hosting an international conference on the past, present, and future of McLuhan’s work and influence, from November 7–10, 2011
• The Digital Curation Institute at the Faculty of Information launches its first lecture series. This year’s speaker, Professor Costis Dallas, delivers five one-hour lectures between March 22 and April 5, 2011
• A dedicated team pulls together an excellent line-up of speakers for a three-part series called The IS Career Cafe, targeting those interested in Information Systems
• Faculty of Information hosts The Bertha Bassam Lecture on April 14, 2011, with guest speaker David Carr
• Faculty of Information announces its intention to host the next iConference in Toronto, Canada, from February 7–10, 2012.

2010

• The Professional Learning Centre (PLC) becomes the iSchool Institute (iSI), with an expanded mandate: to act as the public outreach arm of the Faculty of Information
• The Faculty of Information launches the Digital Curation Institute (DCI)
• The Knowledge Media Design Institute (KMDI) joins the Faculty of Information as a multidisciplinary unit

2009

• The ALA-accredited Master of Information (MI) degree is introduced, replacing the MISt degree.

2008

• FIS becomes the Faculty of Information, a Tier One Member of  iSchool , an international association of universities that lead and promote programs for the information field worldwide. The name change reflects its closer alignment with the iSchool movement

2006

• The Department of Museum Studies joins FIS
• The Master of Museum Studies degree program becomes a program administered by FIS

2004

• Professor and Dean Brian Cantwell Smith publishes a new academic plan for the Faculty, entitled Stepping Up: Information Practice in the 21st Century
• FIS joins the iSchool movement
• Four new collaborative programs are introduced:
  • Addiction Studies
  • Aging and the Life Course
  • Centre for Environment
  • Women’s Studies

2003

• A four-year joint degree program in Information Studies and Law (MISt/JD) is introduced. FIS creates and delivers these collaborative programs with other university departments
  • Book History and Print Culture
  • Knowledge Media Design

2002

• The Diploma of Advanced Study in Information Studies, a post-Master’s diploma, is introduced

1997

• Major renovation of the library. The integration of people, technology, services, information resources, and teaching results in the creation of the Inforum

1995–1996

• The ALA-accredited Master of Information Studies (MISt) degree is introduced, replacing the MLS and MIS degrees

1994

• FLIS becomes the Faculty of Information Studies (FIS)

1993

• The archives specialization is introduced into the MLS program

1988–1989

• A separate Master of Information Science (MISt) degree is launched. New faculty members are appointed to teach in the new program

1982

• The Faculty of Library Science becomes the Faculty of Library and Information Studies (FLIS)
• New computing facilities and curriculum changes reflect this name change

1979

• FLS joins other university departments in the Working Group on Information Technology and Society
• FLS hosts the Symposium on Information Technology and the Toronto/Waterloo Cooperative on Information Technology

1974

• The first library science PhD degree in Canada is awarded to Claire England
• The ALA re-accredits the Master of Library Science program

1973

• FLS offers the first formal continuing education courses in Library Science in the country.

1972

• The School of Library Science attains Faculty status, and becomes the Faculty of Library Science (FLS)

1971

• The School of Library Science moves to new facilities at 140 St. George Street
• The School offers the first Doctor of Philosophy in Library Science program in Canada

1970

• The one-year Bachelor of Library Science (BLS) program is discontinued
• A new, two-year Master of Library Science (MLS) program is offered

1968

• Students receive formal representation on the School Council

1965

• The library school severs ties with the Ontario College of Education and is renamed the School of Library Science
• The School of Library Science moves to 167 College Street and 256 McCaul Street
• The one-year Master’s program is expanded to four terms
• The Library Science Master’s degree becomes a standard requirement for becoming a professional librarian

1962

• The library school receives its own Council and representation on the University Senate

1954

• The diploma program is withdrawn

1951

• A total of 659 BLS degrees have been awarded by the end of this year
• The first Master’s degree in librarianship in Canada is awarded by the University of Toronto to Esther Jacobsen.

1950

•  The school introduces a second-year, ALA-accredited Master’s program

1937

• The BLS program receives American Library Association (ALA) accreditation

1936

• 289 students from across Canada have completed the diploma program to date
• The University of Toronto introduces the Bachelor of Library Science (BLS) degree
• The Diploma in Librarianship program continues for those with only high school qualifications

1929

• 31 graduate diplomas are awarded
• The graduating class of 1928-1929 found the Alumni Association.

1928

• The University of Toronto establishes Ontario’s first formal library school with a full-year academic program in Library Science
• The library school is located at the Ontario College of Education, at Bloor and Spadina
• Graduates receive a Diploma in Librarianship from the school, and a Librarian’s Certificate from the Government of Ontario’s Department of Education

1911

• Toronto Public Library offers the first library training course in Ontario

Some Sources

Bassam, B. (1978). The Faculty of Library Science, University of Toronto, and its predecessors,1911-1972. Toronto: Faculty of Library Science.

Henderson, D. (2004). University of Toronto. Faculty of Information Studies. ELAN: Ex Libris Association Newsletter (Special issue, Summer 2004): 8–13.

1971–present: Claude T. Bissell building, 140 St. George Street (seven floors and basement)

1965–1971: 165 College Street (two floors and basement) and 256 McCaul Street (two floors)

1928–1965: Ontario College of Education, 371 Bloor Street West, third floor

1928: Library School at U of T

1972: Faculty of Library Science (FLS)

1982: Faculty of Library and Information Science (FLIS)

1994: Faculty of Information Studies (FIS)

2005*: joins the iSchool (Information School) consortium

2008: Faculty of Information

1928: introduced Diploma of Librarianship (Dip. Lib.)

1936: replaced diploma program with Bachelor of Library Science (BLS) degree program

1937: BLS receives its first accreditation by the American Library Association (ALA)

1950: introduced the Master of Library Science (MLS) degree, a second-year program for those in BLS

1970: BLS discontinued. MLS becomes full two-year program

1971*: introduced Doctor of Philosophy in Library Science (PhD) degree program

1988: Master of Information Science (MIS) degree begins to be offered

1995: Master of Information Studies (MISt) degree program replaces both the MLS & MIS programs

1996: MISt is accredited by ALA. Last year all three degrees (MISt, MLS, MIS) are conferred

2002: Diploma of Advanced Study in Information Studies (DAIS) was introduced (post-graduate diploma program)

2006**: transferred Master of Museum Studies (MMSt) from School of Graduate Studies

2009: MISt changed to Master of Information (MI)

2016*: introduced Executive Master of Information (MI) in Information Systems & Design (ISD-E)

* Canada first
** only English-speaking Master’s program of its kind in Canada