iSchool Featured at Maryland Library Conference(College Park, MD, 6/11/09)

iSchool alumna, Gail Griffith received the Maryland Library Association Award at the recent MLA Conference in Ocean City, Maryland. This is considered MLA's highest award. Griffith graduated in 1974 with a Master in Library Science from the University of Maryland. In December 2008, she retired as the deputy director of Carroll County Public Library.

According to her nominator, Lynn Wheeler, "She is the epitome of a lifelong learner. The wonderful benefit for the library community is that Gail is always willing to share her new knowledge and encourage others to learn."

The Maryland Library Association Award is open to any staff member in the State of Maryland who has provided sustained service to the Maryland Library Association in any capacity, is active in supporting library interests in the State, and is a member of the Maryland Library Association.

In addition, iSchool faculty Dr. Ann Carlson Weeks, Dr. Trudi Bellardo Hahn and Master of Library Science student Holly Van Puymboeck presented a workshop at the conference on "Strengthening the Public Library's Role in e-Government". When a disaster strikes, everyone¡Xeven people who normally disparage, ignore or fear local, state, and federal governments - suddenly must deal with them, and probably in an online, e-government environment. The problem has a potential solution: public libraries. Although not every public library has enough staff trained in e-government resources, enough public access computers, sufficient bandwidth and other elements needed to provide full service during an emergency situation; many public libraries are far ahead of other community agencies and organizations.

To read more about Maryland Library Association, please visit; http://www.mdlib.org/