In preparation for an iSchool graduate information session, I reviewed the definition of iSchools in the Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences, 3rd ed. As a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh iSchool, I thought I would find a reflection of what I have experienced thus far at the iSchool.

As I near the end of my first semester I find the iSchool and the faculty, staff, and students that make up the iSchool are focused on the study of the intersection between people, information and technology. I recognized this was a fairly basic understanding, however, it was not until I read the iSchool definition that I realized that beyond the basic definition of what the iSchool is right now, the iSchool is a proponent of investigating questions that affect people across disciplines and fields.

The iSchool submission, which happens to be written by the iSchool at Pitt’s own Dean Ronald L. Larsen, progresses from origin, to motivation, positioning, empowerment, and organization, to the iSchool vision. The iSchool concept was developed through informal conversations and meetings, and the insight of visionaries that have recognized the impact of information in structure, content and interconnectedness. Due to its intangibility and continually changing form, iSchools must focus on current, important questions rather than pure educational structure.

So, what are the questions that iSchools are investigating? As of right now, I have been mulling around the concept of  archival materials handling. What are best practices to preserve the intellectual and physical integrity of an archival item? Does it matter if that item is of a different culture/society, and we apply western, US preservation beliefs? To what degree are we affecting the archival materials through description? Is it more beneficial to have in-depth description, or allow each user to make his or her own inferences?

There are no clear answers to these questions, just the opportunity in an iSchool environment to further investigate with peers, faculty and staff from a variety of backgrounds.

Larsen, Ronald L. “iSchools.” In Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences, Third Edition, 3018-3023. Taylor and Francis: New York, 2009. DOI: 10.1081/E-ELIS3-120043670.