Dr. Blanche Woolls was originally scheduled to answer questions from SLIM students and faculty on the following topic.  Due to technology issues, Dr. Woolls was unable to join but the SLIM faculty who attended took her place and answered their questions.

Choosing Hope over Fear in a New Era of Professional Responsibilities  

Announcement: We are experiencing historic times and events with unprecedented steps being taken by governments, businesses, and individuals. Around the world, library and information workers are doing their best day-to-day, both personally and professionally, to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. But what about the future? Who better to make a case for libraries and librarians as an essential part of recovery in a new era of professional responsibilities than an acclaimed, front-line librarian and library leader? 

Through a series of interview questions and questions from the audience, Dr. Blanche Woolls, Professor Emerita, San Jose State University in the School of Information, the College of Professional and Global Education, will describe past challenges, opportunities, and some of her lessons learned. She will share encouragement for the coming days as we take action to respond to the needs of people in our communities for training, support, and a place to get away as they look to rebuild their lives and careers.  Dr. Woolls will give us hope as we face great demands for digital content, ways to support online learning, and how to be ready to return to high levels of data protection, privacy, academic freedom, and openness to the world as soon as possible. Please save the date and attend this virtual event hosted by the School of Library and Information Management, Emporia State University.

Link to ZOOM Session chat: https://tinyurl.com/y4u5e52c