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News from the Department of Information Science (formerly SIM)

Category: Students

Kelti McGloin Chosen as 2025 Recipient of the Dalhousie-Horrocks National Leadership Fund

We are pleased to announce that Master of Information/Juris Doctor (MI/JD) student Kelti McGloin has been selected as the twelfth recipient of the Dalhousie-Horrocks National Leadership Fund. 

This Fund was established in 2007 to honour Dr. Norman Horrocks, OC, PhD, FCLIP (1927-2010) for his outstanding leadership in the field of librarianship in North America, Australia, and Europe. Over several decades Dr. Horrocks, former Director of the School of Information Management (now DIS) and Dean of the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University, pursued a distinguished career of very active involvement in professional associations in the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Australia, the United States, and Canada. His many contributions, for which he received local, national and international recognition, have advanced the field and the careers of countless individuals. The fund supports a scholarship and an associated lecture series through an endowment donated by the many former students, colleagues, friends and admirers of Norman Horrocks. 

Kelti McGloin is in her final year of the combined MI/JD degree program. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Sociology with minors in Philosophy and Political Science at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2022. She was inspired to pursue a Master of Information alongside her law degree upon observing the work done by law librarians at the Schulich School of Law. Having worked as a reference intern at the Sir James Dunn Law Library for the last three years, Kelti regularly helps to resolve the legal information needs of patrons from diverse backgrounds and brings a strong service orientation to her emerging professional practice. These experiences inform her enthusiasm for access to justice and promoting legal literacy among non-lawyers. She is grateful to have had opportunities to synthesize these interests with her passion for Aboriginal law in research assistantships with Professor Naiomi Metallic and the Lnuwey Tplutaqan Wikuom.
Kelti has further leveraged her combined degree to co-author Best Practices for Writing About Indigenous Peoples in the Canadian Legal Context, a style guide for legal writing at the Schulich School of Law. She is excited about opportunities to connect with legal information professionals and is an active member of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries and the American Association of Law Libraries. Kelti will be articling with the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General in 2026/27. Further into the future, she hopes to work as an academic law librarian, where she can mobilize her unique professional background to teach legal research skills to future lawyers.

 

This award will be presented at the Dalhousie-Horrocks National Leadership Lecture in early 2026. Stay tuned for more details! 

Ellen Sawatzky Awarded the 2025 Stephanie Downs Memorial Award

Congrats to Ellen! More information about our awards and scholarships can be found here.

When Stephanie Downs returned to Canada from the UK to become a librarian, she chose to enter the MLIS program at Dalhousie for its sense of community, welcoming faculty and Maritime culture. Diagnosed with cervical cancer at the end of her last year at SIM, Stephanie graduated with her MLIS but lost her hard-fought battle to her illness on May 27th, 2007.

Remembered for her enthusiasm, Stephanie was a “doer” and very active in school life, serving as 2005-2006 Co-Chair of SIMSA and SIM Team Captain for the 2005 Halifax “Run for the Cure”. She was also awarded the Student-to-CLA travel award to attend the 2005 CLA Conference in Calgary. This award was established by Stephanie’s family and friends in her memory.

Ellen (she/her) is in her second year at Dalhousie in the MI program with a focus on metadata and academic libraries. She received her Bachelor of Arts with honours studying English Literature from the University of Manitoba in 2018. Following her graduation, she worked at the University of Manitoba in various administrative roles supporting students through admissions, awards, and academic support roles. During this time, Ellen recognized the importance of librarians within academic institutions and the impact they have on student learning which led her to pursuing her degree at Dalhousie.

In her career, Ellen worked closely with international students and supported them through the obstacles and challenges that come with moving to a new country and community. This inspired her to broaden her own horizons, and she spent a year travelling and working internationally before returning to Canada to continue her education. This experience showed her the importance of having local contacts and supports when navigating a new place and hopes to be someone international students can turn to for this support.

As a student in the MI program, Ellen is actively involved as one of the Academic Co-Chairs on ISSA, and was a part of organizing the Information Without Boarders (IWB) 2025 conference as Logistics Co-Chair. She works at the Sir James Dunn Law Library, and is a Research Assistant on the Respectful Terminology Platform Project. Ellen hopes to continue ensuring access and building community in her second year in the program and looks forward to welcoming the incoming cohort.

Profiles: 2025 MI Interns at Dalhousie Libraries

Many of our MI students complete internships with Dalhousie Libraries during their studies. Internships are just one of the work-integrated learning opportunities available to students in our program.

Abby Boorsma, Amelia Runchey, Emily Ritonja, Laura Chandler, and Taylor Brown are completing internships at Dalhousie Libraries this year. Click here to read their profiles, and learn more about them. Their stories illustrate the breadth of experiences available in our program and the field.

Special thanks to Dalhousie Libraries for their continued support of our students!

MI Grad focuses on connecting people, communities and public institutions

Reposted from here:

Rowan Moore (MI’25) grew up feeling “scared and intimidated” by the public library in their hometown of Timmins, Ontario. Now, they want to help change how these public institutions work. Rowan’s classmates and professors all agree; Moore embodies the change which needs to happen.

Described as a ‘people person’, a ‘connector’, and a ‘yes person’, Moore believes it is important for GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) institutions to get out of their buildings and “form meaningful relationships with people in the community.” Moore emphasizes how being able to show up for people and meet them where they are at can show people how these institutions can be their spaces.

“Who’s not at the library?”

As a queer and trans person, before Moore had even completed their undergraduate degree in history, they started thinking about who was missing from the library. “The people you want to help most are not showing up because they don’t see the library as a safe space for them.”

As they began working in archives institutions (including the Directorate of History and Heritage Archives in Ottawa) their understanding of the disconnect between institutions and people grew. The problem, they say, is that institutions need to put further emphasis on engagement and outreach. “Engaging people with historical materials shows these events are not so far removed. People think it’s far away, it cannot affect them, but [connecting with physical records and materials] can really change your perspective.”

Drawn to the Faculty of Management by the intimacy of the Master of Information program, Moore says they also liked that “the program had a bit of everything.” They describe their life experiences and aspirations coming together in one course, Community Led Services, taught by Alison Brown. “It is very geared for public libraries and how they can work with their community and have the community tell them what they need.” They are keenly interested in how the concepts they learned can be applied in other GLAM institutions to better connect people with each other and the world around them.

“I do not want to follow a traditional path.”

According to one of Moore’s classmates, Rebecca Marjoram, “Moore exemplified community in the program for the past two years. They were the first to offer a helping hand to anyone who needed support. They helped make this department a place students wanted to be and inspired us to give back in our own ways too.”

Dr. Philippe Mongeon (Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Information Science) summarizes Moore’s contribution by saying “They are an exceptional leader and community builder. Through their unwavering and thoughtful engagement, they have been pillars of support for many. Rowan’s dedication to uplifting others and driving positive change exemplifies the true spirit of our department and of our field.”

Moore says graduating feels “kind of bittersweet.” Having built deep friendships with people who they saw regularly, they’re going to miss those relationships. But they’re also excited to start their career and work on building professional and personal community connections.

“I do not want to follow a traditional path. I want to be an active member of any space I’m in, be a part of decision-making, and make people think about new perspectives. I want to make changes that benefit others around me. No matter what, I want to do this work, helping people.”

 

Congrats to the Class of 2025!

On Wednesday, June 11th, Master of Information (MI) and Master of Information Management (MIM) students were awarded their hard-earned degrees! As each graduate walked across the stage at Convocation, families and friends celebrated their accomplishments with cheers and applause.

The 2025 Convocation Award winners were announced and celebrated at an event prior to the ceremony. Thank you to all who attended and presented! Congratulations to all of our award winners. A full list of award recipients can be found below.

2025 Convocation Award Winners:

MI Achievement Award: Clare Cheong

Beta Phi Mu Candidates:
Emma Hak-Kovacs
Shannon Bateman
Kima Hazelwood
Drew Fitzgerald
Chelsey MacPherson
Kate Gaffney
Taryn Neufeld
Carolyn Smith
Timothy Howatt

MI Leadership Award: Kristan Belanger
Director’s Award-MI: Emma Hak-Kovacs
Director’s Award-MIM: Kurt Gonzalez
J. Clement Harrison International Award: Mary Mackin
NS Library Association (NSLA)/MI Graduate Award: Brenna Thibodeau
MI Faculty Appreciation Award: Rowan Moore
Louis Vagianos Medal: Shannon Bateman
Information Technology Leadership Award: Ben Forsyth
Research Award-MI: Cassandra Burbine
Research Award-MIM: Kurt Gonzalez
Atlantic Provinces Library Association (APLA) Award: Carolyn Smith
MI Special Service Award: Timothy Howatt
ISSA Outstanding Service Award: Rowan Moore

New Indigenous stole brings visibility and pride to Dal Convocation ceremonies

Reposted from: https://www.dal.ca/news/2025/06/20/convocation-traditions-indigenous-stole.html

Credit: Danny Abriel

Anyone who attended or watched a Convocation ceremony at Dal this spring may have noticed splashes of red amidst the usual sea of black gowns.

Among the students adding a crimson hue to the crowd was Kristan Belanger, a Mi’kmaw student and three-time Dal grad from Glooscap First Nation. While Belanger is no stranger to crossing the stage at Dal, last week marked the first time she did so draped in an Indigenous stole.

The stole — a red, scarf-like garment covered in symbols — was newly introduced this year for Indigenous students.

“Being able to walk across the stage wrapped in the stories, the strength, and the identity of my family and my community really reminded me and hopefully others in the crowd that I didn’t walk the path of academia alone,” she says. “Frankly, I would have never been able to make it to where I am today without the support of my entire community behind me.”

Belanger’s most recent ceremony marked the completion of her Master of Information degree from the Faculty of Management and follows previous degrees in political science (BA’19) and law (JD’22, with Certificate in Indigenous Law).

She says the stole serves as a visible reminder that Indigenous students persist and achieve across all programs at Dal — significant in an academic space “where our presence is often ignored or erased.”

“Having the visibility of the stole can help reclaim some of that space for ourselves,” she says. “It also hopefully sends a message to future Indigenous students that they also belong here, that their voice matters and their success is possible within academia.”

Remembering Marie DeYoung (MLIS ’80)

Reposted from: https://news.smu.ca/news/2025/6/17/remembering-marie-deyoung-former-university-librarian

Lisa Billard met Marie DeYoung in 2009 when she began working as an Administrative Assistant at the Patrick Power Library. This began a journey that Lisa will always be grateful for.

“I learned so much from Marie, personally and professionally, over the next eight years,” says Lisa. “Marie talked about the importance of small gestures of kindness, and I observed her kindness, generosity and calm approach to all matters regularly.”

Marie DeYoung served as the University Librarian at Saint Mary’s for 10 years, from July 2008 to July 2018. She passed away in April 2022 and is remembered with respect by many current Library staff.

“I was very lucky to have Marie for a manager and friend,” says Lisa. “I think of her often with great fondness and will always be grateful for knowing her. For me, she was a gentle mentor who became a dear friend. “

On June 4, 2025, Library staff gathered to plant a beautiful flowering almond tree in honour of Marie’s life, legacy, and contribution to Saint Mary’s. Current University Librarian, Suzanne van den Hoogen, organized this memorial tree planting as a symbolic gesture to the lasting impact Marie made at Saint Mary’s and a perfect way to launch celebrations for the Patrick Power Library’s 50th anniversary.

Marie was dedicated to her career as a librarian and recognized for her leadership within the profession. Her time at Saint Mary’s, leading the Patrick Power Library, was a highlight of her career. Marie also had a passion for mentoring staff, students, and new graduates, and this legacy is still felt by library staff today.

Natalie Barte, who started working as a Graduate Student Assistant at the Patrick Power Library in May, received the memorial Marie DeYoung Bursary from Dalhousie University last year to help fund her studies in the Master of Information program.

“I was surprised to learn that the bursary I received came from a woman who once served as the University Librarian at the very library where I now work,” says Natalie. “Though I never met Marie, her kindness and generosity have touched me, and I am truly grateful. It’s an honour not only to receive her support, but to know the legacy it came from.”

The Patrick Power Library would like to give special thanks to Dr. David Richardson, Dean Emeritus, for his thoughtful assistance in selecting and planting the flowering almond tree to honour Marie DeYoung. The tree is visible from the Library’s first floor, the University Librarian’s office on the second floor, and the quad. In mid-spring, the tree will bloom with pink flowers along its branches.

MI Student Conference Recaps (Alberta Letts Travel Award)

Students in our Master of Information program can apply for the Alberta Letts Conference Travel Award (more details here) to help fund travel to professional conferences. Here are some recaps from recent events our students have attended:

Kelsey Morgan (MI student):

  • In October, I had the privilege of attending the 2024 Archival Education Research Institute (AERI) Conference to present a lightening talk on my thesis project, Reconstructing Narratives: Investigating Cultural Imperialism in Subject Headings, and participate in a panel, titled From Epistemic Violence to Knowledge Justice, with my supervisor Dr. Jamila Ghaddar. This year’s AERI Conference was particularly exciting because it was the first year that it was held outside of Europe or North America. As my thesis project focuses on representations of Palestine in library catalogues, I was excited to have the opportunity to meet and engage with information professionals working in the Middle East. One of the biggest lessons I ended up walking away with, after this conference, was the challenges that come with trying to open space to talk about Palestine. Our panel committee, which was also Palestine focused, had a total of four members who were unfortunately not able to attend in person, two of whom were not even able to attend online, directly caused by our current political reality. The obstacles that we encountered leading up to the day of our panel was a big learning opportunity for me in terms of the reality of pursuing this kind of work. Thankfully, I was fortunate to be a part of an incredible team with experience and wisdom on how to navigate such constraints. Our panel was ultimately a success, and I am forever grateful to my fellow panelists for allowing me to be a part of it.

Summer Wilson (MI student):

  • BRIC (Bibliometrics and Research Impact Community) 2025 was an exceptional conference with presentations and posters on cutting-edge meta-research. The keynote speaker was Vincent Larivière, a prolific researcher from the university of Montreal, who spoke on multilingualism in scholarly publishing and the dominance of English in academic spaces. Many of the presentations touched on the uptake and use of LLMs by academia. One talk that particularly stood out was Jeff Domaine’s research on Linked Literature Analysis and LLMs. I helped professor Mongeon present a poster with research we have been working on identifying differences in the metadata collected by WoS and OpenAlex. Geoff Krause, a PhD student from Dalhousie who also studies bibliometrics, presented a lightning talk on the changing research coverage of the CAIS conference over the last few decades. Researchers came from all over the world. For example, a speaker from Taiwan who discussed the current research trends in Taiwan and a researcher from Slovenia who presented on a python code template for doing bibliometric work. At the reception I was able to talk to researchers both in academia and in industry about their work. The University of Montreal, with its uber-modern labyrinth style architecture was a great setting for the conference, and the food was excellent. 

 

 

MI Student Receives CAAL Indigenous Professional Development Grant

Re-posting from Council of Atlantic Academic Libraries (CAAL): 

CAAL is pleased to announce the inaugural recipient of the CAAL Indigenous Professional Development Grant – Kristan Belanger.

Kristan is a Mi’kmaq scholar and professional dedicated to the fields of law, Information Science, and Indigenous knowledge stewardship.  She is currently pursuing a Master of Information at Dalhousie University with a specialization in librarianship (expected 2025).  Kristan’s thesis, Natawitplutaqatiek (We Are Good Law Makers): Mi’kmaw Law Library Scoping Study, focuses on the development of a framework for the creation of a Mi’kmaw Law Library, an initiative that seeks to preserve, revitalize, and make accessible Mi’kmaw legal traditions and knowledge.

Beyond her studies, Kristan is actively engaged in professional Indigenous knowledge & information stewardship initiatives.  As a Research and Data Analytics Officer at the Department of Canadian Heritage, she has led policy development related to Indigenous intellectual property and the implementation of the UNDRIP Action Plan Measure 101.  Additionally, her role as Research Lead for the Lnuwey Tplutaqan Wikuom has allowed her to lead strategic planning on information stewardship related to Indigenous law, organize workshops on Indigenous legal revitalization, and contribute to the creation of specialized research collections.  She is also currently involved in community-led efforts at the Dunn Law Library, where she is assisting in the establishment of an Indigenous law collection and classification system based on the Brian Deer Classification framework.

Kristan holds a BA in Political Science with a Minor in Chinese Studies, as well as a Juris Doctor degree with a Certificate in Indigenous Law, both from Dalhousie University.

Receiving this Grant will enable Kristan to continue her research and advocacy in the Indigenous information field.  The funds would be used to support her work as she continues her research and professional projects aimed at strengthening Indigenous knowledge stewardship and data in Atlantic Canada.  Ultimately, her goal is to contribute to the advancement of Indigenous-led information services that respect and uphold the principles of Indigenous knowledge stewardship.

The CAAL Indigenous Professional Development Grant, in the amount of $1,000, supports self-identifying Indigenous Peoples in the Atlantic Region who are either pursuing information management careers, or working in information management at a CAAL member library.

Congrats Kristan!

Carolyn Smith Chosen as 2024 Recipient of the Dalhousie-Horrocks National Leadership Fund

We are pleased to announce that Master of Information (MI) student Carolyn Smith has been selected as the twelfth recipient of the Dalhousie-Horrocks National Leadership Fund. 

This Fund was established in 2007 to honour Dr. Norman Horrocks, OC, PhD, FCLIP (1927-2010) for his outstanding leadership in the field of librarianship in North America, Australia, and Europe. Over several decades Dr. Horrocks, former Director of the School of Information Management (now DIS) and Dean of the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University, pursued a distinguished career of very active involvement in professional associations in the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Australia, the United States, and Canada. His many contributions, for which he received local, national and international recognition, have advanced the field and the careers of countless individuals. The fund supports a scholarship and an associated lecture series through an endowment donated by the many former students, colleagues, friends and admirers of Norman Horrocks. 

Carolyn Smith is a second-year graduate student pursuing her Master of Information (MI) at Dalhousie University with the completion of the programs Archives Certificate. She holds a BA in History with a minor in English from Vancouver Island University. Following her undergraduate degree Carolyn started her professional career working for qathet Museum & Archives, a regional community-led organization within the Coast Salish territories of BC. Her work inspired her to further her career within the archival and information field leading her to Dalhousie’s MI program where she has been able to learn from professionals and scholars within the archival field. Carolyn is inspired by community-led work and has worked with MI students and faculty to re-ratify the Dalhousie Association of Canadian Archivists Student Chapter (DAL ACA). She acts as current Chair and ACA coordinator for DAL ACA and is currently working as coordinator to bring back the ACA’s nation-wide Special Interest Section for Emerging Professionals and Students. Additionally, she works with the Archives & Digital Technologies Lab (ADML) as a student assistant for the Open Classroom Seminar Series on Antiracism & Decolonization in Archival & Information Studies. Carolyn is a current recipient of the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Masters Award with her thesis focusing on the charting of Indigenous sovereignty within Canadian archives. Her interests lie within the areas of archives, records management, community-based practice, decolonization, memory and identity, and policy development.

This award will be presented at the Dalhousie-Horrocks National Leadership Lecture on February 3rd, 2025. Stay tuned for more details! 

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