On Thursday, February 6, 2025, the Department of Library and Information Studies, in collaboration with the Building Strong Library and Information Science (BSLISE), an IFLA working group, and the Mortenson Centre for International Library Programs, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign hosted an online workshop, Foundational Knowledge Areas (FKAs) for LIS Professionals: An Action Plan Workshop

Hosted and organized by Dr Lorraine Nero, DLIS Honorary Research Fellow, the presenters were Professor Clara M. Chu, Mortenson University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Professor Ana María Talavera-Ibarra, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru with breakout room facilitators Assistant Professor Christopher Cunningham, North Carolina Central University, Érica Saito, World Bank Group Library and Juanita Jara de Sumar, Liaison Librarian (retired), McGill University Library. The workshop had 377 registrants.

One hundred and sixty participants were online and discussed, “What do library and information professionals need to know to contribute to an effective library and information science (LIS) organisations?” Positive feedback has been received from participants who look forward to the DLIS hosting more continuing professional development opportunities targeted at Caribbean professionals.

This workshop effectively repositions and returns the DLIS to its formerly well-recognized international stage, restoring our voice in library thought-leadership, especially as a vanguard for Library Education in the global South.