The FSU School of Library & Information Studies (SLIS) would like to

congratulate a team of its doctoral students who have been selected to compete in the inaugural Social Media Expo at iConference 2013, Feb. 12-15. Laura Spears, Nathaniel Ramos, Jr. and Jisue Lee have received a $3,000 award from conference sponsor Microsoft Research to travel to the hosting College of Information at the University of North Texas and present “iMapLibraries: Mapping Opportunities for Lifelong Learning.”

The Social Media Expo is bringing together competing student teams to present projects with the theme of using social media for fostering lifelong learning. The FSU student research team used social media and interactive mapping to provide online information about U.S. libraries that offer classes in lifelong learning topics (i.e. computers and the Internet, English as a second language, workforce readiness, health and wellness and government assistance programs). SLIS faculty sponsors for the team were Dr. Lorri Mon and Dr. Christie Koontz.

The project was designed to explore how online mapping might provide a way to help people find lifelong learning classes and workshops available at local libraries. It also tests social media and online mapping methods that librarians might use to connect with users and other librarians for outreach, marketing, advocacy and the sharing of best practices.

The FSU School of Library & Information Studies was a founding member of the iSchools organization in 2005. Its members are schools, colleges, and departments that share a fundamental interest in the relationships between information, people and technology. The annual iConference attracts faculty, students and researchers, as well as government and private-sector professionals, who share similar interests.