Friday, April 11, 2025
Great Room, Pryzbyla Student Center
The Catholic University of America
About the Symposium
Bridging the Spectrum: A Symposium on Scholarship and Practice in Library and Information Science offers a knowledge-sharing forum and meeting place for practitioners, students, and faculty in Library and Information Sciences and Services. Presentations are selected to showcase innovative practices, projects, and research activities in a variety of library, archives, or information services activities. Because students, faculty, and practitioners all share their work, the Symposium encompasses many different aspects and points of view on library and information professional work. The program's goal is to foster unexpected connections across the spectrum of the information professions.
Keynote Address
For this year's Symposium, we are excited to feature David Mao in conversation with Robert Newlen.
David S. Mao is the 12th Librarian of the Supreme Court of the United States. He joined the Court in July 2024 from the Georgetown University Law Center where he served as chief operating officer and was responsible for the school’s administrative operations. From 2005 to 2017, he served in various roles at the Library of Congress, including as the 23rd Law Librarian of Congress, the Deputy Librarian of Congress, and acting Librarian of Congress. Mr. Mao earned his B.A. at The George Washington University, his J.D. at Georgetown University Law Center, and his M.S.L.S. at The Catholic University of America.
Robert R. Newlen has a 43-year career at the Library of Congress, holding leadership positions in the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the Law Library and as Deputy Librarian of Congress. He most recently completed a 14 month term as Interim Director of CRS and currently serves as a Special Advisor to the Director. He served in a number of leadership positions in CRS from 1975 until 2010. They included: assistant director of Knowledge Services Group (KSG); deputy assistant director, KSG; head, CRS Legislative Relations Office; supervisory team leader of the Senate Reference Center; and head, Inquiry Unit. Subsequent positions in the Library included assistant law librarian for Collections, Outreach & Services; Library of Congress chief of staff; and deputy Librarian of Congress. Newlen has held a variety of positions in the American Library Association (ALA), which includes serving as a member of the Executive Board and senior trustee of the ALA Endowment. He was the recipient of the ALA Medal of Excellence in 2016. He has also been active in the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, and the Joint Council of Librarians of Color. Newlen holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and French from Bridgewater College; a master’s degree in art history from American University; and a master of science in library science degree from Catholic University.
Important Dates
- Submission of the Abstract: January 30, 2025 extended to February 7, 2025
- Notification: February 28, 2025
- Symposium: April 11, 2025
Sponsorship and Partnership
Accommodations
Please include any accommodation requests when you register, or contact the Symposium committee at CUA-slis-symposium@CUA.edu or 202-319-5085. In all situations, a good faith effort (up until the time of the event) will be made to provide accommodations.
Symposium Committee
Maria Mazzenga (chair), Alex Audziayuk, Shane MacDonald, Sue Yeon Syn, Heather Wiggins
Committee shared email address: cua-slis-symposium@cua.edu