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Student Organizations

SILS offers a variety of organizations for students. For individual student contact information, see the UNC at Chapel Hill Campus Directory.

Information & Library Science Student Association (ILSSA)

ILSSA officers are liaisons between SILS students and faculty, alumni and the Graduate & Professional Student Federation.

The organization provides a forum for discussion and action relating to school policies and issues and plans social events and career investigation opportunities. They inform students and faculty of current activities and issues. All SILS students are automatically ILSSA members.

Doctoral Students Association

The DSA is the official organization for SILS Ph.D. students. All doctoral students are automatically members of the DSA. The organization works towards improving communication among doctoral students, masters students and faculty by participating in SILS governance and sending representatives to most SILS committees. They elect officers annually in November and hold monthly meetings.

  • Chair: Sarah Ramdeen
  • Full-time student member: Laura Sheble
  • Part-time student member: Cynthia Schmidt

Art & Museum Library & Information Student Society (AMLISS)

AMLISS aims to provide students with the opportunity to explore art, museum and visual resources librarianship and records management. Through lectures, workshops, special events and visits to museum and art libraries, AMLISS will promote these areas of specialization within the field of library and information science and records management to any interested students.

American Society for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T)

ASIS&T is the professional society for information science, fostering intellectual discourse and career development for information professionals worldwide.

The student chapter advances those goals at the local level, by sponsoring lectures, panel discussions, field trips, and other activities. They focus on areas such as database administration, information architecture, user-centered design, and web development.

Beta Phi Mu Honor Society

The Epsilon chapter of Beta Phi Mu, the international information and library science honor society, is located at UNC at Chapel Hill and takes its members from the SILS master's students' graduating class. To be eligible for membership, a graduate student must maintain an academic average equal to 3.75 on a 4.00 scale, show professional promise and be recommended by faculty. No more than 25 percent of a graduating class may be nominated for membership.

Information Science Student Undergraduates Empowered (ISSUE)

ISSUE was founded to promote the education of undergraduate information science students. The organization fosters communication among undergraduates, graduate students, staff and faculty; acclimates undergraduates into the SILS community; builds public awareness of information science; and represents the interests of undergraduates. Membership is extended to all undergraduate majors and minors and other undergraduates taking classes at SILS.

Student Chapter of the American Library Association (SCALA)

The student chapter facilitates and encourages participation in the ALA and works to increase awareness and use of ALA resources. Also, SCALA provides a local forum for exchange of ideas and information about trends, issues and opportunities in the profession.

Student Chapter of the Society of American Archivists (SCOSAA)

SCOSAA is dedicated to the professional development of SILS students by broadening their understanding of issues related to the archival, museum, and cultural heritage professions. The student chapter organizes field trips, schedules speakers and explores volunteer and field experience possibilities.

Special Libraries Association (SLA)

A special library is an information agency sponsored by a private company, government agency, a not-for-profit organization, or a professional association. The student chapter of the SLA educates and involves students in special information and library center work environments and sponsors speakers from the professional community and frequent tours to area special libraries. Membership in a student chapter of the SLA helps to establish a close relationship between the individual and the state and national organization.

CheckedOut: SILS LGBTQ

The organization provides LGBTQ students and allies with the opportunity to attend professional and social programs dealing with issues of sexual identity and diversity in LIS. We also work with groups across campus to facilitate communication about events and other information.