Dr. Marilyn Irwin, associate professor of Library and Information Science, will be retiring, effective March 31st, 2014.
Dr. Irwin had been a member of the School of Library and Information Science and most recently the School of Informatics and Computing since 2005, when she joined as a full-time faculty member. During her tenure, she served as the Executive Associate Dean for the School of Library and Information Science from 2007-2010.
In addition to her years as an educator, instructing students on the theory and practice of the library and information science field, Dr. Irwin also has extensive experience working as a professional in the field.
She began her career as a librarian in 1983 working for Indiana University- Bloomington. She was also the director of the Center of Disability Information and Referral, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, IU-Bloomington, a position she held for 21 years.
Dr. Irwin has also held many other prestigious roles and positions. She has been a member and chair of the Schneider Family Book Award jury, which recognizes and awards a book that engages and brings to light the issue of disability in young adult literature; she served as an accreditation team chair for the American Library Association Committee on Accreditation, and in 2011 received the Indiana University Trustees Teaching Award.
“As a junior faculty member, a colleague, as interim Executive Associate Director and department chair, I have always been able to rely on Dr. Irwin’s advice, wisdom, and professional collegiality. Our department and school will be poorer because of her retirement, we wish her well,” said Dr. Rachel Applegate, chair of the Department of Library and Information Science at IUPUI.
Dr. Irwin plans to stay busy in retirement. Her current project on autism in young adult literature illustrates the combination of her two areas of expertise: the research will make an impact on librarians serving children and families.
Media Contact
Joanne Lovrinic
jebehele@iu.edu
317-278-9208