Department of Information Studies to Host Distinguished Fulbright Scholar and International Library Leader, Julia M. Gelfand

The Department of Information Studies, University of Ghana, is pleased to announce the visit of Ms. Julia M. Gelfand, Fulbright Scholar and Librarian Emerita from the University of California, Irvine Libraries, from 27 May to 3 June 2026.
Ms. Gelfand is currently serving as a Fulbright Scholar at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) and is visiting Ghana under the Fulbright Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Travel Program. She is internationally recognized for her outstanding contributions to academic librarianship, scholarly communication, information literacy, digital scholarship, open science, and international library development. Her distinguished career spans more than four decades, during which she has served in numerous leadership positions and contributed significantly to the advancement of the global library and information profession.
A recipient of several prestigious awards, including the 2025 Humphry/OCLC/Forest Press Award for International Librarianship, the 2021 ACRL Academic/Research Librarian of the Year Award, and recognition as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Ms. Gelfand has established herself as one of the most influential voices in contemporary librarianship.
During her visit, Ms. Gelfand will engage with faculty, students, librarians, and information professionals through a series of academic and professional activities designed to foster knowledge exchange, professional development, and international collaboration. These activities will include interactions with students of the Department of Information Studies, meetings with faculty members, visits to key library and key information institutions, a public seminar, and a professional workshop.
One of the highlights of the visit will be a public seminar on:
“Preparing the Next Generation of Librarians & Information Professionals: Vision from a Practitioner”
The seminar will explore emerging trends in librarianship, including artificial intelligence, digital scholarship, information literacy, scholarly communication, stakeholder engagement, and the evolving roles of library and information professionals in a rapidly changing information landscape.
The Department warmly invites members of the University community, particularly students, faculty, researchers, librarians, and information professionals, to participate in these engagements and take advantage of this unique opportunity to interact with a globally respected leader in the field.
Further details on the seminar and workshop can be found in the accompanying event flyers.
We look forward to welcoming Ms. Julia M. Gelfand to the University of Ghana and to a week of enriching discussions, learning, and collaboration.