Global Thinker: Anita Coleman

Library educator Anita Coleman says her interest in open access “evolved out of something librarians and all researchers have in common: a desire to make a difference.” That's why she created dLIST, the digital Library of Information Science and Technology. Nominator Kristin Eschenfelder, a professor at the University of Wisconsin SLIS, describes dLIST as a “cross-institutional open access digital archive for the information sciences, including archives and records management, LIS, information systems, museum informatics, and other critical information structures.”

An expert on knowledge structures and scholarly communication, Coleman wanted to “raise the status of research done in our field” and give it global visibility that isn't possible when researchers in different branches of information science speak only to one another in closed access, high-priced journals.

With nothing but enthusiasm, and a $5000 grant for a server, Coleman began the project in 2002. She's maintained it on a shoestring by enlisting graduate students and an ever-widening circle of volunteers. Speaking at conferences, writing articles, and sending endless emails, she's encouraged people to contribute to dLIST by self-archiving their work on the web and by serving as its subject editors. Over time, she's increased the scope of the project to include not only journal articles but also conference presentations, technical reports, and classic LIS books and papers.

Coleman has always wanted to leave the planet better than she found it. She's already done so.