From Your Executive Director, March 2025

Greetings Colleagues:

As we step into a new season, I find myself reflecting on the recent events in Washington, DC, and the profound ripple effects they are having not only within the United States but across the globe. In times of uncertainty and change, it is more important than ever that we, as information professionals, reaffirm our commitment to the pursuit of knowledge, the integrity of information, and the role we play in fostering informed, engaged, and resilient communities.

The events unfolding in our political landscape serve as a stark reminder of the power of information—its ability to enlighten, to unify, but also, unfortunately, to divide. The responsibilities we bear in managing, disseminating, and safeguarding information have never been more critical. Misinformation, disinformation, and uncertainty challenge the very foundations of our profession, and we must stand firm in our mission to advance the quality and accessibility of trusted information.

ASIS&T has always been dedicated to the principles of knowledge-sharing, scholarly excellence, and the advancement of information science and technology for the betterment of society. Now, more than ever, our collective expertise must be harnessed to navigate these turbulent times, to promote ethical information practices, and to ensure that our work contributes to a more informed and just world.

I encourage each of you to engage in meaningful dialogue, leverage your research and expertise, and support one another as we continue to confront these challenges. ASIS&T remains committed to providing a platform for discourse, collaboration, and professional growth, ensuring that we, as a global community of information scholars and professionals, can rise to the occasion.

Let us move forward with resilience and purpose, committed to upholding the values that define our profession and striving to be a beacon of knowledge and truth in an ever-changing world.

In response to concerns about how the current environment might impact the peer review process for the Annual Meeting, we have added the following statement to our website:

ASIS&T has a strong record of active support for research on DEIA themes. We commit to our decades-long record of peer review based solely on scholarly merit, rigor, and relevance to the field. No research will face discrimination due to external statutory regulations or activism within the review process.

In the coming months we will be developing policies that ensure the safety and freedom of expression of our meeting attendees in Crystal City. If you or your institution have a policy against attending a meeting in the United States or the Washington, DC area at the time of the meeting, please let us know and we will explore opportunities for virtual presentation or attendance at the virtual satellite meeting.

If there are other ways that ASIS&ST can support you, your colleagues, or your institution at this challenging time, please do not hesitate to let us know. My virtual door is always open.

Lydia Middleton
Executive Director, ASIS&T