INF1300 In our time project

Students in the course INF1300: Foundations of Library and Information Science, participated in a novel multimedia assignment.  It leveraged the medium of broadcast and specifically the BBC Radio4 history of ideas program, In Our Time (“IOT”). Over the course of the semester, students listened to a selection of IOT episodes that addressed key issues, people, and events associated with the foundations of Library and Information Science. Further, working together in small teams, they mimicked the IOT format and style to produce and record an original 10-minute mini-episode on a relevant foundational topic of their choice. The mini-episodes were played and celebrated during the last session of the semester, contributed to the final grade, and are mounted here for all to enjoy. The picture board, below, displays the topics of the 16 mini-episodes produced by INF1300 students (mouse over the images for the titles). 

The Assignment

Groups of 6 people worked together to create a 10-minute mini-episode on a foundational topic of Library and Information Science (LIS)  in the style and format of In Our Time. The project was an opportunity to analyze a singular multimedia genre; master its associated technology; gain expertise on a foundational topic of LIS; and practice collaboration among peers. Teaching Assistant Elysia Guzik managed the assignment and provided assistance. To facilitate effective collaboration, each group member committed to one of the roles described below:
  • PRODUCER--Took the lead in project coordination. Established and maintained team vision, timeline, communication, problem-solving, and documentation.        
  • HOST--Played the role of Melvyn Bragg during the mini-episode. Designed questions, mastered the material provided by the scholars, and kept the conversation going while on the air.              
  • WORLD-CLASS SCHOLAR #1 & #2--Authorities on one aspect of the topic and communicated expertise during the broadcast. Provided notes to the host and developed answers to his/her questions in advance of the broadcast. May or may not be based on a real person.        
  • WORLD-CLASS (INFORMATION) PROFESSIONAL--An authority on one aspect of the topic (from a professional perspective) and communicated expertise during the broadcast. Provided notes to the host and developed answers to his/her questions in advance of the broadcast. May or may not be based on a real person.                 
  • TECHNICAL MANAGER--Mastered and oversaw the technical process and infrastructure. Produced final audio product for replay at the final class and submission to the dedicated project website.

the In Our Time mini-episodes

Carnegie Libraries by Lindsay Nix (Producer), Charlotte Kidd (Host), Natalie Hajduk (World-Class Scholar), Rosalind Cooper (World-Class Scholar 2), Jessica Stuart (World-Class Information Professional), Vick Ahmad (World-Class Information Professional), Maria Sokulsky-Dolnycky (Technical Manager).

Book Burnings: Past and Present by Petar Veljko (Producer), Katie Balcom (Technical Manager), Michael Parg (Host), Eunice Choi (Information Professional aka “Daisy Flowers”), Victoria Hawkins (World-Class Scholar), Rachel Lee (World-Class Scholar).

History of Paper by Melissa LePine (Producer), Dominique Rivera (Technical Manager), Vivian Lough (Host), Jefferson Sporn (World-Class Scholar), Marina Witvoet (World-Class Scholar), Daniel Palmer (World-Class Scholar), Laura Jean Marie (World-Class Information Professional).

Jella Lepman by Marcela Arenas (Producer), Susan Bond (Host), Kate Goossens (Technical Manager), Kathryn Marriott (World-Class Scholar), Kiri McDermott-Berryman (World-Class Scholar), Jarred Newbold (World Class Information Professional).

​Margaret Elizabeth Egan by ​Seya De Silva Samararatne (Producer), Natalie Bohm-McQuaig (Technical Manager), Natallia Barykina (Host), Myrna Scully-Ashton (World-Class Scholar), Victoria McAuley (World-Class Scholar), Lily Yuxi Ren (World Class Information Professional).

Alan Turing by ​Harrison Sless (Host), Daina Cers (World-Class Scholar), Kate Campbell (World-Class Scholar), Eldiflor Felipe (World-Class Information Professional), Vinnie Abraham (Technical Manager), Angela Wang (Producer). 

The Rescue of the Timbuktu Manuscripts by Holly Forsythe (World-Class Information Professional), Cassidy Foxcroft (World-Class Scholar), Melanie Kane Mclees (World-Class Scholar), Jenny Pust (Producer), Roger Reka (Technical Manager), Marie Tossios (Host).

Subscription Libraries by Eleni Kontogiannis (World-Class Scholar), Sharon Pun (Host), Alannah Vanderburgh-Oakley (World-Class Scholar), Xiao Lu (World-Class Information Professional), Young-Hwa Hong (Producer), Shelby Stinnissen (Technical Manager).

The Imperial Library of Constantinople by Anita Siraki (Host), Julie Boon (World-Class Scholar), Tyler Berlet, (World-Class Scholar), Skye Soobramanie (World-Class Information Professional), Andrea Sulzberger (Producer), Dylan Rykse (Technical Manager).

Children's Librarianship by ​Julia Martyniuk (Producer), Kathleen Cummings (Host), Jennifer Fogg (World-Class Scholar), Georgia Damaren (World-Class Scholar),  Tamara Rosenthal (World-Class Information Professional), Sabrina Kirby (Technical Manager).

The Indian Public Library by ​Martin Chandler (Host), Gabrielle Fournier (World-Class Information Professional), Daisy Dowdall (World-Class Scholar), Rathees Uthayakumar (Producer), Shamila Karunakaran (World-Class Scholar), Rebecca Cai (Technical Manager). 

Aaron Swartz by Sina Lack (Technical Manager), Holly Marple (Host), Naomi Davies (World-Class Information Professional), Rosie Luxembourg (World-Class Information Professional), Margaux Smith (World-Class Scholar), Emily Kim (World-Class Scholar), Stefan Lazov (Producer).

Henry Hobson Richardson by Glyneva Bradley-Ridout: Producer), Corser DuPont (Technical Manager), Taylor Lemaire (Host), I. Clara Luca (World-Class Scholar), Kaelan Caspary (World-Class Scholar), Evelyn Feldman (World-Class Information Professional). 

Social Justice Librarianship and Access to Cultural Heritage  by Philippe Mongeau (Producer), Jessica Sheehan (Technical Producer), Anna Kay Eldridge (Host), Devin New (World-Class Information Professional), Madeleine Gerbig (World-Class Scholar), Michelle Dudley (World-Class Scholar).

​Early Modern Vatican Library and Swedish National Library by Leanne Soares (Producer), Karine Bourgeois (Technical Manager), Danielle Barry (World-Class Scholar), Veronica Palacios (Host), Lara Bazrafshan (World-Class Scholar), Tiziana Bruno (World-Class Information Professional).

Cultural History of New York Public Library by Zoe Fine (Producer), Ilana Newman (Technical Manager), Aiden Brydon (Host), Elizabeth Boyles (World-Class Scholar), Valerie Chehab (World-Class Scholar), Elizabeth Carbone (World-Class Information Professoinal).
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The Team that produced "Henry Hobson Richardson"

 About In Our Time 

In Our Time (IOT) is a live radio discussion series exploring the history of ideas. British broadcaster and parliamentarian Lord Melvyn Bragg (shown at left) created the program in October 1998 and serves as its host. The series is very popular and attracts a weekly audience in the UK exceeding two million listeners. Each program entails a 42-minute discussion of a specific historical, philosophical, religious, cultural or scientific topic among Bragg and three world-class academics. Episodes are structured as follows: a short opening statement by Bragg; introduction of the scholars; Q & A discussion period; and then a closing summation by Bragg or one of the guests. There are more than 700 episodes to date and the entire corpus is available for streaming or download at the  In Our Time Archive.

thanks to elysia guzik, Teaching Assistant and project manager


​INF1300 Teaching Assistant, Elysia Guzik, served as Project Manager for the In Our Time assignment. She helped to organize the teams and guided the topic selection. Elysia also offered technical support and hosted the celebration of the In Our Time mini-episodes. Thanks to Elysia for doing a great job!