A (Belated) Holiday Gift to Information Science from INFIDEOS: Encouragement!
A (Belated) Holiday Gift to Information Science from INFIDEOS: Encouragement!
Jenna Hartel
Each holiday season, INFIDEOS, my YouTube channel of educational videos, gives a gift to Information Science[1]. This season’s treat arrives a little late but is nonetheless from the heart. As explained in a short video announcement, the 2026 present is: Encouragement!
The word encouragement originates from the Old French encoragier and literally means “to put heart into” another person. Metaphorically speaking, encouragement is like cheering someone on or being the gust of wind in a boat’s sails. The idea to give a gift of encouragement is partly inspired by Greenshields and Polkinghorne’s (2022) compelling argument that love is “a force that both explicitly and implicitly underpins practices and rhetoric within our discipline” (p. 458).
—The word encouragement originates from the Old French encoragier and literally means "to put heart into" another person—
Who in Information Science needs encouragement? While everyone benefits from supportive words, applicants to our programs, students, and job-seekers are high on the list, because they are engaged in challenging projects during uncertain times. It would be a mistake to overlook more established researchers, educators, academic administrators, and information professionals as potential recipients of encouragement, too.
To experience encouragement—from me, Jenna Hartel, and my pet ring-necked dove, BIBBLE, shown below—just come to the hour-long, online sessions any Friday in January, February, and March of 2026. The gatherings occur at this Zoom link. Recognizing the worldwide reach of Information Science (and the Information Matters readership), the get-togethers shift weekly to accommodate all time zones. These conversations can be open or private. Email me at jennahartel@utoronto.ca for additional information, as needed.
Encouragement Meeting #1, Friday, January 9 at 6:00 – 7:00 am EST.
Encouragement Meeting, #2, Friday, January 16 at 7:00 – 8:00 am EST.
Encouragement Meeting #3, Friday, January 23 at 8:00 – 9:00 am EST.
Encouragement Meeting #4, Friday, January 30 at 9:00 – 10:00 am EST.
Encouragement Meeting #5, Friday, February 6 at 10:00 – 11:00 am EST.
Encouragement Meeting, #6, Friday, February 13 at 11:00 am – 12:00 pm EST.
Encouragement Meeting #7, Friday, February 20 at 12:00 – 1:00 pm EST.
Encouragement Meeting #8, Friday, February 27 at 1:00 – 2:00 pm EST.
Encouragement Meeting #9, Friday, March 6 at 2:00 – 3:00 pm EST.
Encouragement Meeting, #10, Friday, March 13 at 3:00 – 4:00 pm EST.
Encouragement Meeting #11, Friday, March 20 at 4:00 – 5:00 pm EST.
Encouragement Meeting #12, Friday, March 27 at 5:00 – 6:00 pm EST.
Don’t miss the dizzying outro or closing moments of the video message, which parodies advertisements for pharmaceutical products. It says, rapid-fire: “Receiving encouragement may result in a sudden, uncontrollable urge to smile, a localized increase in confidence, or the spontaneous realization that you are actually doing a great job. Some users have reported a tingling ‘can-do’ attitude, temporary bouts of optimism, and a significantly improved outlook on Monday mornings. However, caution is advised. Excessive exposure may lead to the total abandonment of self-doubt, and you should not use encouragement while operating heavy machinery. Please note that this gift is not intended to keep you in your comfort zone; if you experience a sense of being ‘unstoppable’ lasting more than 24 hours, do not seek medical attention—simply go out and conquer the world.”
References
Greenshields, M., & Polkinghorne, S. (2022). Love is a lens: Locating love in library and information studies. Library Trends, 70(4), 458–471
Hartel, J. A Round-Up of Holiday Gifts from INFIDEOS (2024, December 16). Information Matters, Vol. 4, Issue 12. https://informationmatters.org/2024/12/a-round-up-of-holiday-gifts-from-infideos/
Hartel, J. [INFIDEOS]. (2026, January 20). 2026 Holiday Gift: Encouragement [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/pC7yBIKvtxo?si=CM4eBl-U48PtonIU
[1] A history of these gifts was reported in this Information Matters article.
Cite this article in APA as: Hartel, J. (2026, February 3). A (belated) holiday gift to Information Science from INFIDEOS: Encouragement! Information Matters. https://informationmatters.org/2026/02/a-belated-holiday-gift-to-information-science-from-infideos-encouragement/
