Community Profiles: Public Librarianship
iSchool Alumna Explores Both Archives and Public Librarianship After Graduation
“One of the reasons I chose to do SJSU’s program was because I needed to continue to work. There was no way that I could just go to school full time, and SJSU is really flexible in that regard. One semester I took five classes, worked, did the e-Portfolio and I look back and don’t know how I did it, but somehow I made it all work.”
Patricia Delara
Librarian, Daly City Public Library
Daly City, CA
San José State University School of Information Student Reaches Beyond the Classroom to Compound Her Professional Skillset
“The range of concentrations that SJSU offers was also extremely appealing. The scope of areas that are included within the field of librarianship alone is appealing. My work experience in librarianship thus far has been in a military community library and a public library. The courses available in general librarianship provided me with the accepted best practices relevant to collection development, collection management, cataloging, and research/reference needs.”
Kate Eminhizer
MLIS Student
Emporia, VA
Alumna and Former Student Assistant Strives to Empower the Public Every Day
“For me, I love being able to empower people the most. Many people who come in don’t realize the full range of services we offer or how to really find what it is that they are looking for. Being able to show local students how the databases work or helping a patron understand how to download a library e-book is a thrill for me.”
Julie Whitehead
MLIS Graduate 2013
Dumont, NJ
Urban Planner and iSchool Alumnus Explores Deep Relationship Between Public Libraries and Cities
“I chose SJSU iSchool for its affordable tuition, flexible online program and access to high-quality faculty and graduate student research opportunities in the MLIS program. These continue to be my selling points when people ask me about the MLIS program at SJSU iSchool. This MLIS program afforded me a space to explore my questions about the role of public libraries in urban life.”
Jonathan P. Bell
MLIS Graduate 2017
Los Angeles, CA
iSchool Student Builds a Global and Community-based Perspective on Librarianship
“I know that a lot of people think that libraries are becoming irrelevant, but I strongly disagree. The library where I work is always incredibly busy. It’s true that there are a lot of ways for people to access information themselves these days, but it can become information overload and people often need a little help navigating through it.”
Terra Emerson
MLIS Student Graduating 2018
Sonoma County, CA
iSchool Student and Artist Dedicates Herself to Cultivating the Relationship Between the Arts and Information Sciences
“I looked at the way that Winnipeg artists gather and encounter information and found that artists and scientists have more overlap than many people would guess. They both seek out data, create organizational systems for retrieval, and dole out information for their networks to encounter as well.”
Kira Koop
iSchool Student Graduating 2018
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Research-Savvy iSchool Alumna Graduates With A Career Waiting For Her
“Everyone was so vibrant and excited about the paths they were pursuing, I knew the iSchool would provide me a more engaging and varied MLIS experience.”
Tamarack Hockin
MLIS Graduate 2017
British Columbia, Canada
iSchool Student Sees the LIS Field as a Perfect Amalgam of Anthropology and Information
“I wanted to be part of a program that would not only be accessible but challenging as well. I quickly found that the iSchool was a perfect fit for my lifestyle.”
Mariko Baba
MLIS Student Graduating 2017
San Francisco, CA
Versatile and Storied MLIS Student Finds Where He Belongs in the LIS Field
“Now that I’m enrolled in the program and enjoying it tremendously, I’m especially interested in the way libraries and in particular public libraries are helping to bridge the technological divide in some very genius ways.”
Jakobe Illich
MLIS Student Graduating 2018
Phoenix, AZ
iSchool Instructor Expands Her Dedicated Service in the LIS Field
“I think what I really enjoy [about SJSU] is the opportunity to get a feel for the students in a way that keeps me motivated, engaged and current with everything that’s happening now. The students all bring a fresh perspective and dynamic approach to the field.”
Patricia Wong
iSchool Instructor
Santa Monica, California
Experienced MLIS Graduate Finds Her Way Back to Public Libraries as Director
“Working in the library and information science field is a wonderful mix of learning new things every day and serving the community.”
Kimberly Partanen
MLIS Graduate 2015
Castlegar, British Columbia
Graduate Erin Berman Uses Her MLIS Skills for Innovation
“I had really strong professors. They were always there when I had a question for them, and they provided challenging work for me to do. Most of them had actually worked in libraries before or were currently working in libraries, so they were able to give everyone real-world applications for everything.”
Erin Berman
MLIS Graduate 2011
San Jose, CA
Results-Oriented Public Library Director Lara Croft Strives to Connect Her Community
“Right now, there’s a weird disconnect between the public perception that libraries are obsolete or irrelevant and the experience of actually working in one. I love helping to dispel these myths.”
Lara Croft
MLIS Student
Newington, NH
Lifelong Library Advocate Hadiya Evans is Denver Public Libraries’ Employee of the Year
“It was an honor to be considered among the 12 nominees. It matters when your peers sit down to write a letter about you. I’m very humbled by it.”
Hadiya Evans
MLIS student
Denver, Colorado
Lifelong Learning and Leadership
“The public library plays a huge role in the larger framework of our society, and it is important for me to utilize my skills to become a leader in the public library realm.”
Kai Forsley
Volunteer Programs Coordinator, Presidio Trust
MLIS Student (Expected graduation Spring 2017)
iSchool Distinguished Alumna Lisa Rosenblum Likes Big Library Systems
“Part of the benefit of education is to learn new things, even if you don’t think you need them for your future career. There are so many options now…and a lot you can do.”
Lisa Rosenblum
Chief Librarian, Brooklyn Public Libraries
Brooklyn, New York
iSchool Distinguished Alumna (MLIS, 1994)
Alumna Vanessa Holm Reaches New Heights, With Help From the MLIS
“iSchool taught me great skills that I can apply to work, and made me more confident in the work I do. I would recommend the iSchool to anyone.”
Vanessa Holm
Ontario, Canada
iSchool Alumna (MLIS, 2015)
Melissa Solis Connects the Dots: Library, Literacy and Community
“Anyone in a library degree program would really benefit from volunteering in an adult literacy program in a local library. Understand the people in your neighborhood, and understand different educational experiences: not everyone gets the same opportunity.”
Melissa Solis
San Diego, California
MLIS Student, Expected Graduation 2016
California’s State Librarian Gets an iSchool Education
“For me, being able to be in classes with folks who are going to be the next generation of librarians—it’s not just instructive, it makes me feel better about where libraries are going to go. I get jazzed about talking to other students.”
Greg Lucas, California State Librarian
Sacramento, California
iSchool International Advisory Council Member
MLIS Student
Sylvia Aguiñaga Brings Digital Literacy to the Masses
“Our world is increasingly run by software, and we need more diversity in the people who are building it.”
Sylvia Cecilia Aguiñaga
East Hollywood, California
MLIS Student, Expected Graduation May 2016