Home: Spotlight
Breaking Boundaries: Unveiling Dynamic Student Groups Shaping Tomorrow
Discovering the Exciting Terrain of Emerging Student Groups
In line with San José State University School of Information’s commitment to fostering diverse academic communities, the school announces the establishment of several new student groups to enrich its students’ educational experiences. These groups serve as vibrant hubs where students with shared interests and passions can connect, collaborate, and thrive.
Transitioning From Bookstores to Librarianship
Leo Buckley is an MLIS student in his first semester at San José State University. He is of Irish heritage and is a quarter Japanese.
Leo Buckley, MLIS student
San Francisco, CA
Scholarships Empower Information Professionals for Success
Spring 2024 Scholarship Winners Announced
The San José State University School of Information is proud to announce the recipients of its spring 2024 Special Session scholarships, marking a significant milestone in these deserving individuals’ academic and personal journeys. With 22 scholarships valued at $3,000 each, the school continues its commitment to supporting new and continuing students enrolled in its master’s and bachelor’s degree programs.
Guide to Successful Event Planning
Published: March 24, 2024 by Kesheena Doctor
In a previous blog, I mentioned I am the current College of Professional and Global Education (CPGE) RSCA Advisory Committee assistant. In this role I helped organize the CPGE Online Student Conference.
Conference Presentation Insight: Tips & Pointers Part 2
Published: February 6, 2024 by Kesheena Doctor
This past fall semester was an extremely busy time for me. Not only was I working part time and taking a full course load, I also presented at two conferences! For those unaware, presenting at a conference takes a lot of preparation and careful planning.
Information Literacy, Disciplinarity, and New Knowledge
Published: January 16, 2024 by Dr. Virginia Tucker
A community of researcher-educators began meeting regularly several years ago for conversations around the disciplinarity of information literacy. The co-facilitators are Dr. Clarence Maybee, Professor and W. Wayne Booker Endowed Chair in Information Literacy, Purdue University, and Dr. Karen Kaufmann, Assistant Professor, School of Information, University of South Florida. The community has come to be called ILIAD, for Information Literacy is a Discipline, as it examines aspects of a discipline as discussed in the literature, such as having a code of ethics, modes of inquiry, scholarly
iSchool Alumnus Named North Dakota’s Librarian of the Year
The North Dakota Library Association has chosen a standout alumnus from the San José State University School of Information for its prestigious title of Librarian of the Year. Aaron Stefanich received the award that recognizes individuals who have made “outstanding contributions to the North Dakota library profession.” For Stefanich, being recognized as Librarian of the Year “is humbling, because I know so many other North Dakota librarians who deserve the award.”
Interview with Bridging Knowledge Scholar: Molly Ouellette
Published: December 3, 2023 by Kesheena Doctor
I was first introduced to the iSchool while researching scholarship opportunities for Native American students. As part of an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funded grant, the iSchool partnered with the Alaska Library Network, the American Indian Library Association, and the Alaska State Library to form the scholarship program, Bridging Knowledge: Supporting Indigenous Scholars into the Field of Librarianship.
Archiving Special Collections at SJSU with Kate Steffens
“It’s a really great team and we all really get along and complement each other’s work and you know, try and do a lot of outreach together and work on projects together. I know having been part of a group called CSU Archivists, how lucky I am to be at San José State because there are quite a few people in the system who are like the lone archivist with no student assistants and no other people helping them. So having four people feels like an army to me.”
San José, CA
Kate Steffens, ‘19 MLIS
Bridging Knowledge Scholars Travel to Oklahoma for ATALM Conference
Nine graduate students from the San José State University School of Information attended the 2023 International Conference of Indigenous Archives, Libraries, and Museums (ATALM), which was held in Oklahoma City. The students are part of the Institute for Museum and Library Services grant-funded Bridging Knowledge project that aims to support “Indigenous librarians and contribute to growing a diverse and skilled professional workforce.”
A Discussion with Dr. Ghosh about new iSchool Course: Sports Analytics
Published: November 14, 2023 by Kesheena Doctor
As part of the iSchool, I have learned just how impactful and varied the information science field can be. This spring, the iSchool will unveil a new Sports Analytics course in the Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Data Analytics degree program.
Organizing Archives with Sereen Suleiman
“That’s the beauty of the Library and Information Science profession. It’s a very versatile field. You don’t have to work specifically in a library to apply your skill set. You don’t even have to be known as a librarian. You could have a title such as Information Architect or Taxonomist to apply your skills into practice, and that’s an amazing feeling to know that if you don’t get into a library, it’s not the end of the world.”
Sereen Suleiman
SJSU MLIS, December 2023
Becoming an Instruction Librarian with Michael Stephens
“Now I like to say it’s a class in humanism and library services masquerading as a technology class because we do a lot with technology, but it really, really is about making connections with people. And how we might help them and serve their needs to live good lives in whatever information environment these folks are in.”
Michael Stephens
SJSU iSchool Professor
The Person Behind The Posts: Meet iSchool Social Media Coordinator Sonia Belasco
“These different apps and social media channels evolve, but I think their importance is often underestimated. The truth is that social media is how most people are getting most of their information. And particularly in an online program, where you don’t have that kind of face-to-face interaction as much as you would if you were in person, it’s an opportunity to build community between people and also to connect them to resources and information.”
Sonia Belasco, ‘22 MLIS
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Symposium Recap of “Juneteenth Celebrates Freedom!”
2023 Juneteenth Symposium
Published: August 22, 2023 by Eori Tokunaga
As part of the national celebration of Juneteenth 2023, the San José State University iSchool hosted its second annual symposium on June 20, 2023, titled “Juneteenth Celebrates Freedom!” After a brief introduction, Dr. Anthony Chow passed the microphone over to professional storyteller, consultant, and writer Binnie Tate Wilkin who served as the keynote speaker for last year’s symposium.
Checking out BookTok with Mychal Threets
“I think we just have fun with it. Me and the people who work on Library TikTok pride ourselves on embracing the cringe. I think as more and more people see library coworkers having fun with TikTok, you’ll see them start to submit ideas or be willing to participate themselves.”
Mychal Threets, ‘18 MLIS
Fairfield, California
Gateway PhD Post-Graduate Researcher Wins Coveted Award
Krista McCracken, a current member of the Gateway PhD program cohort, has been awarded a doctoral fellowship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Documenting Black Librarianship with Selena Lee and Katie Perry
“Having Selena as a partner in this research made it 1000 times easier and better and it made it easier to accept the help, too. So really lean on your partners in your internship and your learning experience and your research. This research is going to help define our careers in the future.”
Katie Perry, ‘23 MLIS
Selena Lee, MLIS (expected May 2024)
A New Semester – Time To Try a New Class and Welcome Our New Faculty!
Published: July 13, 2023 by Melissa Prunty Kemp
As you are enjoying your summer break, MARA department leaders are hard at work bringing our incoming students the best, most innovative instruction on topics that face today’s archivists and records managers.
Fall course planning is underway with two new courses and new faculty members!
Things I Have Learned Working at a Public Library
Published: July 8, 2023 by Kesheena Doctor
Last November, I was offered a part-time position at New Orleans Public Library (NOPL) as a Library Assistant, and I’d like to share my experience. Though I plan on being an academic librarian, I understood any practical library experience would be beneficial to my education and career goals.