Home: Spotlight
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.
Symposium Recap of “Ukrainian Libraries During the Wartime: A Year in Review”
Published: June 29, 2023 by Eori Tokunaga
The San José State University iSchool presented a symposium on April 5, 2023 about how Ukranian libraries and librarians have persisted for more than a year of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The free online event opened up with introductions by iSchool Director Dr. Anthony Chow, Ukrainian-English translator Oleksii Deikun, and Assistant Professor Dr. Ulia Gosart, who hosted a moment of silence for all the individual lives that have been taken by the war.
Muppets and MLIS Mayhem with SLASC President Lauren Kime
“Being a part of that production, and post-production, seeing the full scale of what it takes to not only write something and have it approved but also get it produced, and then all the marketing that goes into it and all of the appearances and promotions and everything, it’s definitely changed the way that I view puppetry as a whole… because there’s just so much more to it than just someone sticking their hand into a puppet and making it talk.”
Lauren Kime, MLIS/DAM Certificate December
2023
Los Angeles, CA
Should Librarians Be Worried About Artificial Intelligence?
Published: May 29, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen
As new technology emerges, there is often a discussion about how
librarian’s roles will change in relation to it. This
conversation has become especially relevant with the introduction
of new artificial intelligence (AI) tools. These innovations are
certainly going to affect America’s workforce, and librarians are
no exception to this. But what are the opportunities and risks?
Should we be worried?
Faculty Selects MLIS Graduating Student for Top Honor
Max Gonzalez Burdick Named Ken Haycock Award Winner
Max Gonzalez Burdick, a graduating student in the Master of Library and Information Science program at the San José State University School of Information, has received the 2023 Ken Haycock Award and served as the iSchool’s student speaker during the May 19 virtual convocation. The Ken Haycock Award is given annually to an MLIS student who “exhibits the most exceptional professional promise for leadership.” Burdick was nominated for the prestigious award by the iSchool faculty and received $1,000 and a citation.
Fulfilling My Mission to Attend Conferences
Published: May 23, 2023 by Nanci Dela Cruz Aguayo
Since I started library school, I’ve made it my mission to attend conferences where I can network and learn information that will make me more appealing when I graduate. In my current job in an academic library, travel funds are limited only for librarians; thus, I was thrilled to find out about SJSU’s travel grants for current students. Within a couple of days, they approved my request, and I was able to start the process of traveling to Ex Libris Users of North America (ELUNA) Conference in Los Angeles.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
iSchool Presents Online Symposium May 26
Published: May 5, 2023 by Eori Tokunaga
Please join the SJSU iSchool in celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month as we talk about the barriers and challenges that AAPI women library leaders face, the role of self-care, and how to work towards solidarity in BIPOC communities at large.
Sharing Insight Into the iSchool Advising Process
Published: May 4, 2023 by Kesheena Doctor
As the spring semester ends, iSchool students are planning for future semesters by course planning, applying for internships, and updating e-portfolios. Part of that process should also entail meeting with an academic advisor.
Positioning Herself to Preserve Archives with Sara Morrison
“There’s no need to be anxious or worried about succeeding because I feel like with the help available to me personally, it would be impossible for me to not succeed in this program.”
Sara Morrison, MARA (anticipated Dec. 2023)
Seattle, WA
How to Prepare for a Virtual Interview
Published: April 20, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen
Even in organizations where most work is completed in-person, it
is becoming more common to conduct interviews virtually. This
especially applies to the first round of interviews, sometimes
referred to as the “semi-finals.” In fact, according to a recent
Indeed survey,
82% of employers are currently using virtual interviews. This
format eliminates some of the stress of driving and locating
parking at an unfamiliar location, but it comes with its own set
of issues to consider. Although virtual interviews may feel less
intimidating, they are often more competitive because they take
less time and can be offered to more candidates. Here are some
practical tips to help you prepare for your next virtual
interview.
Alternative LIS Career Spotlight: Working at OverDrive
Published: April 19, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen
The unprecedented events of the past few years caused many
libraries to close to the public, resulting in a massive increase
in digital library usage. The company OverDrive provides the
largest digital media catalog in the world to libraries and
schools through their award-winning app Libby. They are a
certified B Corporation dedicated to improving literacy and
supporting libraries and schools with their shared vision. I
spoke with Mike Dresch, the recruiting manager at OverDrive about
what it’s like to work for them and why information professionals
in particular will find this work rewarding.
Maximizing Group Work While at the iSchool
Published: April 6, 2023 by Kesheena Doctor
One facet of the iSchool and our future career as librarians is working with others. Though group work can be very enjoyable and rewarding, it is also very easy to fall into traps that can be detrimental to a group’s success. I’d like to share some tips and strategies for effective online group work that I’ve gained from my past experience as a volunteer and as a project leader for various jobs.
Deaf Culture and History
iSchool Presents EDI Online Symposium April 13
Published: April 4, 2023 by Eori Tokunaga
Please join the SJSU iSchool in celebrating National Deaf History Month 2023 as we honor the achievements of our d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.
Alternative LIS Career Spotlight: Working at EBSCO
Published: March 23, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen
Have you ever explored working for a library vendor? Vendors in
the library and information science space make a massive impact
by serving libraries all over the world. Many of these
organizations share the same philosophy and goals as information
professionals, and your experience and field of study should make
you a competitive candidate. I spoke with Tammy Ross, the Senior
Product Marketing Manager at EBSCO Information Services (and
iSchool alumni) about her career with one of the largest research
database vendors serving libraries.
iSchool Students Supported Every Step of their Learning Journey
Student Services Team Expands Services with Live Chat, Personalized Coaching, and Spanish-Speaking Advising
As the front line of student support for San José State University’s School of Information, the Student Services Team is consistently innovating to meet and anticipate the needs of its diverse population. To enhance its reach, the team has recently expanded in size and scope. The addition of two new staff members and increased engagement platforms has amplified access to the team’s services and resources.