Home: Spotlight
Get a Jump-Start With Summer Opportunities
Published: May 26, 2021 by Leslie Parry
The end of the semester is here! For months we’ve been rearranging our lives and work around the pandemic, keeping up with our studies, and waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel. Now it’s time to take a break and celebrate! For those who are looking to keep up momentum during the summer, there are plenty of ways to stay engaged. From summer classes to networking opportunities to simply getting organized, here are ideas for enhancing your iSchool experience over summer break.
iSchool Alumni on the e-Portfolio: What I Wish I Had Known
Published: April 13, 2021 by Leslie Parry
Three recent graduates of the San José State University School of Information joined the ASIS&T Student Chapter to discuss “What I Wish I Had Known.” Now that they’re entering or established in the workforce, the alumni shared their wisdom with current iSchool students, discussing everything from course work to career paths. One of the main topics of conversation, unsurprisingly, was the e-Portfolio. While the alumni stressed three major points – plan ahead, don’t procrastinate, and get peer support – they also delved into the finer details. Below is their expert advice for tackling the biggest project in graduate school.
The Impact of Feedback on Your Personal Brand
Published: March 10, 2021 by Jillian Collins
Your professional reputation, also known as your “brand,” is the
foundation of the essentials in career kits and in your long-term
career development strategy. And because everyone forms an
opinion of us during any interaction we have, it’s not like we
can just decide to ignore all this brand stuff. Better to take
charge of how others see you to ensure they’re seeing the
real you.
Tips for Staying Focused and Managing Your Time
Published: February 28, 2021 by Leslie Parry
While many of us may be finding it difficult to concentrate during this unprecedented time, graduate school remains a positive outlet for our intellectual and creative energies. The School of Information offers so many opportunities to apply our talents, strengthen our resolve and plan for a better future. So how do we put one foot in front of the other and keep distraction and procrastination at bay? Below are some resources, from academic assistance to online learning tools, that can help students stay disciplined and continue to flourish in a remote environment.
Adrienne Bogard’s Role as a Floating Librarian
“We have policies and procedures that are across the board, that everybody follows, so the big stuff is all the same no matter where you are. But then things like workflow, the collection, how the collection is laid out, that changes from library to library. When you first start it can be quite challenging to remember all the details of the branch you’re working at that day.”
Adrienne Bogard, iSchool MLIS Student
Librarian at the Allen County Public Library
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Making the Most of the King Library Resources
Published: January 29, 2021 by Leslie Parry
Whether you’re just beginning INFO 203 or conducting intensive research for a seminar, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library at San José State University has the resources to help you succeed. It’s true that in an online program you may never get a chance to walk through the library doors, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of everything it offers. From one-on-one research support to specialized subject guides, students at the School of Information have access to a breadth of tools and services that are designed to support virtual learning. I spoke with Gareth Scott, library liaison, about the King Library resources he recommends most for iSchool students.
Alumna Rosa Hall Made the Most of Her Time in the iSchool
“When I started the iSchool’s program I wanted to make sure that I got experience with different kinds of libraries and librarianship. Since I had started in an academic library, worked as a library aid in a public library as well as an intern in a corrections facility library, when I saw that they were hiring at Hansen Bridget I thought it would be a really good experience to try law librarianship as well.”
Rosa Hall, ‘20 MLIS
Assistant Research and Library Operations Specialist, Hanson
Bridgett LLP
San Francisco, CA
Ellyssa Valenti Kroski Leads the Charge in Gamification and Library AI
“Immersive games are not only very entertaining for patrons, but they are outstanding vehicles for developing critical thinking skills, providing literacy instruction, staff training and team building, as well as outreach and marketing.”
Ellyssa Valenti Kroski MLIS, BA
Librarian/Technologist/Writer/Speaker/Educator
Director of Information Technology, The New York Law
Institute
Adjunct Professor, San José State University and Drexel
University
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Passions Lead to Opportunities at SJSU iSchool
“When you get involved in student groups, you have the opportunity to gain demonstrable skills and knowledge to supplement your course work. In my experience as a student leader, I’ve developed skills in collaboration, project management, marketing and outreach, programming, and more.”
Kelli Roisman, MLIS Student
Managing Editor, Archeota 2019-present
Events Coordinator, ALASC, 2020-present
Events Coordinator, ALASC, 2020-present
Executive Board Chair SAASC, 2019-2020
Los Angeles, California
How to Find a Mentor in Graduate School
Published: November 30, 2020 by Leslie Parry
Enrolling in the San José State University School of Information is both a thrilling step and a daunting one. With so many pathways possible in the information science field – and any number of courses and specialties to choose from – how can you be sure you’re making the best decisions for your future career? Who can you turn to with your carefully considered ideas and random, panicked questions? Luckily, no matter your needs or interests, the iSchool can help you find a mentor. Whether they’re seasoned professionals, recent alumni or even senior students, mentors can offer anything from academic recommendations to career advice; they can suggest networking opportunities as well as skills to hone for your résumé. No matter if it’s a formal mentorship sponsored by a professional association or a more informal connection made through the iSchool – having a mentor is critical to professional growth. To find a mentorship opportunity that’s right for you, check out the resources below.
Ask an Archivist: Craig Simpson, MARA Liaison Librarian
Published: November 9, 2020 by Leslie Parry
October was American Archives Month, and to celebrate I had the chance to talk to Craig Simpson, director of Special Collections & Archives at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library and liaison librarian for the Master of Archives and Records Administration (MARA) program. As a certified archivist and SC&A director, he leads all the operations in his department, from reference services to digital projects. As the liaison to the MARA program, he curates LibGuides, creates tutorials and assists with research across disciplines.
A Look at the iSchool Advising Toolkit
Published: October 25, 2020 by Leslie Parry
Of all the resources available to iSchool students, the advising toolkit is one of the most valuable. No matter where you are in your program, the toolkit can help you plan classes, choose an advisor, track your academic progress and get ready for graduation. With new tools and features just added, it’s worth examining at any (and every!) stage of your iSchool career. You’ll find general information at the top and program-specific links toward the bottom. (You can also click on the Getting Started tab to access toolkits related to policies and procedures, career plans, and student wellness and success.)
MLIS Student, Librarian and Community Advocate
“I just want people to know that there is importance in working in rural communities… The community that recognizes you, and gets to know you, there is this bond that I can’t explain.”
Hope Saldivar, MLIS Student (degree expected spring
2023)
Library Associate, Yolo County Libraries, Knights Landing
Branch.
Davis, California.
Don’t Miss: The SJSU iSchool’s Diversity Webcast Series
Published: October 12, 2020 by Leslie Parry
The fantastic 2020 diversity webcast series continues its run through the fall. If you haven’t already, you can check out past episodes through the SJSU iSchool Podcast Feed via Apple Podcasts, SJSU iSchool YouTube Channel and iSchool On-Demand Webcasts Portal. Under the direction of Dr. Michele Villagran, Chair of the Diversity Committee for the SJSU School of Information, the eight-part series features a variety of speakers discussing equity, social justice, cultural competency and other issues as they relate to information service.
Alumna Havilah Joy-Steinman Bakken Highlights Top 5 Resources for iSchool Students
Published: September 27, 2020 by Leslie Parry
Hello readers! I’m Leslie Parry, a MLIS student from Los Angeles. I’m thrilled to be taking the helm of the iStudent blog. I recently had a chance to talk to my predecessor and iSchool alumna, Havilah Joy-Steinman Bakken (‘20 MLIS), about her time in the program. As a student, Havilah took advantage of as many resources as she could, not only because they strengthened her résumé and allowed her to network, but because they helped her develop skills that can’t always be mastered in the classroom. Now a reference librarian at the San Diego Law Library, she describes the resources that best prepared her for life after iSchool.
iSchool Alumna Provides Access to the Spanish Speaking Community
“Being the Multilingual Collections manager allows me to continue to raise awareness about the library that connects, engages and resonates with diverse Angelenos.”
Anna Avalos, ’07 MLIS
Multilingual Collections Manager
Los Angeles Public Library
iSchool Alumnus Darnelle Melvin talks Metadata, Linked Data, and Digitization
“If you want it, you can get it. If I can get it, you can do it. I’m the least likely person; I have a background in audio. An audio engineer became a metadata person, a linked-data professional. It’s not a long jump, but it is a jump. You can do it.”
Darnelle Melvin, ‘14 MLIS
Special Collections and Archives Metadata Librarian
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Saying “Yes” Led to a Job with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
“Information professionals are going to be needed now more than ever, but it might not be the information profession a lot of us thought we were going into. I went to school to be an academic librarian and I ended up in records and archives for a government institution. You never know where the path is going to take you.”
Jon-Luc Christensen, ‘19 MLIS, DAM Advanced
Certificate
Records Management Specialist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Glendale, California
SJSU iSchool Highlights Student Wellness
Published: July 26, 2020 by Havilah Joy-Steinman Bakken
It’s been quite the summer at the iSchool at San José State University. Fall classes are right around the corner and summer classes are well underway. While all of the programs, including MLIS, MARA and MS in Informatics, are delivered 100% online, this has not been a normal season. With the threat of the pandemic growing at varying rates throughout the world, finding wellness and joyful moments has proved to be even more difficult. In light of this, please review the excellent free resources below available to all SJSU iSchool students.
Equip Yourself for a Successful Summer!
Published: June 12, 2020 by Havilah Joy-Steinman Bakken
Summer is here, and while it may look different from what we expect, this is an excellent time to get equipped for a fabulous library and information science career. Whether you’re just starting summer classes, getting geared up for the e-Portfolio or about to start classes in the fall, check out this roundup of virtual events and resources below to jump start, or continue to evolve, your experience in the library and information science profession!