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iStudent Blog

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.

Community Profile

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

Community Profile

Ellyssa Valenti Kroski Leads the Charge in Gamification and Library AI

Ellyssa Valenti Kroski

“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 

Community Profile

Passions Lead to Opportunities at SJSU iSchool

Kelli Roisman

“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

iStudent Blog

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.

iStudent Blog

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.

iStudent Blog

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.) 

Community Profile

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.

iStudent Blog

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. 

iStudent Blog

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

News

Free Web Conference Explores ‘Sustainability in Libraries’
Call for Proposals and Registration Open

Library 2.020 Sustainability in Libraries web conference on October 14, 2020 at noon Pacific Time

The third and final Library 2.0 mini-conference for 2020 will be held online on Wednesday, October 14, from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. US-Pacific Time. This free, online and participatory conference, sponsored by the School of Information at San José State University, is an excellent opportunity to showcase research, work and thinking on sustainability in libraries.

Community Profile

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

Community Profile

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

iStudent Blog

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.

News

Two iSchool Alumni Honored with Awards for Stellar Professional Achievements

Jon Luc Christensen

The Special Libraries Association recently recognized 11 members with awards, two of whom earned their Master of Library and Information Science degree from the School of Information at San José State University. The SLA is a nonprofit global organization for innovative information professionals and their strategic partners in business, government, academic, and other “specialized” settings.