iStudent Blog: Careers
LIS Hands On: Volunteering Options in Archives
Each student’s path to joining the School of Information is unique. I’ve spoken to people who joined out of a personal love for libraries and a belief in public access to knowledge, and others who started to figure out their path while taking classes.
The Information Community of the iSchool
Published: November 10, 2025 by Rebecca Snyder
Before starting my MLIS at San José State University, I wasn’t entirely sure what my beginning courseload was going to look like. After getting my BA in Art History and Literature at the University of California, Santa Cruz, I’d been primed for long Socratic seminar-style discussions and lengthy papers on theoretical topics and art. I loved every second of it, and as a result, it shaped me into a person tethered to the humanities—which colors my experiences in academic spaces.
Exploring Leadership: An SJSU Student’s Experience with ALA’s Emerging Leaders Program
Published: June , 2025 by Gabe Farmer
Claire Kelley, an SJSU iSchool student, recently participated in the American Library Association’s Emerging Leaders Program, an opportunity she hadn’t initially expected to pursue but found deeply rewarding.
Exploring Leadership
An SJSU Student's Experience with ALA's Emerging Leaders Program
Published: May , 2025 by Gabe Farmer
Claire Kelley, an SJSU iSchool student, recently participated in the American Library Association’s Emerging Leaders Program, an opportunity she hadn’t initially expected to pursue but found deeply rewarding.
Claire’s path to librarianship hasn’t been a straight line. Originally from Ohio, she lived in Brooklyn for about 15 years, working in book publishing before relocating to Boulder, Colorado. Now, while working remotely for a New York-based publishing company, she also works as a substitute at Boulder Public Library and in their makerspaces. Claire says she is taking the MLIS program at a pace of one to two classes per semester, allowing her to balance her studies with her work in book publishing.
Rooted in Culture, Growing Through Service
Alyssa Galvan's Journey into Librarianship
Published: April 23, 2025 by Gabe Farmer
Alyssa Galvan’s pride in her Mexican American identity is a thread that runs through her career and her aspirations. Raised in a family where Spanish was spoken with elders and cultural traditions were closely held, she always carried that sense of connection and responsibility. “My whole family’s Mexican, and my husband’s Mexican,” she said. “I love my culture.”
From Retail to the Library
Published: April 10, 2025 by Gabe Farmer
While some iSchool students begin their journey shortly after completing their undergraduate degrees, many of us (myself included) have returned to the classroom after a decade or more, eager to forge a new path. Because online learning can be so isolating, a goal of mine is for this blog is to share stories of iSchool students from all backgrounds and walks of life, highlighting that no matter your circumstances, you’re not alone.
Mirna Gutierrez’s journey from a 15-year career at Target to becoming the sole library tech at a junior high school perfectly represents the new paths many of us are forging. In our conversation, she shared how a simple job tip evolved into a lifelong calling and how she’s balancing full-time work while pursuing her master’s degree in library science.
Exploring Informatics: Ronna Del Rosario’s Path at the Intersection of Healthcare and Technology
Published: March 25, 2025 by Gabe Farmer
Embarking on a new academic and professional path is both challenging and rewarding. For iSchool student Ronna Del Rosario, this journey led her from a career in nursing to the field of informatics, where she integrates her healthcare experience with her interest in user design and coding.
Ace Your Next Interview
Insights from REFORMA LA
Published: March 6, 2025 by Gabe Farmer
If you’re an MLIS student gearing up for job hunting, these tips from the latest REFORMA Los Angeles meeting are a great resource. The segment on interview questions and best practices was so packed with excellent advice that I couldn’t help but share a few highlights here.
From Rope Tricks to Reading Lists
Karen's Quest to Lasso Lifelong Learning
Published: February 25, 2025 by Gabe Farmer
iSchool Alum Karen Quest has been roping in audiences for most of her life and still incorporates her cowgirl act into her work with library outreach. Her show, Cowgirl Tricks, features trick roping, whip cracking and what she laughingly calls “kooky cowgirl shenanigans perfect for the whole family.” Karen has performed for corporate events, private parties, fairs and festivals nationwide. Yet, in 2011, she stepped into a new performance arena: libraries. At a children’s librarian showcase, she found an intriguing new audience. “As I continued to get booked at libraries, I noticed that librarians were funny and they were smart and they get it,” she explains. “And very different from the other clients that I did business with. And I started getting library curious.”
Starting Your Career After Graduation
Published: June 05, 2024 by Kesheena Doctor
Every iSchool student’s goal is to get their dream job immediately after graduation, but finding the perfect position often takes a while. The job search can be time-consuming, confusing, and overwhelming. As I near my graduation, I am planning my post-iSchool life, including getting a library job, and would like to share what I learned to make the job search an easier process.
Interviewing With an Academic Library
Published: May 30, 2024 by Kesheena Doctor
As an iSchool student, I have been in the academic librarianship career pathway with the intention of becoming a liaison librarian. I have repeatedly been told by colleagues that the academic library interview process is arduous, and as such have been anxious to interview. I recently got the opportunity to interview for two academic library positions and would like to share what I learned from these experiences.
Internships, Fellowships, & Residencies for Academic Librarianship
Published: June 9, 2024 by Kesheena Doctor
For iSchool students, finding the right entry level position that fits your interests can be difficult. For those on the academic librarianship MLIS career pathway, internships, residencies and fellowships can be excellent professional development opportunities for iSchool students and early career librarians.
The Benefits of Mentorship for LIS Students
Published: April 22, 2024 by Kesheena Doctor
At the beginning of my MLIS journey, I applied for many scholarship opportunities, including the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Kaleidoscope Program, which I was accepted into. The iSchool currently has five Kaleidoscope Program scholars, including David Castro, Blanca Garcia-Barron, sourav guha, Michelle Sosa, and myself.
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.
Conference Presentation Insight: Tips & Pointers Part 1
Published: January 25, 2024 by Kesheena Doctor
While an iSchool student, I’ve been able to attend conferences, get networking opportunities, and gain professional development. However, I have had little experience with presenting at conferences until this year, most notably at the 2023 International Conference of Indigenous Archives, Libraries, and Museums and the International Indigenous Librarians’ Forum 2023.
An Interview with iSchool Alumni: Chlöe Van Stralendorff
Published: January 14, 2024 by Kesheena Doctor
As part of the iSchool I’ve attended many conferences and met working professionals. I have also met many iSchool alumni, who have been very generous with their time and expertise. We often chat about the profession, the iSchool, recommended iSchool courses, and even how to survive INFO 289 e-Portfolio.
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.
Attending My First Small Conference
Published: October 12, 2023 by Kesheena Doctor
At the beginning of this August, I was able to attend the 2023 Zine Librarian unConference, a conference for zine librarians and zine library workers, which is a specialized subset of librarianship. I was excited to represent the iSchool at this conference, meet new librarians in the field, and learn more about how zines can support librarianship.
Prepping for my final year at the iSchool
Published: September 10, 2023 by Kesheena Doctor
As fall semester approaches, so does my final year at the iSchool. I intend to graduate in Spring 2024, and would like to share some tips and insight that I have learned while preparing for my last year as a grad student.
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.