iStudent Blog: Community and Engagement
Juneteenth Celebrates Freedom!
iSchool Presents Online Symposium June 20
Published: May 29, 2023 by Eori Tokunaga
Please join the SJSU iSchool as we celebrate Juneteenth in collaboration with Professional Storyteller Binnie Tate Wilkin and Poet Laureate of Clark County, Nevada (2017 – 2019) Vogue M. Robinson. The event will not only feature stories and poems by our keynote speakers but will also include student panelists as part of the conversation.
Fulfilling My Mission to Attend Conferences
Travel Grant Provides 'Incredible Opportunities' for Students to Build Skills and Network
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.
Women Leading the Way: Celebrating Women’s History Month
Women’s History Month Symposium
Published: May 18, 2023 by Eori Tokunaga
As part of the national celebration of Women’s History Month, the San José State University iSchool hosted a free online symposium on March 22nd, 2023, titled “Women in Information: A Celebration of Women’s History Month.” The symposium opened up with a brief historical overview of Women’s History Month by Dr. Anthony Chow, who introduced the two keynote speakers: Dr. Sandra Hirsh and Dr. Sanda Erdelez. The symposium also featured a panel discussion with speakers Dr. Rong Tang, Deb Seys, Sara Jones and SJSU iSchool Alumni Tiffany Duck.
Black History Month: Making a Successful Entry into the Profession
Black History Month Symposium
Published: May 1, 2023 by Eori Tokunaga
In honor of Black History Month, the San José State University iSchool hosted a free online symposium on February 23rd, 2023, titled “A Celebration of Black History Month: Equity in Libraries, 2023 and Beyond.” The symposium featured moderator Wanda Brown and keynote speaker Elaina Norlin. The symposium also hosted a panel discussion with Michael Crumpton, Kelvin Watson, Dominique Dozier, Binnie Wilkin, and Dr. Stephanie Brasley.
Attending ACRL 2023 – Part 2
Published: April 26, 2023 by Kesheena Doctor
Last month, I attended the ALA’s ACRL 2023 Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With the assistance of the SJSU travel scholarship for current students, I was able to go to the conference with very little cost to me. In my previous blog, I discussed my preparation for the conference. Today, I’d like to share with you how dynamic this experience was for me.
Attending ACRL 2023 – Part 1
Published: April 16, 2023 by Kesheena Doctor
At the beginning of the year, I made a plan to attend as many conferences as I could while still an iSchool student. At the beginning of the spring semester, I applied for SJSU’s travel scholarship for current students to attend the ALA’s ACRL 2023 Conference. In a matter of days, I was notified my scholarship was approved and I could begin planning my trip to Pittsburgh, PA, where this year’s bi-annual conference was held.
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.
Ukrainian Libraries During the Wartime: A Year in Review
iSchool Presents EDI Online Symposium April 5
Published: March 23, 2023 by Eori Tokunaga
The SJSU iSchool will be hosting a free online symposium on Ukrainian libraries, which will include topics such as the development of the first National Digital Library of Ukraine, the survey of the state of public libraries in Ukraine, the work of Cherkasy Regional Libraries network in supporting victory and helping libraries to protect cultural heritage.
My First Library Symposium
Published: March 4, 2023 by Kesheena Doctor
This past January I was able to attend the Association of Research Libraries Leadership Symposium for Kaleidoscope Scholars in Vancouver, BC. This was the first event I attended as an MLIS graduate student and had such an exhilarating time interacting with my cohort and future librarian colleagues in a professional capacity.
Q & A with the iSchool’s First Generation Student Group
Published: February 20, 2023 by Kesheena Doctor
As a first-generation student, I found grad school to be tricky to navigate, even at the iSchool. However, I found the SJSU iSchool’s First Generation Student Group and received support in my first year. Formed in 2017, the First Gen Student Group aims to help MLIS students network and build bonds to help them succeed. I chatted with the group’s Chair, Laura Garand, and the group’s Blog Editor, Samantha Harteau, about the group, its mission and goals.
Building Relationships and Community at the iSchool
Published: February 13, 2023 by Kesheena Doctor
Hello, fellow iSchool students! I hope the start of the spring semester is going well for all. For both new and returning students, building an online community is often a concern. Having community while in school not only enriches your social experience but can help you perform better academically and foster connections with future professional peers. I’d like to share some tips and advice for doing so while at the iSchool.
Indigenous Community Leaders in Libraries Today
Native American Heritage Month Symposium
Published: February 5, 2023 by Eori Tokunaga
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, the San José State University iSchool hosted a free online symposium on November 29th, 2022, titled “Honoring the Historical and Current Lives of Indigenous People.” The symposium featured keynote speaker Donna Cossette, Registrar for the Churchill County Museum and Archives; keynote speaker Lynette Dial, Library Director for Hoke County Public Library; Kim Sellers, Associate Professor at UNC Pembroke; and Melissa Stoner, Native American Studies Librarian at University of California, Berkeley.
Seeking Immortality Alongside the Northern Cheyenne Native Community
Published: December 6, 2022 by Eori Tokunaga
In 2016, 567 tribal entities were federally recognized and, as of 2020, estimates suggest that there are roughly 6 million people in the United States, or 2% of the nation’s population, who identify as Native American and/or Native Alaskan. Yet, Native American Heritage Month was only officially recognized by the United States in 1990, less than 40 years ago. (Sources: International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs; US Census Bureau)
Ukrainian Cultural Preservation Fundraiser For The Cherkasy Library
Published: November 28, 2022 by Eori Tokunaga
As of July 2022, Dr. Ulia Gosart, Dr. Anthony Chow, and Dr. Sue Alman have been raising funds to continue supporting the efforts of librarians in Ukraine, following the SJSU iSchool symposium, “Ukrainian Libraries during the Ongoing Russian-Ukrainian War.” The GoFundMe fundraiser was created in collaboration with Liudmyla Diadyk to purchase and ship a high-end scanner for the Cherkasy library, which would allow librarians to preserve Ukrainian cultural artifacts that would go towards building the first National Digital Library of Ukraine. The GoFundMe page can be found here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-ukrainian-libraries.
iSchool Presents EDI Online Symposium November 29
Please join the SJSU iSchool as we honor and celebrate the achievements of our indigenous community members during Native American Heritage Month.
How Our Latinx and Spanish-Speaking Communities Continue to Positively Impact Libraries Today
Published: November 18, 2022 by Eori Tokunaga
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the San José State University iSchool presented an EDI symposium on October 11th, 2022, titled “Unifying the Information Community,” featuring keynote speaker REFORMA 2022-2023 National President Dr. Romelia Salinas; David Lopez, Marketing and Communications Librarian for Orange County Public Library; Roma Calatayud-Stocks, award-winning author; Madeline Peña Feliz, Associate Director for Los Angeles Public Library, Mario Ascencio, College Librarian and Managing Director at Art Center College of Design, Dr. Michele Villagran, Assistant Professor at SJSU iSchool; and Jose Aguiñaga, Assistant Professor at SJSU iSchool.
The Power of Libraries and Social Media
Published: November 4, 2022 by Kesheena Doctor
As a budding librarian, library news is consistently present on my social media feeds. While these types of posts rarely make their way into the general population’s feed, library news involving one of the biggest pop stars in the world will spread far and wide!
Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Librarians and Indigenous Peoples
Published: October 9, 2022 by Kesheena Doctor
In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day this October 11th, I would like to share some information about Indigenous people and librarianship. Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a relatively new holiday that celebrates Native American, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian peoples the second Monday of October. I am Diné (Navajo), and one of my primary objectives as a librarian is to work with Native American students, and on a larger scale, Indigenous people.
National Hispanic Heritage Month
iSchool Presents EDI Online Symposium October 11
Published: September 19, 2022 by Eori Tokunaga
Please join the SJSU iSchool in celebrating and recognizing the achievements of our Hispanic and Latino/a/x communities as we honor National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Resources to Combat Anti-Asian Violence
Published: August 10, 2022 by Eori Tokunaga
It is imperative that we at the San José State University iSchool cultivate a justice-oriented and community-minded culture for our SJSU Spartans. While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the lives of our communities, it is important to address the increasing hostilities that have occurred as a result of the pandemic.