iStudent Blog: Community and Engagement
Disability Pride Month 2024
Published: July 8, 2024 by Matsuko Friedland
Please join the SJSU iSchool in our first celebration of Disability Pride Month as we honor the achievements of our disabled community members.
Pride Month 2024
Published: July 8, 2024 by Matsuko Friedland
Please join the SJSU iSchool as we celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and more (LGBTQIA+) librarians and librarianship. This month’s symposium will feature a diverse array of panelists, who bring their expertise in various aspects of the LIS field.
Symposium Recap of ‘Honoring the Past & Planning for the Future: Indigenous Perspectives on Library and Information Sciences’
Native American Heritage Month Symposium
Published: July 8, 2024 by Matsuko Friedland
As part of the national celebration of Native American Heritage Month, the San José State University (SJSU) iSchool hosted a free online symposium on November 3, 2023, titled “Honoring the Past & Planning for the Future: Indigenous Perspectives on Library and Information Sciences”. The symposium began with a welcome and land acknowledgement by Dr. Anthony Chow. Next, Dr. Tonia San Nicolas-Rocca introduced the keynote speakers, featuring Indigenous LIS leaders: Halena Kapuni-Reynolds, Associate Curator of Native Hawaiian History and Culture, National Museum of the American Indian; Jennifer Himmelreich, Senior Program Officer, Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS); and Richard Sneed, 28th Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Earth Day 2024
Published: April 21, 2024 by Nicole Azof
Please join the SJSU iSchool in celebrating Earth Day 2024 as we honor the achievements of librarians who have joined the global movement to preserve our world.
Interview with iSchool Alum, Eori Tokunaga
Published: April 28, 2024 by Kesheena Doctor
For an online MLIS program, I was worried about feeling isolated. However, I have been fortunate to meet many fellow iSchool students, including Eori Tokunaga, who I met after I was hired to be the iSchool’s student blogger. Eori just graduated from the iSchool, and I chatted with her about her experience with the program.
Women’s History Month
iSchool Presents EDI Online Symposium March 27
Published: March 24, 2024 by Matsuko Friedland
Please join the SJSU iSchool in celebrating Women’s History Month 2024 as we honor the achievements of Women in Library Advocacy!
Guide to Successful Event Planning
Published: March 24, 2024 by Kesheena Doctor
In a previous blog, I mentioned I am the current College of Professional and Global Education (CPGE) RSCA Advisory Committee assistant. In this role I helped organize the CPGE Online Student Conference.
Irish Heritage Month
Published: March 23, 2024 by Nicole Azof
Please join the SJSU iSchool as we celebrate Irish Heritage Month, the time where we observe both the hardships and achievements Irish immigrants faced since arriving in America in pursuit of better livelihoods.
ALA’s LibLearnX: Professional Experience and Networking
Published: February 14, 2024 by Jennifer Dawes
In January 2024, I attended ALA’s LibLearnX Conference in Baltimore, MD with financial assistance from the iSchool’s travel grant. Entering my final semester in spring 2024, it was a wonderful opportunity to attend my first professional conference in the library field while also presenting with Dr. Chow.
Student Engagement at the 2024 CPGE Online Student Conference
Published: February 11, 2024 by Kesheena Doctor
Presenting at a conference is a great professional development opportunity but can be intimidating for those with minimal experience, like students. Student conferences are often limited to either the university or, on a smaller scale, a department within a university.
Symposium Recap of “Latinos: Contributing to the Fabric of the Nation”
Hispanic Heritage Month
Published: February 7, 2024 by Eori Tokunaga
As part of the national celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the San José State University iSchool hosted a free online symposium in collaboration with REFORMA titled “Latinos: Contributing to the Fabric of the Nation.” The symposium began with a warm welcome by Dr. Anthony Chow and keynote speaker Loida-Garcia Febo. Following the opening remarks, Dr. Chow introduced the panel of guest speakers, featuring leaders in the LIS field: Supervising Librarian at New York Public Library Elisa Garcia, Academic Engagement Librarian at University of Massachusetts Isabel Espinal, and 2023-2024 REFORMA National President David Lopez.
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.
SJSU Designates February 19 as Day of Remembrance of Japanese American Internment in WWII
Published: February 3, 2024 by Matsuko Friedland and Nicole Azof
The SJSU iSchool is proud to share that SJSU President Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson has issued a Presidential Directive permanently designating “February 19 as a Day of Remembrance for the harm done to Americans of Japanese descent who were forcibly detained, incarcerated and stripped of their possessions under the misguided sense that they posed a security risk during World War II”. On February 19th, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the U.S. Army to forcefully remove Japanese Americans from their homes and jobs. This greatly impacted the lives of Asian communities everywhere, including Japanese American employees and students processing their own community members and students abandoning their studies at San Jose State College. Prejudice and hysteria played key roles in the initiation of this order.
Attending ALA’s LibLearnX for Educational Growth in the Field
Published: January 29, 2024 by Shannon Broden
In January 2024, with assistance from the SJSU iSchool travel grant, I traveled to ALA’s LibLearnX in Baltimore, MD. While part of my reason for attending was to be part of a panel presentation, I also had the opportunity to network and attend programming to enhance my own education of the field outside the classroom.
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.
Interview with Bridging Knowledge Scholar: Molly Ouellette
Published: December 3, 2023 by Kesheena Doctor
I was first introduced to the iSchool while researching scholarship opportunities for Native American students. As part of an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funded grant, the iSchool partnered with the Alaska Library Network, the American Indian Library Association, and the Alaska State Library to form the scholarship program, Bridging Knowledge: Supporting Indigenous Scholars into the Field of Librarianship.
Honoring the Past & Planning for the Future: Indigenous Perspectives on Library and Information Sciences
iSchool Presents Online Symposium November 3
Published: October 30, 2023 by Eori Tokunaga
Please join the SJSU iSchool as we celebrate Native American Heritage Month with our 3rd annual symposium, featuring speakers from the National Museum of the American Indian, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI).
Rural Libraries of Ukraine during the Ongoing War
iSchool Presents Online Symposium October 18
Please join the SJSU iSchool for our 3rd symposium on the work of Ukrainian libraries and librarians during the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war.
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.