iStudent Blog: Community and Engagement
Scholarly Research: Publishing and Presenting
Published March 2, 2022 by Hilary Meehan
Hello, SJSU iStudent virtual community! I’m Hilary (she/her/hers), your new iStudent blogger. I look forward to addressing your school-related information needs effectively and comprehensively. Additionally, I encourage you to communicate to me your ideas, comments, questions, and concerns regarding the blog. You may use the comment box at the bottom of each blog post or contact me directly at hilary.meehan@sjsu.edu. I look forward to hearing from you and commit myself to respond to your messages.
Celebrating Black History Month
Published: February 22, 2022 by Guadalupe Martinez
At San José State University, our ongoing and upcoming calendar events and resources aim to uplift and honor the legacies of our diverse communities. Join us in celebrating Black History Month, highlighting the historic contributions and movements within the Black Diaspora.
Attending Professional Conferences as a Student
Published: October 25, 2021 by Leslie Parry
I recently attended my first professional association conference as a San José State University School of Information student. I’ll admit I was a little apprehensive. Would I be out of my depth? Would there be other attendees like me – students, newly arrived to the profession – and would our curiosity be welcome in lieu of experience? Thankfully, the Special Libraries Association Annual Conference (held virtually in August) helped relieve some of my impostor syndrome. I attended fascinating programs, met multidisciplinary professionals around the world and participated in fun icebreakers from the comfort of my living room.
Building Your Professional Network as an iSchool Student
Published: July 27, 2021 by Leslie Parry
Kim Dority, the iSchool Student and Alumni Career Advisor, recently gave an insightful presentation about an essential (if occasionally dreaded) topic: “How to Build Your Professional Network (Without Feeling Weird About It).” To some people, the idea of networking can be exciting and invigorating; to others, awkward and stressful. No matter if you’re an extrovert or an introvert, a graduate student or a seasoned librarian, network-building is core to the profession. But don’t let your anxiety get the better of you. As Dority describes, it’s not about schmoozing or having transactional, superficial relationships; it is about growth, connection, and helping your colleagues and friends. “Building a valuable, sustainable network is a long-term play that involves creating genuine relationships of mutual benefit,” she says.
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.
“Ask Me Anything” with Dr. Linda Main
Published: March 15, 2021 by Leslie Parry
Dr. Linda Main, interim director of the San José State University School of Information, met with iSchool students earlier this month for an insightful “Ask Me Anything” session. These regular, informal meetups give students a chance to chat with the director and ask about anything from career paths to iSchool resources to the LIS world at large. Below are just a few of the questions Dr. Main fielded. To view the full Q&A, click here.
What is Mindfulness, Anyway?
Published: April 24, 2020 by Havilah Steinman
Diversity is an important value of faculty and administration at San José State University iSchool. One of the projects the iSchool’s diversity committee works towards is creating engaging content that fosters that value. Recently, a diversity webinar series took a long look at mindfulness, and it’s role in the corporate world. See below for highlights of the recorded webinar What is Mindfulness, Anyway? by speaker Jamie Lin. Hopefully, this timely topic offers insight during a time of such stress and uncertainty in our country. For more engaging content, check out SJSU iSchool Podcast Feed via Apple Podcasts, SJSU iSchool YouTube Channel and iSchool On-Demand Webcasts Portal.
iSchool Life During the Pandemic
Published: April 7, 2020 by Havilah Steinman
While the iSchool at San José State University is a fully online school, COVID-19 has a drastic effect on the LIS community. Our classes are not affected, but everyone is dealing with the effects this global pandemic has on their respective communities and personal lives. Below is a roundup of resources that may be helpful in this difficult time.
MARA Student Vida Barone Shares Her Insight
Published: March 24, 2020 by Havilah Steinman
Wondering what current students of the Masters of Archives and Records Administration at San José State University’s iSchool are up to? Vida Barone has worked in local government for 25 years, and shared that she still learns something new every week. Barone founded her own company 13 years ago, City Clerk Management Services, Inc. She started at the MARA program in summer 2018, and made the decision to enroll so she could show her credibility in information governance.
Day in the Life of iSchool Student – Kim Edwards
Published: October 15, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
[image:13258, image left]What does the original Captain Kirk, crocheting and San José State University’s iSchool Masters of Archives and Records Administration have in common? The illustrious Kim Edwards, of course! The latest to be featured in our Day in the Life Series, Edwards works full time as a Records and Scientific and Technical Information Manager at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, and this piece represents her inaugural involvement with student life!
Today’s Thriving Libraries – MiraCosta Community College
Published: August 28, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Alumni of San José State University iSchool’s many programs are everywhere. In fact, you could run into a fellow grad without even realizing it! MiraCosta Community College has been a fixture of the City of Oceanside since 1934, and the 48,000 square feet Library and Information Hub was built in 2003. I had the opportunity to tour the library with alum Steven Deineh, instruction and student engagement librarian, and he offered a great snapshot of the resources available to the lucky students at the college.
Day in the Life of iSchool Student – Rosa Conrad
Published: July 3, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Hot off the presses, it’s the latest edition of our Day in the Life of an iSchool Student series! Today we’ll be introduced to Rosa Conrad, library services specialist at California State University San Marcos. With an expected graduation in spring 2021, Conrad juggles school, a full-time job, and being a mom with fantastic skill.
Day in the Life of SRJ Managing Editor – Rachel Greggs
Published: May 9, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Welcome to the next installment of our Day in the Life of an iSchool student series! This week’s post provides an inside look into the scholastic and professional achievements of the Student Research Journal (SRJ) Managing Editor Rachel Greggs.
Transgender Inclusion in Libraries Webinar Highlights
Published: April 16, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
This week we welcome a guest post by Dr. Michele Villagran on the iStudent blog. She’s a member of the iSchool’s Diversity Committee and helped organize a webcast on transgender patrons and library services. The webcast was wildly popular and reached maximum enrollment. Dr. Villagran shares highlights of the webcast with us.
Day in the Life of iSchool Student – Amy Wallace
Published: February 19, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Our next Day in the Life series installment is here! Meet Amy Wallace, soon-to-be MLIS iSchool graduate! She is the head librarian at Bethany Christian Schools and hails from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Some of her favorite classes she completed while studying at the iSchool include Interpersonal Communication Skills, Marketing of Information Products and Reference Information Services. Wallace shared, “These classes really helped me to expand my idea of what it takes to be a librarian, as well as grow my confidence in my work. I know that these courses, specifically, have done a great deal to prepare me for my career.”
Day in the Life of New iStudent Blogger – Havilah Steinman
Published: January 12, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
My name is Havilah, and I am your new iStudent blog writer. I am honored to take over this assistantship from Priscilla Ameneyro, who heralded wonderful content on the blog for over a year! I reside in Oceanside, CA, have been in the MLIS program since Spring 2018, and I can’t believe how quickly the time has passed.
Looking Back On Spring 2018
Published: May 29, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
Time flies when you’re in graduate school! It seems like just yesterday I was writing my reflections on Fall 2017. This was my last spring semester in the program as I plan on graduating at the end of the year, so it was a special one! I completed an internship and took a variety of one and two unit classes, as well as continued writing for this blog. Here’s some of the highlights of last semester in case you missed them:
Ready? Set? Graduate!
Published: May 14, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
Congrats to all the grads! A master’s degree is a huge accomplishment that you should be very proud of. I’m sure you’re eager to celebrate and your friends and family will want to recognize you too. Whether you go the traditional route and attend a graduation ceremony in-person or you participate in convocation online, be sure to make it memorable. You deserve to be acknowledged and have some fun. Here’s some ideas for different ways you can celebrate:
Get Set For Summer
Published: May 7, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
I think it’s safe to say we’re all excited for summer: sun, beaches, barbeques and flip flops are on the horizon! With deadlines fast approaching to wrap up the semester you might not be thinking ahead just yet (other than dreaming of some much needed rest) but if you can find some time, you’ll reap the benefits of planning out your summer in advance. In this article, I share insights from current iSchool students on how to make the most of summer. While you should definitely enjoy some downtime by the pool, there are also opportunities you can seek out to bolster your resume and enhance your education before fall semester begins.
A Day In The Life Of An San José State University School of Information Student
Published: April 16, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
Are you worried you won’t be able to keep up with the demands of work, life, family and now school? Are you a current student struggling to get your course work done on time alongside cooking dinner, walking the dog and showing up to your day job? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! We all have responsibilities other than school and it can be a serious juggling act at times. But it is totally doable, and at the end of it, you’ll have a qualification to be proud of that could change your life.