iStudent Blog: Professional Development

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iStudent Blog: Professional Development

iStudent Blog

Symposium Recap of “Ukrainian Libraries During the Wartime: A Year in Review”

Dr. Ulia Gosart

Published: June 29, 2023 by Eori Tokunaga

The San José State University iSchool presented a symposium on April 5, 2023 about how Ukranian libraries and librarians have persisted for more than a year of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The free online event opened up with introductions by iSchool Director Dr. Anthony Chow, Ukrainian-English translator Oleksii Deikun, and Assistant Professor Dr. Ulia Gosart, who hosted a moment of silence for all the individual lives that have been taken by the war.

iStudent Blog

Completing My First Year at the iSchool

Published: June 22, 2023 by Kesheena Doctor

As I wrap up my first year at the iSchool, I have been reflecting on my graduate school journey and impending career as a librarian. There have been many changes in my life since I started school and it’s been a very busy year. I have been able to partake in many new experiences that I only recently have had the time to truly reflect on and appreciate. I’d like to share my thoughts of my first year at the iSchool with you.

iStudent Blog

Professional Conferences Present Excellent Opportunities to ‘Cut Your Teeth’

Published: June 20, 2023 by Emily Espanol

Emily Espanol in exhibit hallThis June, I attended the California Library Association’s Annual Conference in Sacramento, California, with the assistance of the SJSU travel grant for current students. As a member of the conference’s social media subcommittee and a co-presenter to iSchool Director Anthony Chow, my attendance was extremely important. In exchange for two hours of volunteering at the iSchool’s exhibit booth, I was granted the funds to completely offset the cost of the conference and have an excellent time networking and learning alongside other librarians!

iStudent Blog

California Library Association Conference Opens Door to Possibilities

Published: June 14, 2023 by Shannon Broden

CLA Conference SignAs someone who came into studying library science to pivot from another career field, I did not have a lot of opportunity to be exposed to librarianship outside of my coursework. Events unfolded in my life that made me look at what options might be available to me, and I found out about SJSU’s travel grants for current students. With the approval deadline fast approaching, I applied for and quickly gained approval to attend the California Library Conference in Sacramento, California from June 1st through 3rd, 2023. At about the same time, I found out that the iSchool would be having a reception where students have the opportunity to present posters of work and research they have done during the academic year; once I knew I was approved to go to Sacramento, I also signed up for a poster presentation opportunity.

iStudent Blog

Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Librarianship in Tough Times
iSchool Presents Online Symposium July 5

Pride Month Symposium

Published: June 12, 2023 by Eori Tokunaga

Please join the SJSU iSchool and our keynote speaker, Deputy County Librarian Deb Sica, as we celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual (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. 

iStudent Blog

Juneteenth Celebrates Freedom!
iSchool Presents Online Symposium June 20

Juneteenth Symposium 2023

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. 

iStudent Blog

Fulfilling My Mission to Attend Conferences
Travel Grant Provides 'Incredible Opportunities' for Students to Build Skills and Network

ELUNA is an annual conference for libraries

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.

iStudent Blog

Women Leading the Way: Celebrating Women’s History Month
Women’s History Month Symposium

Women Leading the Way: Celebrating Women’s History Month

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. 

iStudent Blog

Black History Month: Making a Successful Entry into the Profession
Black History Month Symposium

Wanda Brown

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.  

iStudent Blog

Attending ACRL 2023 – Part 1

ACRL Conference Hall

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.

iStudent Blog

Ukrainian Libraries During the Wartime: A Year in Review
iSchool Presents EDI Online Symposium April 5

Ukranian Go Fund Me

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.

iStudent Blog

Indigenous Community Leaders in Libraries Today
Native American Heritage Month Symposium

Donna Cossett

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. 

iStudent Blog

How Our Latinx and Spanish-Speaking Communities Continue to Positively Impact Libraries Today

Dr. Romelia Salias

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.