iStudent Blog: Professional Development

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.

iStudent Blog

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!

iStudent Blog

A Trip to DC for the 2022 ALA Annual Conference

iSchool exhibit booth at 2022 ALA Annual Conference

Published: July 12, 2022 by Alicia Perez

This past year for me has been a rush of information, opportunity, and comradery. I did not think at this point last year that I would be in the middle of a summer graduate course, working towards my MLIS, and have the opportunity to travel and experience a conference to see my fellow peers, potential co-workers, trending authors and illustrators, and more! Thanks to the generosity of San José State University’s iSchool travel grant, I was able to visit Washington, DC this past June 25th to 26th to see the first annual conference held by the American Library Association post-COVID-19 quarantine. 

iStudent Blog

Dipping Your Toes in the Water: Conference Poster Presentation as an iSchool Student

Chicago Riverwalk

Published: May 4, 2022 by Laura Darlington

In April, the Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS/NA) held their 50th annual conference in Chicago, and I had the pleasure of attending and presenting thanks to the SJSU iSchool. Last year, I logged on to ARLIS/NA’s virtual conference, yet after two years of remote learning and pandemic isolation, I felt eager for an in-person experience.