Published: May 14, 2025 by Gabe Farmer

Cat Tang didn’t always know she wanted to be a librarian. In fact, she was firmly against going back to school. “When I finished undergrad, I was like, oh, no grad school. I’m not going to grad school,” she said. But after a year working in libraries, her perspective shifted. Encouraged by coworkers and inspired by the work, she began researching Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) programs. Eventually, she enrolled at San José State University School of Information, knowing she wanted to get involved from the start.

“I like getting involved,” she said. “That’s the big pull of going back to school. You have access to a lot of resources and ways to connect with people that you don’t always have once you leave.”

As a pandemic graduate, Cat felt the sting of disconnection after completing her undergraduate studies. As a SJSU student, she knew getting involved in student groups was a way to rebuild that sense of community. It didn’t take long before she found herself drawn to SJSU’s American Library Association Student Chapter (ALASC).

Diving Into ALASC

ALASC became Cat’s home base at the iSchool. “It felt like the most applicable to me as someone who didn’t quite know if I wanted to specialize in anything specific,” she said. She began attending events before even starting the program. The Connect Over Coffee series, in particular, helped her explore the variety in librarianship.

“I went to one [event] when I wasn’t even a student here,” she said. “You invite a bunch of professionals from different aspects of librarianship… and that really reinforced for me that I do like public librarianship.”

She joined the student chapter as a social media assistant in Summer 2023, then moved up to events coordinator and is now chair. Though she hadn’t planned to take on the top role, the opportunity to help ALASC continue thriving was too important to pass up. “I decided, let me step up and keep the momentum going.”

As the group’s chair, this year Cat has led SJSU ALASC to their seventh year being selected for Student Chapter of the Year, and the second year in a row! A huge congratulations to the leadership team and all of the SJSU ALASC members for this incredible achievement!

The Reality of Leading

As chair, Cat’s responsibilities have multiplied, but so have the rewards. “The number one thing I want to remember is to be patient and be kind to people,” she said. “I don’t know what they’re personally going through.”

Managing volunteer members who are all juggling coursework and personal lives requires flexibility. “Everyone has different communication styles. We’re all so busy. Sometimes someone’s not communicating, and that can be frustrating.”

Cat quickly learned the importance of delegation and support. “Just because you’re the leader, it doesn’t mean you have to do everything by yourself,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to lean on other people.”

Her advice to new officers? Be transparent. “I was very transparent with my team about it,” she said of her first events role. “I’m learning about all of this alongside you… please give me some grace here.”

Creating Opportunity and Community

Beyond event planning and admin work, Cat’s student group involvement has opened unexpected doors. She co-presented a poster on student organization sustainability at both ALA Annual Conference and the California Library Association Conference. “I was really nervous, but I actually enjoyed it a lot,” she said. “I love talking about ALASC.”

She credits her experience with improving her presentation skills and deepening her professional network. “Some of the people I work with in ALASC are definitely going to be my friends forever,” she said.

For Cat, the biggest takeaway has been connection. “Being in an online program can be very isolating. Getting involved in student leadership is the best way to build community.”

A Place for Everyone

Cat’s passion for inclusion also led her to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander iSchool Student Group, where she now serves as vice chair. “Historically, this has been a very white-dominated field, and there hasn’t been a lot of representation,” she said. Starting with the group felt personal. “I always loved writing… but I never saw Asian American characters in the books I was reading.”

She wants more students to know these groups are for everyone. “You don’t have to be in a leadership role to get involved,” she said. “Just start by coming to events. That’s how you make friends, build community, and figure out where you fit.”

And if you feel ready, step up. “We’re always looking for new people,” she said. “Every semester we have openings.”

Cat’s journey is a reminder that showing up, getting involved, and being willing to learn can transform your time at the iSchool. It might even shape the career you’re still discovering.