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.

Summer Classes
Taking a few units in the summer to keep yourself moving towards the goal of graduating is never a bad idea. Just remember that the summer semester is shorter, so carefully consider your course load. Registration for summer classes is open now and ends May 30. A few offerings that stand out are:

• INFO 287 Augmented Virtual Reality (three units)
• INFO 284 Genealogy (three units)
• INFO 281 Scholarly Communication and Publishing: Access, Intellectual Property, and Impact (one unit)
• INFO 282 Workflow Assessment and Design in Collaboration with Technology Teams (one unit)

Elva Ortega, Sid Britt, Deidre Brill and Amanda Bimson all shared with me that they are planning on taking summer classes, so say hi if you end up in the same class!

Gain Professional Experience
An internship is technically a summer class, but there may be internship opportunities that you can do outside of school as well. Either way, you’ll gain professional experience that will look great on your resume. Dr. Hirsh mentioned in her most recent Director’s Forum that employers are looking for graduates with internship experience. Check out the internship database to see if there are any last minute opportunities. iSchool student Michelle Peralta, for example, is off to Princeton for a summer fellowship in their archives!

You can also look for volunteer work or seasonal work. Tammy Ross is going to help her local public library weed 25 percent of their collection and Laurette Spanglet has summer plans to volunteer at the non-profit Make-A-Wish.

Travel
Summer break is a great time to get out there and explore the world! Jennifer Bousquet is going on a literary pilgrimage to the land of Anne of Green Gables. “Our family will travel to Prince Edward Island, Canada from California in July for 12 days,” she explains. “We are quite excited. The area is supposed to be filled with lots of natural beauty. This was a birthday present for our 14 year old daughter, who is a big Anne fan.”

Christine Suarez has two bachelorette parties and two weddings to attend! She said, “I am the maid of honor in one and a bridesmaid in the other. I was thinking of taking a class over the summer but decided not to so that I can enjoy the summer and wedding festivities.”

Submit a Manuscript
Another way to spend your spare time this summer is by polishing off a paper and submitting it to the School of Information Student Research Journal. The journal accepts original research, critical essays and academic book reviews. Having a publishing credit under your belt before you graduate is a great addition to your resume, not to mention the valuable feedback and experience you will gain going through the editorial review process.

Attend a Conference

Combine travel and professional development by attending a conference! As well as getting informed on new developments in the field, conferences offer incredible networking opportunities. There’s also a couple of conferences close to home if you’re located in the San Jose area. Take a look at some picks below:

• ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA, June 21-26
• California Conference on Library Instruction, San Francisco, CA, June 1
• New Librarian Summit, San Jose, CA, August 2-3
• SLA Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD, June 9-13

Mark your calendar for the virtual Library 2.018 conference, “Blockchain Applied: Impact on the Information Profession,” that you can attend from anywhere in the world!

Whatever you plan to do to fill your summer start thinking about it now if you haven’t already; fall semester will be here before you know it. Don’t miss out on the chance to grow personally and/or professionally, bulk up your resume and make new connections. Feel free to share your plans in the comments below and I wish you all a fantastic summer.