Published: October 31, 2025 by Eva-Lani High

This October, I had the opportunity to attend the 2025 California Library Association Conference, thanks to the San José State University travel grant. After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in public librarianship, and this was a chance to network and get insight into current trends in the field. I had never traveled to a conference before. My previous experience was attending the 2024 American Library Association conference when it was in my hometown of San Diego, CA. This time, I was further into the program and had a clearer understanding of what I wanted out of the experience. 

My first conference event was at the beautiful downtown Riverside library, where we got a backstage tour of the attached local archive. While archiving isn’t my focus, the undergrad history major in me appreciated the preservation of local stories and ephemera. I especially loved their project on preserving local cookbooks and family recipes. After the tour, I explored the main library, enjoying a book in one of the many comfy chairs up against their glass walls, overlooking the street. 

That afternoon, I attended the keynote address by Julia Whelan. The acclaimed author and audiobook narrator was truly captivating. She spoke to the conference theme of “Telling Our Own Stories” through some select dramatic readings and reassured attendees that human connection and creativity would continue to outshine artificial intelligence. Later that evening, the Inland Empire chapter of REFORMA hosted an extremely fun Loteria event that included a raucous dance break.

During the three days of the conference, I focused on sessions that reflected my passion for information literacy and helping adults continue learning in meaningful ways. In Bridging Literacy Gaps with AI: A Tool for Tutors and Learners, we were presented with ways AI can be used to customize literacy instruction and develop students’ digital competencies to achieve goals. 

Other sessions focused on the benefits of including creative outlets into adult programming. Tell Your Story Through Nature Journaling guided us through some warm up exercises with flower bouquets and highlighted the meditative benefits of the activity.

Expanding Beyond the Program: Creating Spaces for Adult Learners to Share Their Stories explained how LA Public Library incorporates creative writing into adult literacy instruction and showcased students’ writing through published works and a moving video of their poetry performance. Even the evening program, Create, Make, and Take: An Adult Crafting Party!, emphasized how this longstanding public library activity benefits older adults by providing a social space and maintaining fine motor skills.

One session that wasn’t about programming, but particularly resonated with me, was Sharing Our Stories: The Ups and Downs of Early Career Librarianship. As someone preparing to enter the Southern California job market, I found it both encouraging and grounding. The panelists spoke candidly about their first professional positions, the challenges of job searching, staying patient, and advocating for yourself. Hearing their experiences gave me a clearer sense of what to expect and reassured me that the transition from student to librarian, while sometimes daunting, is achievable with persistence and support.

Beyond the sessions, connecting with other SJSU students and alumni, and meeting professors in person, was a highlight of the conference. Manning the iSchool booth in the exhibit hall was especially rewarding, as it gave me the chance to talk with prospective and current students, share my experiences in the program, and put faces to the names I’d only seen on Zoom. By the time the SJSU reception took place, I already felt part of a familiar and welcoming community. The iSchool experience can sometimes feel isolating, so having those in-person connections, and even a little ePortfolio commiseration, was a real treat.

I’d like to thank SJSU for helping me attend this year’s CLA, and I look forward to more conference experiences in the future. As I complete my final semester at SJSU, attending this conference was a wonderful way to bookend my time and launch me toward a career in public librarianship. I would encourage anyone interested in attending a professional conference to apply for the SJSU travel grant and take advantage of all the iSchool has to offer. 

Editor’s Note: The SJSU iSchool highly encourages students to attend professional conferences but also realizes that it can be cost prohibitive. Travel grants are available to eligible students to help lessen the financial burden and increase conference participation. iSchool student Eva-Lani High​​ received one of these travel grants.