iStudent Blog
iStudent Blog
Students in all of our programs, as well as applicants, will find the iStudent Blog a gold mine. Written by a current student, this blog provides important information and resources and useful advice, including posts about courses, career pathways, online learning, time management, student groups, conferences, and financial aid.
iSchool Presents EDI Online Symposium February 23
National Black History Month
Published: February 5, 2023 by Eori Tokunaga
Come and join the SJSU iSchool as we honor Black History Month while also celebrating the achievements of our Black community members in the Library and Information Science field.
Indigenous Community Leaders in Libraries Today
Native American Heritage Month Symposium
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.
iSchool Student Blogger’s Productivity Tips for Winter Break
Published: January 9, 2023 by Kesheena Doctor
We did it! After completing the fall semester, we can now relax and take a much-needed break. Now is a great idea to start planning ahead for the remainder of your time at iSchool.
Seeking Immortality Alongside the Northern Cheyenne Native Community
Published: December 6, 2022 by Eori Tokunaga
In 2016, 567 tribal entities were federally recognized and, as of 2020, estimates suggest that there are roughly 6 million people in the United States, or 2% of the nation’s population, who identify as Native American and/or Native Alaskan. Yet, Native American Heritage Month was only officially recognized by the United States in 1990, less than 40 years ago. (Sources: International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs; US Census Bureau)
Self-Care Tips to Succeed During Finals Week
Published: November 27, 2022 by Kesheena Doctor
One of the most hectic times of a student’s life is finals week. As an iSchool student in a graduate program, I have many responsibilities outside of school that I am responsible for, as I’m sure you do as well.
Ukrainian Cultural Preservation Fundraiser For The Cherkasy Library
Published: November 28, 2022 by Eori Tokunaga
As of July 2022, Dr. Ulia Gosart, Dr. Anthony Chow, and Dr. Sue Alman have been raising funds to continue supporting the efforts of librarians in Ukraine, following the SJSU iSchool symposium, “Ukrainian Libraries during the Ongoing Russian-Ukrainian War.” The GoFundMe fundraiser was created in collaboration with Liudmyla Diadyk to purchase and ship a high-end scanner for the Cherkasy library, which would allow librarians to preserve Ukrainian cultural artifacts that would go towards building the first National Digital Library of Ukraine. The GoFundMe page can be found here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-ukrainian-libraries.
iSchool Presents EDI Online Symposium November 29
Please join the SJSU iSchool as we honor and celebrate the achievements of our indigenous community members during Native American Heritage Month.
How Our Latinx and Spanish-Speaking Communities Continue to Positively Impact Libraries Today
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.
Successful Strategies for Class Registration
Published: November 16, 2022 by Kesheena Doctor
One of the most fraughtful times of a student’s academic life is registering for the next semester. You might not be sure of what classes to take, what the course load will be like, or if you’ll like the professor.
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!
New iSchool Blogger Shares Her Favorite iSchool Resources
Published: October 5, 2022 by Kesheena Doctor
Hello, iSchool! My name is Kesheena (she/her/they/them), and I am your new iStudent blogger. This is my first semester at San José State University School of Information in the MLIS program. I am a full-time student focusing on academic librarianship and am an Association of Research Libraries Kaleidoscope Program Scholar for 2022-2024.
National Hispanic Heritage Month
iSchool Presents EDI Online Symposium October 11
Published: September 19, 2022 by Eori Tokunaga
Please join the SJSU iSchool in celebrating and recognizing the achievements of our Hispanic and Latino/a/x communities as we honor National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Resources to Combat Anti-Asian Violence
Published: August 10, 2022 by Eori Tokunaga
It is imperative that we at the San José State University iSchool cultivate a justice-oriented and community-minded culture for our SJSU Spartans. While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the lives of our communities, it is important to address the increasing hostilities that have occurred as a result of the pandemic.
Symposium Recap: Celebrating Juneteenth
Published: July 26, 2022 by Eori Tokunaga
The San José State University iSchool presented a free online symposium on June 20, 2022, in honor and celebration of Juneteenth Day. The audience was welcomed by iSchool Director Anthony Chow, who introduced guest speaker and professional storyteller, Binnie Tate Wilkin.
“EDI is really everyone’s responsibility. Getting to know our diverse cultures [and] lived experiences is a core part of what it means to be an American.” – Dr. Anthony Chow
Fundraising Initiative for Ukrainian Libraries
Published: July 20, 2022 by Eori Tokunaga
In mid-June of 2022, the SJSU iSchool hosted the symposium “Ukrainian Libraries during the Ongoing Russian-Ukrainian War.”
A Trip to DC for the 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.
LGBTQIA+ Resources in the Library
An inclusive library enhances our world
Published: July 7, 2022 by Eori Tokunaga
In honor of Pride Month, the SJSU iSchool hosted an EDI Symposium on June 30, 2022, titled “How LGBTQIA+ Librarians Shape Libraries Today.” SJSU iSchool Director Anthony Chow opened the symposium with a personal anecdote about discrimination he has faced in his own life, followed by introductions for the keynote speaker, Dr. Shannon Oltmann.
LGBTQIA+ Pride Month
iSchool Presents EDI Online Symposium June 30
Published: June 23, 2022 by Eori Tokunaga
Please join the SJSU School of Information in honoring our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+) community as we celebrate Pride month.
Symposium Recap: Ukrainian Libraries in the Ongoing Russian-Ukrainian War
Published: June 22, 2022 by Eori Tokunaga
The San Jose State University iSchool presented a symposium on June 15, 2022, regarding the conditions and services of Ukrainian Libraries during the Russian-Ukrainian war. The audience was welcomed by iSchool Director Anthony Chow and Assistant Professor Ulia Gosart, with Ukrainian and English translations provided by Oleksii Deikun.
Honoring Juneteenth Day
iSchool Presents Online EDI Symposium June 20
Published: June 16, 2022 by Eori Tokunaga
The San José State University iSchool is committed to actively honoring and amplifying stories from diverse communities as part of our goal to be a more equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible community. As SJSU Spartans, it is imperative that we cultivate a justice-oriented and community-minded culture for students, faculty and staff.