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.
Day in the Life of iSchool Student – Kiel Mangerino
Published: August 11, 2019 by guest blogger McKenna Wulker
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The latest edition of our Day in the Life of an iSchool Student series is here. Kiel Mangerino is a hardworking student in the iSchool’s Masters in Archives and Records Administration (MARA) program, a dedicated father and a full time Deputy Town Clerk. His long days are full of challenges, but Mangerino wouldn’t trade his experience in the MARA program for the world.
Pioneered by SJSU iSchool: Blockchain for the Information Professional
Published: July 24, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
San José State University’s iSchool Director Sandra Hirsh recently completed a grant-funded project with iSchool instructor Sue Alman to investigate practical applications of blockchain for libraries and education. An exciting outcome of this project, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, is a book entitled Blockchain (Library Futures) by Hirsh and Alman which will be available soon.
Day in the Life of iSchool Student – Rosa Conrad
Published: July 3, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Hot off the presses, it’s the latest edition of our Day in the Life of an iSchool Student series! Today we’ll be introduced to Rosa Conrad, library services specialist at California State University San Marcos. With an expected graduation in spring 2021, Conrad juggles school, a full-time job, and being a mom with fantastic skill.
iSchool Explores Emerging Technology with Blockchain MOOC
Published: June 23, 2019 by guest blogger Greta Snyder
This spring 2019, SJSU iSchool offered a Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) on Blockchain & Decentralization for the Information Industries. Designed and led by Jason Griffey, a prominent advocate for blockchain research in the information services field, this innovative MOOC was made possible thanks to a grant secured by iSchool Director Dr. Sandra Hirsh and iSchool Lecturer Dr. Sue Alman from Institute of Museum and Library Services to further research into the applicability of blockchain to information services.
Information Skills Put to the Test: Am I Librarian?
Published: June 7, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Earlier in the semester, the Special Library Association Student Chapter at the iSchool hosted an engaging event about information professionals working in the corporate world, instead of a traditional library. MLIS alumni who presented during the event are currently working at large companies, including Genetec, Oracle Inc. and Zovio. The Special Library Association Student Chapter also live tweeted this event, and the recording can be viewed on their website. I had the excellent opportunity to attend this event, and have shared some exciting insight below.
Sign Up Today for the Library 2.0 Free Virtual Conference on Open Data
Published: June 4, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Library 2.0 has partnered with the iSchool to open up professional training to current students, alumni and information professionals around the globe! Library 2.0 hosts regular webinars and several free conferences a year focusing on different topics of interest to library and information professionals. Tomorrow, Library 2.0 is excited explore the topic of Open Data!
Government Agency Files in Focus
Published: July 1, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Earlier in the semester the Masters of Archives and Records Administration (MARA) program at the iSchool hosted a guest lecture entitled: It Takes a Village: A State Agency’s Implementation of an Electronic Document Management System. As archives and records are essential skills of any well-rounded information professional, I hope that regardless of what program you are enrolled in, this post contains helpful takeaways for your educational enrichment this summer!
VCARA Opens the Door to VR in Education
Published: May 30, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
The Virtual Center for Archives and Records Administration recently hosted their 10th annual conference in Second Life, entitled “Sands of Time Looking Back to Move Forward.” VCARA isn’t just for iSchool students, and openly welcomes all information professionals. VCARA is a great virtual community for individuals particularly interested in information science and education. The conference is an excellent example of this inclusivity, as their two keynote speakers, Dr. Valerie Hill and Daniel Dyboski-Bryant, shed light on this burgeoning new world.
A Snapshot of Corporate Archives
Published: May 15, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
What does Citi Center, Levi Strauss & Co., Vanguard, Cargill, Carhartt Inc., IBM and The Chautauqua Institution have in common? They all have corporate archives! The Society of American Archivists Student Chapter (SAASC) hosted a fantastic event where archival professionals offered insight into their industry. For the sake of brevity, this post will focus on Citi Center, Levi Strauss & Co. and Carhartt Inc., but keep a look out for the article representing the other presenters on our Medium page later this year. Hosted by Sarah Thornton, iSchool student and chair of the SAASC, this invaluable event opened up the archival world to students at the iSchool.
Day in the Life of SRJ Managing Editor – Rachel Greggs
Published: May 9, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Welcome to the next installment of our Day in the Life of an iSchool student series! This week’s post provides an inside look into the scholastic and professional achievements of the Student Research Journal (SRJ) Managing Editor Rachel Greggs.
New Tool: MLIS Career Pathways Course Intersection
Published: May 5, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Students at the San José State University School of Information have an excellent Advising Toolkit available to them when choosing electives to take during their program. A core part of this Advising Toolkit for students in the Master’s of Library and Information Science program are the 14 Career Pathways, ranging from Data Science to Special Librarianship. Another exciting tool within the Advising Toolkit has just been introduced called the MLIS Career Pathways Course Intersection. This tool allows students to find classes that intersect with two or more Career Pathways at once.
Benefits of Getting Involved with the Student Research Journal
Published: April 24, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Earlier in the semester, managing editor of the Student Research Journal Rachel Greggs, hosted an event alongside the American Library Association Student Chapter about the incredible benefits of getting involved with the Student Research Journal. First and foremost, the SRJ offers a fantastic publishing opportunity. The peer-reviewed and double-blind journal is completely run by students under the guidance of faculty advisor, Dr. Anthony Bernier. SRJ currently accepts critical essays, evidence summaries and book reviews. Anyone from a North American or international institution is invited to submit, but submissions from iSchool students are especially encouraged because of the fantastic benefits students glean in the peer-reviewed process.
Transgender Inclusion in Libraries Webinar Highlights
Published: April 16, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
This week we welcome a guest post by Dr. Michele Villagran on the iStudent blog. She’s a member of the iSchool’s Diversity Committee and helped organize a webcast on transgender patrons and library services. The webcast was wildly popular and reached maximum enrollment. Dr. Villagran shares highlights of the webcast with us.
Peer Mentorship: An Opportunity to Strengthen Information and Communication Skills
Published: April 16, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Students at the iSchool in the Master’s in Library and Information Science and Post-Master’s Certificate programs have excellent classes to choose from. Every new student begins with INFO 203 Online Learning at the beginning of their program to become acclimated to the rigorous academic expectations of their work, as well as the technology used in the program. Peer mentors are a pivotal part of the INFO 203 process, and Debbie Faires, director of online learning, has just opened up the application for peer mentors in the Fall 2019 semester! This past semester, I had the opportunity to work alongside several other INFO 203 peer mentors. In this post, I share some of their insight about how the mentorship experience benefited them.
Student Organization Leadership Elections Open in April
Published: March 27, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
On Tuesday, March 19th, leadership from the majority of the student groups at the iSchool presented at Leaders Wanted: Why and How to Get Involved in Student Organizations hosted by Sarah Thornton, Chair at the Society of American Archivists Student Chapter.
Highlights from the Library 2.0 Instructional Design Conference
Published: March 21, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
On Wednesday, March 13, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Library 2.019 mini-conference, Shaping the Future of Libraries with Instructional Design, sponsored by the iSchool at San José State University.
Career Coaching Hour with Jill Klees
Published: March 14, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Do you have a burning career development question you haven’t been able to get an answer to? Do you wish you could ask our iSchool Student and Alumni Career Consultant Jill Klees these questions live and “in person”? Well, in addition to hosting monthly Career Workshops, Klees has begun a new tradition of Career Coaching Office Hour.
ALA Annual Conference Insights with ALASC and Leigh Milligan
Published: March 7, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
The American Library Association’s Student Chapter here at the iSchool hosted a wonderful event about the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference earlier this week. The conference, which will take place from June 20 to June 25 in Washington, DC is an excellent opportunity for students to make new connections, broaden their perspective and above all have fun with other like minded librarianship professionals!
Career Resource Nuggets with Jill Klees
Published: February 28, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
On February 6, Jill Klees, iSchool student and alumni career consultant, hosted an online career workshop titled, “Your LIS Career Starts Here!” The workshop was full of excellent information nuggets for career-oriented students here at the iSchool. I’m excited to share some of them with you today.
Day in the Life of iSchool Student – Amy Wallace
Published: February 19, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Our next Day in the Life series installment is here! Meet Amy Wallace, soon-to-be MLIS iSchool graduate! She is the head librarian at Bethany Christian Schools and hails from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Some of her favorite classes she completed while studying at the iSchool include Interpersonal Communication Skills, Marketing of Information Products and Reference Information Services. Wallace shared, “These classes really helped me to expand my idea of what it takes to be a librarian, as well as grow my confidence in my work. I know that these courses, specifically, have done a great deal to prepare me for my career.”