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 – Kim Edwards
Published: October 15, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
[image:13258, image left]What does the original Captain Kirk, crocheting and San José State University’s iSchool Masters of Archives and Records Administration have in common? The illustrious Kim Edwards, of course! The latest to be featured in our Day in the Life Series, Edwards works full time as a Records and Scientific and Technical Information Manager at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, and this piece represents her inaugural involvement with student life!
Night at the Library Museum
Published: October 5, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Student life at San José State University’s iSchool is vibrant and thriving. The Special Library Association Student Chapter recently hosted an online event entitled Night at the Library Museum, where three museum professionals shared insight into this exciting niche of the library world, which are highlighted below. Two of those speakers are current students of the MLIS program here at SJSU!
iSchool Director Dr. Hirsh Takes On Twitter
Published: September 4, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Dr. Hirsh always looks for new and exciting ways to engage iSchool students and information professionals to stay on the cutting edge of the industry. In addition to her bi-yearly virtual coffee chats, Dr. Hirsh recently participated in her first-ever Twitter chat, hosted by the International Federation of Library Associations Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning (IFLA CPDWL) which supports continuing professional education in library and information science!
Today’s Thriving Libraries – MiraCosta Community College
Published: August 28, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Alumni of San José State University iSchool’s many programs are everywhere. In fact, you could run into a fellow grad without even realizing it! MiraCosta Community College has been a fixture of the City of Oceanside since 1934, and the 48,000 square feet Library and Information Hub was built in 2003. I had the opportunity to tour the library with alum Steven Deineh, instruction and student engagement librarian, and he offered a great snapshot of the resources available to the lucky students at the college.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.”
Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Grants
Published: February 13, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Financial aid and the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, can seem overwhelming to students initially embarking on their journey to higher education. March 2, 2019, is the Priority Application Submission Deadline, and while it is still a few weeks away, it’s important to get geared up now.
iSchool Best Practices with Vicki Steiner
Published: February 5, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
The first few weeks of the semester are crucial to gear up for what’s ahead in your classes. Whether you’re a new student taking one core class or a continuing student with a couple semesters under your belt, these words of wisdom from Vicki Steiner are sure to help you get prepared! Steiner is not just a faculty advisor and lecturer here at the iSchool, she is also an alumni and completed her MLIS in 2010! I have shared our conversation regarding iSchool best practices with you below.
Day in the Life of New iStudent Blogger – Havilah Steinman
Published: January 12, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
My name is Havilah, and I am your new iStudent blog writer. I am honored to take over this assistantship from Priscilla Ameneyro, who heralded wonderful content on the blog for over a year! I reside in Oceanside, CA, have been in the MLIS program since Spring 2018, and I can’t believe how quickly the time has passed.
Star Blog Posts of 2017 and 2018
Published: December 3, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
I thought it would be fun to look back at all the articles I wrote as the lead writer for the iStudent Blog over the last year or so and share my favorites with you. I’ve had the opportunity to interview students, alumni and faculty and write about topics ranging from student loans to setting goals. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my articles and found them helpful too.
At Home Ergonomics for Online Students
Published: November 5, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
All of the programs offered by the iSchool are virtual, which means students are often studying at home. Whether you have a fully equipped home office or you tend to just use your laptop on the couch, taking a moment to educate yourself about ergonomics and making a few adjustments could make you more comfortable and prevent injury.