iSchool Student Selected as BSLISE International Scholar

News

Sabrina Gunn

Graduate student Sabrina Gunn has been selected as the first Building Strong Library and Information Science Education International Scholar, a newly created position through a partnership with the San José State University School of Information.

Gunn, who is pursuing her Master’s degree in Library and Information Science at the SJSU School of Information, is “thrilled” to be a BSLISE International Scholar. “As the BSLISE International Scholar, I am contributing to projects focused on strengthening the quality of LIS education and improving mobility for LIS professionals around the world.”

The new position commenced in early 2022, and Gunn attended her first monthly meeting with the BSLISE working group on February 8. “At these meetings, we hear updates from each of the BSLISE project groups and discuss upcoming opportunities and events, such as the IFLA Conference this summer in Dublin,” says Gunn.

The BSLISE is a part of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions and is focused on improving the quality of library and information science education and profession. BSLISE is focused on international efforts to fulfill their mission by working on a “quality assessment framework that promotes quality in LIS education programmes, and is inclusive of regional and national contexts,” according to BSLISE’s website.

Gunn’s current assignment as a BSLISE International Scholar is a data visualization map project. This project will serve as a global database for LIS schools and programs. She is also currently working on collecting and cleaning metadata from LIS schools with the help of international colleagues. The data will then be imported into Visão, which Gunn explains is a “GIS software hosted by the Brazilian Institute of Information Science and Technology.”

Gunn plans to work as a metadata or data curation librarian, preferably in the media or digital entertainment industry. Gunn notes that she’s keeping an open mind as she has “enjoyed exploring just how many career opportunities there are for MLIS graduates.” Her dream career is one that allows her to work abroad. She credits living in Scotland and being able to travel to several countries as to why she wishes to work internationally. She says the BSLISE International Scholar position is “a perfect opportunity for both my personal interests and professional goals.”