iStudent Blog

Leadership and Learning: My Trip to ALA Annual 2025

Nicole Purviance — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 21:25:00 +0000

Published: August 26, 2025 by Cat Tang

From Thursday, June 26 to Monday, June 30, 2025, I had the opportunity to attend the American Library Association (ALA) Annual conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My travel was supported by iSchool student organization leadership funding I was eligible for as the result of my involvement in the SJSU ALA Student Chapter (ALASC), as well as prize money received from the ALA New Member Round Table (NMRT) for ALASC’s 2025 ALA Student Chapter of the Year Award win.

What I Wish I Knew Before Starting My MLIS

Gabe Farmer — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 16:48:00 +0000

[image:27098]

We often hear from professionals reflecting on their time in library school: offering wisdom, encouragement and the occasional polished anecdote. That has value, of course, but I find there’s something uniquely helpful about a more unpolished perspective from someone still in the trenches with you. As a student five months from graduation who is juggling school, marriage, a full-time job, and regularly contributing to the delightful iSchool Blog you’re reading now, here’s my take.

Information Gone Wild Blog: Episode 15

Nicole Purviance — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 00:58:00 +0000

Exploring the Future of Libraries with Dr. Sandra Hirsh

Published: August 15, 2025

In the latest episode of Information Gone Wild, hosts Maurice Coleman and Paul Signorelli welcome Dr. Sandra Hirsh, Associate Dean for Academics at the San José State University College of Information, Data and Society. Dr. Hirsh is also a special advisor on AI curricular initiatives and the editor of Library 2035: Imagining the Next Generation of Libraries. Together, they discuss her career path, insights from her books, and the evolving role of libraries in our communities.

Information Gone Wild: Conversations from the Field

My Experience at ALA Annual was ‘Unforgettable’

Nicole Purviance — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 16:06:00 +0000

Published: August 8, 2025 by Lennox Bishop

[image:27200]

Travel Grant Affords Opportunities to Try New Technologies

Nicole Purviance — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 22:31:00 +0000

Published: July 25, 2025 by Charlene Hardin

[image:27125]The American Library Association’s 2025 Annual Conference was my first in-person experience attending a library conference and my introduction to ALA. I am grateful to San José State University for sending me to Philadelphia to expand my horizons from the virtual worlds I have been using to an in-person experience.

Information Gone Wild Blog: Episode 14

Nicole Purviance — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 13:24:00 +0000

Sam Helmick on Libraries, Advocacy, and Leadership

Published: July 15, 2025

Sam Helmick, the incoming president of the American Library Association (ALA), is passionate about advocating for libraries and their essential role in society. In this episode of the SJSU School of Information’s Information Gone Wild podcast, the 2025-2026 ALA president shares insights about advocacy, the importance of libraries, and how library workers can make a lasting impact.

Information Gone Wild: Conversations from the Field

Information Gone Wild Blog: Episode 13

Nicole Purviance — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 15:28:00 +0000

Legacy, Librarianship, and Being Dangerous: A Conversation with Dr. Nicole A. Cooke

Published: June 19, 2025

Information Gone Wild, the podcast by San José State University’s iSchool, recently featured Dr. Nicole Cooke, Augusta Baker Endowed Chair and professor at the University of South Carolina, to discuss her powerful new book, “The Legacy of Black Women in Librarianship.” In this episode, Dr. Cooke dives into the emotional journey of writing the book, the women who inspired it, and how librarianship can be a radical act of change.

Q: What inspired you to write The Legacy of Black Women in Librarianship?

Information Gone Wild: Conversations from the Field

Roots of Resilience: Food as Medicine, Music as Healing, Literacy as Power

ananda.kerns@sjsu.edu — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 16:21:00 +0000

iSchool Presents Free Online EDI Symposium June 18

Published: June 16, 2025 by Ananda Kerns

[image:26878]

Please join the SJSU iSchool for our symposium on Juneteenth Day, “Roots of Resilience: Food as Medicine, Music as Healing, Literacy as Power”, presented in collaboration with the Black Student Library Collective (BSLC) and taking place Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 10:00am – 12:00pm Pacific Time.

SJSU ALASC Celebrates Seventh Chapter of the Year Award

Gabe Farmer — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 16:19:00 +0000

Published: June 12, 2025 by Gabe Farmer

[image:26822]

Information Gone Wild Blog: Episode 12

Nicole Purviance — Thu, 15 May 2025 21:49:00 +0000

A Conversation with Michael Lambert, City Librarian of San Francisco

Published: May 15, 2025

In Episode 12 of Information Gone Wild, hosts Maurice Coleman and Paul Signorelli welcomed Michael Lambert, the City Librarian for the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) and current President of the Public Library Association. Michael’s story is both inspiring and deeply rooted in public service, innovation, and community. Here’s a look at the key takeaways from their conversation—shared in a Q&A format that feels like you’re right there with them.

Q: What inspired you to pursue a library career?

Information Gone Wild: Conversations from the Field

Building Connection and Confidence Through Student Groups

Gabe Farmer — Wed, 14 May 2025 18:25:00 +0000

A Conversation with ALASC Chair Cat Tang

Published: May 14, 2025 by Gabe Farmer

[image:26397]

Cat Tang didn’t always know she wanted to be a librarian. In fact, she was firmly against going back to school. “When I finished undergrad, I was like, oh, no grad school. I’m not going to grad school,” she said. But after a year working in libraries, her perspective shifted. Encouraged by coworkers and inspired by the work, she began researching Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) programs. Eventually, she enrolled at San José State University School of Information, knowing she wanted to get involved from the start.

National Deaf History Month: Deaf Representation in Literature

matsuko.friedland@sjsu.edu — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 17:54:00 +0000

iSchool Presents Free Online EDI Symposium May 5

Published: May 5, 2025 by Matsuko Friedland

Please join the SJSU iSchool in celebrating National Deaf History Month 2025 as we honor the achievements of our d/Deaf and hard of hearing community members.

Rooted in Culture, Growing Through Service

Gabe Farmer — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:24:00 +0000

Alyssa Galvan's Journey into Librarianship

Published: April 23, 2025 by Gabe Farmer

[image:26233]

Alyssa Galvan’s pride in her Mexican American identity is a thread that runs through her career and her aspirations. Raised in a family where Spanish was spoken with elders and cultural traditions were closely held, she always carried that sense of connection and responsibility. “My whole family’s Mexican, and my husband’s Mexican,” she said. “I love my culture.”

Information Gone Wild Blog: Episode 11

Nicole Purviance — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 01:33:00 +0000

Rolling Libraries, Real Connections: A Conversation with ECHO Mobile Library in Greece

Published: April 15, 2025

What happens when you combine a van full of books, a passion for literacy, and a mission to connect people across cultures and borders? You get ECHO Mobile Library, a grassroots mobile library serving refugee communities around Athens, Greece.

Information Gone Wild: Conversations from the Field

From Retail to the Library

Gabe Farmer — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 23:08:00 +0000

Published: April 10, 2025 by Gabe Farmer

[image:26067]

While some iSchool students begin their journey shortly after completing their undergraduate degrees, many of us (myself included) have returned to the classroom after a decade or more, eager to forge a new path. Because online learning can be so isolating, a goal of mine is for this blog is to share stories of iSchool students from all backgrounds and walks of life, highlighting that no matter your circumstances, you’re not alone.

Mirna Gutierrez’s journey from a 15-year career at Target to becoming the sole library tech at a junior high school perfectly represents the new paths many of us are forging. In our conversation, she shared how a simple job tip evolved into a lifelong calling and how she’s balancing full-time work while pursuing her master’s degree in library science.

Making the Most of Spring Recess

Gabe Farmer — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 16:31:00 +0000

Published: March 31, 2025 by Gabe Farmer

[image:25803]

We’re officially more than halfway through the semester, and if you’re anything like me, you might be surprised by how fast (and somehow also slow?) that milestone arrived. Whether you’re feeling ahead of the game, barely hanging on or somewhere in between, spring recess offers us something precious: time.

Exploring Informatics: Ronna Del Rosario’s Path at the Intersection of Healthcare and Technology

Gabe Farmer — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 16:25:00 +0000

Published: March 25, 2025 by Gabe Farmer

Embarking on a new academic and professional path is both challenging and rewarding. For iSchool student Ronna Del Rosario, this journey led her from a career in nursing to the field of informatics, where she integrates her healthcare experience with her interest in user design and coding.

Information Gone Wild Blog: Episode 10

Nicole Purviance — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:30:00 +0000

Interview with Nick Higgins: Chief Librarian of the Brooklyn Public Library

Published: March 17, 2025

Nick Higgins, Chief Librarian of Brooklyn Public Library (BPL), was named to the 2023 TIME100 Next list for his leadership in fighting censorship and book banning. He is the driving force behind BPL’s Books Unbanned initiative, which provides teens nationwide access to the library’s digital collection, and has inspired other libraries to join the movement for intellectual freedom.

The following is an excerpt from our recent Information Gone Wild podcast with Nick.

Information Gone Wild: Conversations from the Field

Women Empowerment: Leading & Thriving in LIS and Libraries

matsuko.friedland@sjsu.edu — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 19:10:00 +0000

iSchool Presents Free Online EDI Symposium March 27, 2025

Published: March 7, 2025 by Matsuko Friedland

[image:25586]

Please join the SJSU iSchool in celebrating Women’s History Month as we honor the achievements of women in LIS.

First Gen Symposium

matsuko.friedland@sjsu.edu — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 18:52:00 +0000

iSchool Presents Online Symposium March 14

Published: March 7, 2025 by Matsuko Friedland

[image:25579]

Please join the SJSU iSchool in celebrating our First Generation community, hosted in collaboration with the SJSU iSchool’s First Generation Student Group (FGS).