Welcome to our second ALASC profile. This is a series of introductions of ALASC board members, SLIS students, and other information professionals who you may want to hear from. If you’re interested in being profiled, please message us! This was originally published in October on our Facebook page.
For our first profile, please welcome Shelli Owens. Shelli is the Alumni Social Media manager at SLISConnect, the combined student and alumni networking group for SJSU SLIS. They are hosting an event soon, check it out below.Â
Introduce yourself!
I’m Shelli Owens, also known in many places as ShelliO. There are some people out there who have never even known my last name. I kinda dig having an alter ego. Or maybe it’s my superhero name. I currently work for FedEx and I’ve been here a LONG time. If I’m good and true and clever, maybe soon, I’ll be some place else. Some place very library.
Why are you at SLIS?
What’s the best part of being a member of ALASC?
What advice do you have for new students? / What’s the best advice you’ve gotten recently?
New students, get involved. Go to local events, conferences when you can swing it. Meet people, meet people, meet people. It’s amazingly simple to meet the people you who are writing the articles and books you’re reading in class. Find a way to meet them because 9 times out of 10, they want nothing more than to help you succeed. On the 10th time, they probably just want a cold drink. It’s rough being a superstar. Also, do internships. And you can never start too soon. Well, first semester might be a bit much but as soon as you can get an organization to take you on, start putting in your time. There is so much hands-on knowledge to learn that the sooner you start, the more likely you will be able to hit the ground running the day after graduation.
The best advice I’ve been given recently is to look at the desired skills for the jobs I want and figure out how I can get those skills. As much as we learn during the program, much of it theoretical. We get a solid base for our philosophy and understanding of the demands of librarianship but we also need to be able to translate this knowledge into the daily work of a librarian. It’s one thing to take a Web Apps and Skills class but another thing entirely to manage an organization’s website. Do both of these things.
What are some great SLIS classes that you recommend and why?
Michael Stephens has some great classes also. I took Hyperlinked Libraries which helped me to envision the future of libraries, librarianship, and how I can be an asset to the profession. The ability to look forward and think in terms of “what’s next” are valuable skills in this field. Michael is a rockstar in our profession and passionate doesn’t do justice to how he approaches his work. It’s more like a calling or a mission for him and I think everyone should stand in the shining light of his brilliance for as long as they can. You will learn, learn, learn.
Our next event is a meet up at CLA. Read all about it and we’d love to see you there! https://slisgroups.sjsu.edu/slisconnect/?p=422