Written by: Genevieve Hammang
Edited by: Lan An and Idyll Lee
What motivated you to pursue an MLIS degree?
I wanted a career where I could contribute to the public good. I’ve worked a few jobs that felt like trying to sell trash. I didn’t want to make what I was making, and the people we were selling to didn’t want to have it. The rise of authoritarianism in the United States, the descent into fascism, and the growing conservative backlash made that work feel even less worthwhile.
In contrast, I’ve heard so many incredible stories about the radical services that libraries and information centers have continued to provide —services that I’ve benefited from all my life. Add to that my own love for organization, research, and reading, and the field held a lot of appeal. I was especially interested in working with material that has faced increasing censorship: titles by LGBTQ+ creators and people of color, especially YA literature and graphic novels.
How has your understanding of the LIS field evolved since starting the program?
Rather than changing my understanding of the field, I think the SJSU MLIS program has expanded it. I’m not sure I quite realized everything that can fit under the scope of library and information science! Learning about special libraries through SLASC helped a lot with that: libraries can include everything from books to gardening tools to puppets.
What skills do you feel most confident in now that you’re graduating?
The ones I got the most practice using in the workplace: cataloging and preservation work!
Did you participate in a practicum, internship, or fieldwork? What did you learn from that experience?
Internship – I got to work at the San Diego State University (SDSU) Library in both cataloging and special collections. I learned a ton about the Library of Congress (LOC) from the former and a ton about archiving from the latter, but primarily, I learned that the job is what you make of it! I enjoyed a lot of flexibility in what projects to pursue in both areas.
How did your hands-on experiences influence your career goals or interests?
I would actually say the reverse is true in this case: I reached out to the comics librarian at SDSU about internship possibilities because of my existing interest in comics librarianship. While webcomics and other digital works are my focus, I wanted to gain experience working with print comics and other art objects in particular.
What advice would you give to future students preparing for the LIS job hunt?
Be prepared to be persistent. Don’t be afraid to tap existing friends or professional contacts for opportunities. (I found a project partner for one project through a Discord server I was already on.) And don’t be afraid to reach out directly to inquire about jobs, even to strangers — that’s how I got my current part-time position.
What role do you see libraries playing in advancing social justice?
A hugely important one! Book censorship by conservative groups transparently targets people of marginalized communities: immigrants, queer folks, people of color, and women from every possible background. Libraries do crucial work in standing up to challenges and outright bans of books.
What are your professional goals for the next five years?
I’m currently working part-time, so my next goal is to find a full-time position! I enjoy archival work, but my hope is for a role that interacts more regularly with patrons—especially children or teenagers — in a public library. A secondary goal is to work on improving the infrastructure for long-term digital preservation. Digital decay is a rampant problem across all industries, and most options rely on individuals keeping up to date with technology rather than on broader institutional support.
If you could go back to the beginning of the program, what would you do differently?
Start sooner! It took me a long time to make up my mind about whether I wanted to go to grad school, and then what field I wanted to pursue. When I finally arrived at library science, it seemed such an obvious choice that I couldn’t believe I had not thought of it sooner. So if you’re thinking about an MLIS degree program, go for it!
Who or what inspired you the most during your MLIS journey?
While I was definitely motivated by my professional goals for once I finished the program, I was most inspired by the stories in the news and on social media about library staff who consistently put their jobs on the line to ensure that people had access to library services. I think a lot about the Biblioburro.
What was your favorite memory from the program?
Probably the Grant Writing class! It offered really incredible hands-on experience, but I got to work with one partner on a grant application for the entire semester, and collaborating with her for such a prolonged period was an absolute highlight.
Any final thoughts, shout-outs, or words of wisdom for incoming MLIS students?
Shoot your shot! If there’s an interesting opportunity or a class that you worry you’re not qualified for or dread being rejected from, just do it. Weathering rejection sucks, but a little courage and persistence can lead to amazing opportunities.
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