DLIS Students Attend SLA Student Swing

January 24, 2015—SLA-NY hosted a panel of recent graduates of metropolitan library schools to impart knowledge, tips and wisdom to current area library school students. The student swing panel consisted of graduates of local programs at Pratt, Palmer, Rutgers, Queens College and St. John’s. Participants and attendees were invited to tour the new St. John’s Davis Library at the Manhattan Campus and offered refreshments after braving the elements to attend the Student Swing. Key topics discussed by the panel included navigating through library school, finding an internship and landing that first job.

Welcoming Students to a New Semester

A week before classes were scheduled to begin, DLIS held its semiannual orientation meeting for new and returning students at the D’Angelo Center on the Queens Campus.

The meeting provided new students a chance to engage with each other and hear about continuing student experiences, while returning students caught up after a summer of internship and work opportunities.

New students arrived first to receive introductory information to benefit their inclusion into the program. A few select Graduate Assistants took the opportunity to give advice to the newcomers based on their personal experiences here at St. John’s. Above all, our Graduate Assistants stressed the importance of self-motivation and organization as a key component to success in the program. They encouraged new students to take advantage of every opportunity to introduce themselves to classmates, making the online learning environment much more personal and engaging. DLIS alumni April Earle left our new students with one important message, “Commit to what it is you say you’re going to do…you’re here for yourself”.

Welcome New Students!

DLIS welcomed a new group of students to the field of Library Science at this fall’s orientation meeting. Arriving prior to continuing students, the newcomers picked up laptops and received identification cards in preparation of joining the graduate student body here at St. John’s.   After introductory course discussions and a light dinner, I took the opportunity to meet some of these new students.

Magee & Chris pose for a photo

Magee

Magee comes to us from Connecticut to explore archives and school media. While working through the program, she intends to make sure she can find a job.

Chris

Chris hails from New Jersey and is looking to concentrate in archives. Although nervous about taking online classes, he is ready to accept the challenges of self-guided study.

Event Recap: “Libraries Change Lives”

Approximately 80 St. John’s students, faculty, staff, alumni, librarians and patrons of the Suffolk County Library System, friends and family gathered at the Oakdale campus’ Bourne Mansion Saturday, March 15 to hear from guest speakers ALA President, Barbara Stripling and Christian Zabriskie of Urban Libraries Unite.

Administrative Assistant Linda Russell and Graduate Assistant Ally Mercado welcomed guests as they arrived, offering program folders and gift bags, and pointing out the free hot breakfast, tea and coffee available for an hour before the program officially began.

Dr. Shari Lee to Present at the Long Island Library Resources Council 2014 Conference

DLIS Associate Professor Dr. Lee will conduct a presentation on her latest research, Creating Authentic Teen Spaces in Public Libraries, at the Melville Marriott Vanderbilt Room during Session II of the Conference.

Dr. Lee was recently awarded ALISE/Norman Horrocks Award for exemplar professional leadership within the organization.  She has been an ALISE member since 2008, when she joined as a doctoral student whose dissertation Teen Space:  Designed for Whom won the 2011 Eugene Garfield/ALISE Doctoral Dissertation Award.  Currently, Dr. Lee serves as St. John’s DLIS Youth Services and Librarianship specialist.

Dr. Lee’s presentation will explore the relationship between people and the spaces they inhabit, with a understanding of the effects of architecture and design on behaviors – specifically with regards to teen spaces in public libraries.  Dr. Lee will approach the topic of “an authentic public library space for teens is one that accommodates teens and their cultural practices in [a] meaningful way.”

To find out more information about the event, please visit the SJU DLIS Newsletter’s Upcoming Events page.

Spring Symposium Workshop – What makes a perfect online course?

At the Spring Symposium, DLIS faculty and students teamed up in a collaborative workshop to discuss “What makes a perfect online course?” Since BlackBoard (BB) is the course management system for online courses, discussion centered on this technology.

The students were asked to join one of four groups: Technology, Course Design, Online Discussions, and Engagements. Students then collaborated within their groups to compile lists of the good and not-so-good things about online courses.

Fall 2012 Semi-Annual Meeting

It was another successful semi-annual meeting for DLIS students and faculty at the beginning of the Fall 2012 semester at St. John’s Manhattan Campus. Many new LIS students were able to come and meet continuing students and faculty for the first time. After a short overview of LIS 204 and 205 for the new students, everyone had an opportunity to catch up with one another over refreshments. Dr. Olson then had a chance to speak to all of the DLIS students, discussing many components of the program, such as internships, professional groups and student organizations, and comprehensive exams/e-portfolios, and their importance.

One very beneficial aspect of our semi-annual meeting is the chance to meet with the professors who will be teaching your online courses and the students who will be in those courses alongside you. The last hour of the night was dedicated to online courses, with discussions of what is to be expected by both the students and instructors and general outlines for each course.

Preparing for Summer Break: More than Stocking up on Beach Reads

As the days get longer, DLIS faculty and students begin to prepare for summer break. Summer break is a great opportunity to pick up a course and an internship. During the summer months, the DLIS of=ice is open and available to students, but faculty and staff work lighter hours. Please contact us if you need assistance, and stay up to date with your SJU email. Below we answer some of FAQ about summer semesters:

What courses are offered?

You can view the course listing on the DLIS Current Students page. Summer courses are offered in two sessions, with a week long intensive Post Session. Summer session dates:

Summer Session I: May 28 – July 9. Summer Session II: July 11 – August 22 Post Session: August 19 – August 23

Can I study abroad?

Yes. Courses are being offered this summer in Rome. Registration has already closed, but contact the department immediately if you are still interested. Also, consider internship opportunities abroad. Internships can count toward credits. Work with your advisor to apply for credit. Plan ahead for an opportunity to study abroad with Dr. Lee in Jamaica next Spring.

Are there scholarships and graduate assistantships available? Yes, they are limited. Graduate assistantships have already been assigned, but if interested in summer graduate assistantship let your supervisor know or contact DLIS today. Summer assistantships at St. John’s are for summer tuition only. No stipend is provided.

The O’Connell Scholarship still applies to summer courses.

How do I find an internship?

There are many ways to find internships, now is the time to start for summer. 1) DLIS regularly forwards internships postings, so check your email! 2) Talk with your advisor or a faculty member.  3) INeedaLibraryJob.com is one of the most comprehensive websites for positions in the Library and Information Science field. 4) SJU Career Link: The SJU Career link is full of internships with employers seeking St. John’s students. Do not miss this excellent resource, which includes many LIS positions.

I am not able to take summer courses, how else can I stay engaged with LIS?
1) Connect with professional associations.  2)Study for comprehensive exams and prepare your ePortfolio. 3) Read LIS blogs & professional publications. 4) Volunteer 5) Join a student group.

I don’t live near New York, but want to stay engaged with DLIS, what can I do?
Register for LIS 270 tutorial; follow us on Facebook; join a student group.

Do I need to check my St. John’s email during summer break?
YES! It is how DLIS contacts you with important information about courses, registration, your bursar bill, jobs, internships, etc. If you don’t like logging into your SJU email, be sure to forward to an email account you check daily. If going on vacation, it is good professional practice to set up an alert that you are not checking your email. Be sure to provide a return date for when you will check your email. Information Science field.

 

Recap the Night: DLIS Semiannual Meeting

A brief dinner followed the welcoming of this semester’s new LIS students to the program on Wednesday, January 15.  In the Saval Auditorium of the St. John’s Manhattan campus, returning students and faculty joined our newcomers to welcome the 2014 spring semester.

DLIS Semiannual Meeting

New students lined up patiently waiting for the creation of their student ID cards after a quick visit to Debbie Martinez for their nametags and meeting materials for the DLIS Semiannual Meeting.