Wu, Yuhfen Diana
Date Updated
3-27-2024
Department
University Library
Academic Rank
Full Librarian
Year Retired from SJSU
2019
Facebook or Website URL
Educational Background
San Jose State University, Library and Information Science, 1994 M.S.
Ohio State University, E. Asian Literature and Language, 1978 M.A.
National Taiwan University, Chinese Literature, 1975 B.A.
Administrative and Professional Experience
San Jose State University, University Library, 2000-2019
Service
American Librarians Association (CALA), an affiliate of American Library Association, 2005-2006,
President of CALA California Chapter, 2003-2004
Co-chair of BRASS Planning Committee for ALA Program
Chair of LITA Diversity Scholarship Committee Numerous committee works for ALA, ACRL, California Library Association, California Academic and Research Library Association, 2000-2016
Cupertino Library Commissioner, 1997-2004
Chair (or member) of Senate International Program and Student Advisory Committee, 2006-2009
Teacher Scholar, 2006-2007
RAPOC Grant Review Committee, Mineta Transportation Institute, 2002-2008
Chair of Library Research Forum Planning Committee, 2007-2008
Member of WASC Accreditation Committee, 2002-2005 & 2012-2015
Member of Program Planning Committee, 2012-2015
Member of RTP Committee for College of Counseling and Psychological Services Chair (or member) of Library RTP Second Level Committee, numerous times (college level) Chair (or member) of Library RTP First Level Committee, numerous times (department level)
Member of Cultural Heritage Center Advisory Board,
University Library Member of University Library Board, 2002-2003
Chair (or member of) the New Joint Library Planning Committee, 1998-2003
Member of the New Joint Library Advisory Board, 1998-2003
Selected Publications
Ann Fiegen, Michael A. Germano, Julie Shen, Jordan Nielsen, et al.. "In N Out — Reaching OUT to the community from withIN our student body" California Academic & Research Libraries Association Conference (2016) http://works.bepress.com/sjsu_diana_wu/28/
Yuhfen Diana H Wu. "Information Literacy in the Workplace: A Cross-cultural Perspective" Journal of Library and Information Science Vol. 38 Iss. 1 (2012)
http://works.bepress.com/sjsu_diana_wu/24/
Yuhfen Diana H Wu and Connie K. Haley. "The Relationship Development and Learning Organization Dimensions." Journal of Library and Information Science Vol. 37 Iss. 2 (2011)
http://works.bepress.com/sjsu_diana_wu/25/
Luther King Jr. Joint Library, Recruitment, Development, and Retention of Information Professionals: Trends in Human Resources and Knowledge Management, 2010
Yuhfen Diana H Wu, Peggy Cabrera and Jeff Paul. "Librarians for Tomorrow at the San Jose Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Joint Library" Hershey, PARecruitment, Development, and Retention of Information Professionals: Trends in Human Resources and Knowledge Management (2010)
http://works.bepress.com/sjsu_diana_wu/26/
Fertile Ground for Lifelong Learning, the Silicon Valley Way, University Library Journal, 2007 http://works.bepress.com/sjsu_diana_wu/1/
Teaching faculty's perspectives on business information literacy, Reference Services Review, 2006 http://works.bepress.com/sjsu_diana_wu/2/
Information Literacy and Lifelong Learning, Journal of Library and Information Science, 2006 http://works.bepress.com/sjsu_diana_wu/3/
Building Context-Based Library Instruction, Journal of Education for Business, 2004 http://works.bepress.com/sjsu_diana_wu/4/
Content Management and the Future of Academic Libraries, The Electronic Library, 2001 http://works.bepress.com/sjsu_diana_wu/7/
Files
Personal Commentary
I started working at San Jose State University in 1987 in the Reference Services Department at Clark Library as a paraprofessional. While working full-time, I attended the master’s program in the School of Library and Information Science at SJSU. Upon completion, I was granted a MS degree in 1994 and worked as an adjunct librarian during that same year. In 2000, I was hired as a full-time tenure-track librarian and earned my tenure in 2006, was promoted to full librarian in 2010.
During those years, I witnessed the big wave of digital movement that forever changed our lives dramatically. I started out using the card catalog to help patrons locate materials in the huge library collections. The majority of them are in paper format and microform. Gradually, databases on CD-ROM were added with dedicated computer stations. Expensive online databases, such as Dialog, ABI, Lexus/Nexus were acquired. All library services were face-to-face in person or rarely with telephone or email support. In late 1990, the World Wide Web was gaining popularity. Libraries across the world quickly adapted to the Web-based connection by offering real-time online reference chat service (virtual reference). SJSU was one of early adapters. As more students were able to afford purchasing their own computers, this service was expanded with other CSU libraries.
The technologies continue to evolve and become more affordable; real-time online chat becomes a norm of library reference services in mid-2000. To maximize services further among CSU libraries, a collaborative union joint-catalog was launched in 2015; OneSearch at SJSU Library allows users to place an online request to obtain any print item that is not readily available at the King without needing to go through InterLibrary Loan. This self-service has proven to be efficient since most requests can be fulfilled within 5 business working days. Since Clark Library has become the hub of campus, usage surged and so did the collections. Available space to add more collections or for student seating became less and less.
In 1998, the then President Caret and San Jose Mayor Hammer announced a joint venture to build a joint-use library. Building a joint-use library with different jurisdictions is nothing new in library history, but a major metropolitan academic library and an urban public library of this scale was definitely new. After extensive planning with more than 100 committees and thousands of hours of collaboration among employees from both libraries at all levels, the groundbreaking took place in fall 2000. Then began a massive construction by first demolishing the old Wahlquist Library, which lasted for three years. This brand new joint King Library was opened to the public in summer 2003. It is a beautiful library with 8 floors above the ground and an underground floor that is twice the space of a ground floor. There is also a mezzanine between the first and second floors above the Children’s Collection. The total square footage is 475,000 that is equal to about 11 American football fields. It is thus far the largest single library building west of the Mississippi River. I feel very fortunate to have participated fully in the whole process of planning this joint library. I served on various committees, including the Advisory Board that consisted of faculty from other colleges and members of SJ Public Library top administrators.
To better contribute my expertise, I've served as a Library Commissioner for the City of Cupertino, where I live, starting in 1997. During my 8-year tenure, I was lucky to help plan a new library for the city. This 54,000 square feet building was opened in October 2004. Cupertino Library is a branch of the Santa Clara County Library system. The circulation per capita has ranked first consistently for many years.
Over my 32 years of service at San Jose State, I had the honor of serving on many campus-wide as well as CSU-wide committees. These included 2 times on WASC accreditation, chairing the Senate International Student Advisory Board, and CSU Library Assessment Team, just to name a few. The highlight of my career was to serve students, staff and faculty from all backgrounds with the focus on business school until 2017, then on teacher and special education departments until my retirement in 2019. I also pride myself in helping SJSU Library become first in business scholarly works as recognized by the Special Library Association in 2016. This is the first time that SJSU has been recognized for this national honor, which has been held by other prestigious institutions such as Penn State University system. Overall, I enjoyed my rich and extensive career at SJSU. It enriched my life through working with and getting to know many talented colleagues and very hard-working staff and students.