SLA Student Chapter Events Archive

Welcome to the colloquium and event archive for the Special Libraries Association Student Chapter (SLASC) for San José State University's iSchool. We hope you find the recordings and information useful!

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Keys to Special Libraries

Jen Evert, Jamie Hullinger, Flordalisa Lopez, Julie Smith Maekask, and Jill Strand

Presented on 2-27-2025

On February 27th, 2025, SLASC hosted a panel featuring SLA professionals who shared key insights to help students succeed in their careers. Each speaker highlighted important aspects of working in special libraries, offering real-world advice and perspectives from their own experiences. While the discussion touched on SLA’s role in the profession, the session went beyond just one organization, focusing on the broader skills, knowledge, and strategies that can support a successful career in special librarianship.
Dani Cook, a UC San Diego (UCSD) Learning and User Experience Librarian, discussed what it looks like to take a person-centered approach in academic libraries.

Dani Cook

Presented on 9-28-2023

Dani Cook, a UC San Diego (UCSD) Learning and User Experience Librarian, discussed what it looks like to take a person-centered approach in academic libraries.
Working In Information Ethics With Dr. Norman Mooradian

Norman Mooradian

Presented on 9-20-2023

What does it mean to have information ethics? Dr. Norman Mooradian, SLASC Faculty Advisor and iSchool Professor, spoke about the meaning of information ethics and how his career has joined his study of philosophy, his experience in industry, and his teaching at the iSchool.
Working at the SJSU Library: Meet Librarian Christa Bailey

Christa L. Bailey

Presented on 9-13-2023

What is it like to work as a librarian at SJSU? Christa Bailey is a Business, Economics & Psychology Librarian. She serves as co-coordinator for the Affordable Learning Solutions initiative at San José State University in addition to her regular responsibilities. The goal of the Affordable Learning Solutions program is to make college more affordable for students by lowering the cost of textbooks. To date, it is estimated that the program has saved students over $4 million dollars in textbook costs. Christa was awarded tenure and promotion this Fall. She has over 20 years of experience working in various positions in academic libraries. Christa has a BS in Psychology from Santa Clara University and an MLIS from San José State.
Kim Hayden

Kim Hayden

Presented on 5-1-2023

Join us for a conversation with Kim Hayden, Senior Archivist at the Sacramento History Center. Join us as Kim shares her extensive knowledge and expertise on the rich history of Sacramento and its surrounding areas. This is a unique opportunity to hear from one of the leading experts in Sacramento history and gain insights into the cultural and historical significance of the region. Don't miss this chance to expand your knowledge and network with like-minded individuals
Mary Beth Corrigan, Curator of Collections on Slavery, Memory, and Reconciliation

Mary Beth Corrigan PhD

Presented on 4-6-2023

We cordially invite you to join us for an insightful event featuring Dr. Mary Beth Corrigan, PhD, Curator of Collections on Slavery, Memory, and Reconciliation for Georgetown University. This event will provide a unique opportunity to learn about the academic and professional journey of Dr. Corrigan, as she shares her experience and insights on the important work she is doing at Georgetown University.
Solo Librarianship in Special Libraries with Amanda Thompson

Amanda Thompson

Presented on 3-6-2023

Join us for a conversation with Amanda Thompson, the Senior Manager of the Health Sciences Library at Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical. This event is facilitated by Michelle Gee, Assistant Programming Director of the SJSU SLASC, who interviews Amanda about the educational and professional experiences that led to her career as a librarian in the corporate pharmaceutical industry. Being the sole librarian in a large organization, Amanda will speak about the importance of internships, being open to opportunities outside of your comfort zone, and how librarians of all disciplines can influence change.
Dr. Michele A. L. Villagran

Dr. Michele Villagran

Presented on 10-17-2022

Dr. Michele A. L. Villagran is an Assistant Professor with the San José State University School of Information focusing on cultural diversity. Her research focuses on diversity and social justice issues in library and information science and cultural intelligence phenomena within libraries. Dr. Michele A. L. Villagran is based in the Los Angeles area and also serves as the CEO of CulturalCo, LLC consulting in areas of diversity & inclusion, cultural competency and cultural intelligence, emotional intelligence, and conflict management.

She is a certified advanced cultural intelligence facilitator and unconscious bias facilitator through the Cultural Intelligence Center and a Conflicts Dynamic Profile consultant. Dr. Villagran has more than 25 years of information profession experience including work in both the public and private sectors. Dr. Villagran earned her Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University with her doctoral work focusing on cultural intelligence. She also received a Master of Dispute Resolution and Certificate in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine. At the University of North Texas, Dr. Villagran received her M.L.S. degree in Legal Informatics and M.B.A. in Strategic Management. Dr. Villagran holds offices and serves on committees in many professional associations in the library and information science, legal, dispute resolution and education fields.
SLASC Presentation with Clara Cabrera, SLA Diversity Inclusion Community Equity (DICE) Co-Convener

Clara Cabrera

Presented on 9-7-2022

Join us for a conversation with Clara Cabrera about how she balances her career as a law librarian with her service to professional organizations such as SLA, in particular all her work in developing programming on issues surrounding diversity, inclusion, equity and access.
Overview of SLA Student Benefits with Jordan Burghardt

Jordan Burghardt

Presented on 9-6-2022

Join Jordan Burghardt, Director of Engagement for the Special Libraries Association, to learn more about student membership benefits and how to best take advantage of them. Topics will cover educational resources, professional networking, and career opportunities.
California Sustainable Libraries

Julianna Robbins and Stan Wang

Presented on 5-11-2022

Stan Wang from OC Public Libraries and Julianna Robbins from the California State Library are excited to join the SJSU SLASC for a conversation about Sustainability, Climate Justice, and the Environment in California libraries. Current findings from the new CA Sustainable Libraries initiative will be shared, examples of environmental programs and partners discussed, and what’s next will be explored.
Archivists in Special Libraries Panel

Laura Fisher and Samuel Russell

Presented on 4-19-2022

Join us for a panel discussion with Laura Fisher, Chief Archivist at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, CA and Samuel Russell, Library and Archives Collection Manager at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, FL. They will be sharing the educational and professional backgrounds that lead them to their current roles as archivists in special libraries, in addition to sharing what it is like to work as an archivist in special libraries.
Where the Magic Happens... (Hint: It's Outside Your Comfort Zone)

Deb Hunt

Presented on 4-4-2022

The wonderful thing about becoming an information professional, is that you can go just about anywhere in your career. Your interests, skills AND courage will take you. It takes guts, risk and passion, but the rewards are amazing. In this webinar, Deb will share going to places she never imagined in her career and how you can too.
UC Davis Archives & Special Collections

Christine Cheng

Presented on 3-14-2022

Christine has been the Instruction and Outreach Librarian in UC Davis Library’s Archives and Special Collections (ASC) since 2016 where she leads the development of and is responsible for ASC’s instruction and outreach programs. She designs library services and education programs that enhance access to and understanding of rare books, manuscripts, and archival materials. Her interests are promoting and developing skills in primary source literacy.
Have Questions About Working for the California State Library? Ask Me!

Sabah Eltareb

Presented on 3-7-2022

A presentation from Sabah Eltareb, Principal Librarian and Assistant Director at the California State Library’s California Research Bureau. As you are working your way through Library School, it’s never too early (or late) to be thinking about what you are going to do after you graduate, and about options to leverage your education and experience into a challenging and meaningful career.
Special Libraries & Academia: Career Reflections from Both

Susan Boyd

Presented on 2-23-2022

Newly retired from the University Library at Santa Clara University, Susan shares a summary of her 43-year library experience covering two types of libraries-special libraries (23 years) and academic libraries (20 years). In this presentation, Susan covers such topics as: the background of her career choices, the major roles and responsibilities of each position, what she loved and found rewarding about her work, and advice for students getting on their library degree. She also covers the differences between working in a special library versus an academic library.
Life as a Military Librarian

Jada Jones

Presented on 1-30-2022

Jada Jones is a military librarian and branch manager. She graduated with her MLIS from UNC Greensboro in 2015, which seemed a natural progression following her Bachelor's Degree in History. She has had a very unique career, which began with a year as a graduate assistant with the Smithsonian Institutional Archives. After graduation, Jada began working for the US Food and Drug Administration for a grant-funded outreach program that gave local area youth the opportunity to develop mobile health apps for the agency. She then spent time working in the Public Affairs Office. There she provided library services to a department that didn't know that they needed them. While with the FDA, Jada earned a graduate certificate in project management and became PMP (Project Management Professional) certified. Jada then began her military librarian career with the US Air Force in Okinawa, Japan. She spent 2 years there and then accepted a management position at an Air Force Base Library in Germany, where she currently works.
More Research is Required: Chronicles of a Health Sciences Librarian

Basia Delawska-Elliott

Presented on 11-9-2021

Basia Delawska-Elliott is a Health Sciences Education and Research Librarian at the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR. She serves as an engagement librarian for educational, research, and clinical units at the University. Before starting at OHSU, Basia worked as a medical librarian at Providence Health & Services, one of the largest health systems in the country. Basia serves on the American Academy of Pediatrics Library Board. She is active in the Medical Library Association and the Pacific Northwest Chapter/MLA, and a senior member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals. Basia was one of the 4 founders of the revived SJSU SLASC.
E-Portfolios & Career Transitioning

Tess McCarthy

Presented on 10-5-2021

Always taking a holistic approach to information science, Tess (she/her/they/them) sees herself as a career transitionist, one who can shape-shift roles into a meaningful career that’s flexible & seemingly impervious to life’s challenges. Please join us to discuss how to guide a career transition, get your foot in the door of LIS careers, and complete the e-Portfolio!
Finding Joy Again

Michael Stephens

Presented on 9-12-2021

The talk, “Finding Joy Again” will be a presentation on how librarians keep returning to the idea of “taking care” as we move into a post-pandemic world. After taking care of ourselves, our families and friends, and others in the world, we return to tending to the needs of our users: offering a safe space for every person who comes through our doors to learn and grow, designing welcoming spaces for folks to come together to collaborate and exchange ideas, creating thriving digital communities, and providing participatory services to promote learning and well-being. What we want for everyone we serve is Joy. We want our users to experience joy. That’s what the library should be about: the joy of learning; the joy of exploring, the joy of experience, and the joy of simply being immersed in an amazing story. This session will engage with participants around these concepts and get us all thinking about what it means to offer joyful library services.