The Home Services Librarian: An Interview Christy Shannon Smirl
Interested in alternative MLIS careers? HLS interviews home services librarian, Christy Shannon Smirl.
Weekly Spotlight!
Each week, we reflect on the top articles, blog posts, tweets, news, thoughts, and other tidbits we’ve found interesting or useful. Check out what our writers have spotted this week […]
A Reflection on the Design for Diversity Forum
A Reflection on the Design for Diversity Forum When a friend of mine invited me to the Design for Diversity (D4D) Forum at Northeastern University earlier this week, it was […]
A week in the life
There have been several posts over the years about typical library school student schedules, but there hasn’t been one in a while, so I figured it’s time for a new […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Each week, we reflect on the top articles, blog posts, tweets, news, thoughts, and other tidbits we’ve found interesting or useful. Check out what our writers have spotted this week […]
In Defense of Museums: How Working at a Museum Shaped my LIS Education
For almost a year and half, I’ve been working at the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History, scanning glass plate slides of scientific expeditions and entering in metadata regarding […]
#dearHLS: Save the Date for our Next Twitter Chat
Save the date! Hack Library School will host our second Twitter chat on Wednesday, 10/25, at 9PM EST. This year’s library students are a few weeks into the school year, and prospective students are applying to library schools and deciding where to attend. This Twitter chat will focus on student […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Each week, we reflect on the top articles, blog posts, tweets, news, thoughts, and other tidbits we’ve found interesting or useful. Check out what our writers have spotted this week […]
The library’s role in scholarly communication
Over the last several months I’ve become increasingly interested in the role that libraries and librarians play in scholarly communications. Scholarly communication is, according to Wikipedia, “the process by which […]
Providing Library Services to Incarcerated Populations: Liberation Library [Series]
This is an interview series that will highlight the ways in which libraries and organizations serve incarcerated populations. The American Library Association’s Prisoners Right to Read asserts that When free […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Dead Mountain: Perspectives Beyond Library World
It was a classic story of serendipitous discovery as a public library worker: I spotted Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident on a cart of […]
What can a lens of newness afford us?
Today we welcome a post by Jennifer Jarson as part of our collaboration with ACRLog (the blog of the Association of College and Research Libraries). Jennifer Jarson is the Head […]
Hacking Parenthood in Library School: When You’re New to Parenting
New or expectant parent in library school? Here’s some tips on adjusting to school as a parent.
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Accidental Special Librarian – advice for when you decide to pursue the “alternate” path
Like many LIS students, I went into the program with the goal of someday working at a library as a professional librarian. I set off on my MLIS journey through […]
I Am Not “Just the Diversity Hire”: Racial Difference, Authenticity, and Tokenism in Academic Libraries
Today we welcome a post by Veronica Arellano Douglas as part of our collaboration with ACRLog (the blog of the Association of College and Research Libraries). Veronica Arellano Douglas is a Reference […]
Learning Styles Debunked [Series]
This is the third installment in a series about using Neuroscience Hacks for Library School. Here’s the first one on reasons to get more sleep and the second on breathing to […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Spaces
Over the past two months at my job, I have been processing the papers of Judy Chicago, a white Jewish feminist artist who is currently based in New Mexico. Prior […]
Does This Candidate Meet the Requirements for Tenure? Preparing as a Student for Questions About Tenure
Today we welcome a post by Dylan Burns as part of our collaboration with ACRLog (the blog of the Association of College and Research Libraries). Dylan Burns is the Digital Scholarship Librarian […]
Sexual Harassment in the Library: When Patrons are the Perpetrators
I’ve held customer service positions since my undergrad in college. I’ve worked in a call center, handled escalated customer service complaints for a food service franchise, and now staff reference […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Previous Positions or Relevant Skills? Both!
Today we welcome a post by Maura Smale as part of our collaboration with ACRLog (the blog of the Association of College and Research Libraries). Maura Smale is Chief Librarian and […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
On internships and trying new things
As I mentioned earlier, this summer I’ve been interning at the Library of Congress office in Jakarta. This internship was great because it allowed me to get a taste of […]
Announcing the Hack Library School/ACRLog Collaboration
As the academic year ramps up, we at Hack Library School are teaming up with ACRLog (the blog of the Association of College and Research Libraries) to bring you a […]
My Complicated Feelings About Being an “Unconventional” Library School Student
I’ve been writing for Hack Library School for about 6 months now, and in some ways, I’ve felt like a fraud the entire time. You see, I’m only taking one […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Let’s Talk about Checks, Baby: Paying for Library School
If you’re thinking about applying for a graduate degree in library science, you know a thing or two about writing big checks. Maybe you’ve already been making payments on your […]
The Knockoff: Perspectives Beyond Library World
Summer breaks from library school are made for trying to recharge from a busy school year and enjoy non-library-related fiction. But a library-minded student cannot help but find the connections […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Helpful Hacks from the Halfway Mark
“Once you’re halfway home, you know that you can probably get the rest of the way there.” – Janis Ian Last August, I quit my full-time nonprofit tech job and […]
Incoming Student Checklist
Welcome, incoming library students! These first few weeks before school starts can be a mixture of excitement and nerves. If you want to get acquainted with the profession before school […]
Thinking about “Post-Truth”, #ThisIsNotUs, & Charlottesville
Following up on yesterday’s great post about handling anxiety in our current social climate, I wanted to talk a bit more on situating ourselves as information professionals in light of […]
Feeling Some Anxiety About Recent Events? Take A Deep Breath. No, Really. [Series]
This is the second installment in a series about using Neuroscience Hacks for Library School. Here’s the first one on reasons to get more sleep. One evening, in the last […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Information for Our Survival: LIS and Climate Change
Here at Hack Library School, we consistently highlight the ways in which the LIS field innovates. We declare over and over again: libraries are not simply warehouses of books, and […]
Connecting with the Incoming Class
It’s officially August, which means summer is coming to an end, and the first day of classes is right around the corner. This time last year marked a move to […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Not Merely Service Providers
It’s no secret that librarianship is a service-oriented profession, and that librarians are proud of this fact (as they should be). But as I’ve reflected
Meet the New Leaders of Hack Library School!
Things are changing here at HLS! We’re excited to welcome a new Managing Editor, Consulting Editor and Community Manager this fall. Here’s what our Managing Editor has to say about […]
Variety is the Spice of Life: The Multiple Dimensions of Academic Librarianship
This summer I had the opportunity to slightly switch gears and work at the International Area Studies Library at my university.
Notes on Acquisitions Trips
As you may or may not know, I’m ultimately interested in becoming a subject librarian. More on this (hopefully) in a later blog post, but for now what you need […]
Hack Your Conference Budget
When I first started library school, my professors told me that conferences are great… if you had a couple thousand dollars to spend. While there’s no dodging the fact that […]
Meeting the Women in the Boxes: Reflections on Events in the Archives
Have you ever seen the stacks of an archives? In most cases, they are rows and rows of standard sized archival boxes. The only indication of the exciting content within […]
Freedom and Uncertainty: The Summer After Graduation
You head to library school. You’ve got a plan. There’s a schedule of courses laid out before you, and within each course is the syllabus telling you what to do […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Trace: Perspectives Beyond Library World
“One journey seeded all that followed” (Savoy 2015, 5). This opening sentence to Trace: Memory, History, Race and the American Landscape by Lauret Savoy sets the tone for the entire […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Reflections and Gratitude: Farewell HLS!
As I embarked on my journey to library school, I was in saw of this here blog. Given my love for writing, I had yearned to write for Hack Library […]
Advanced Storytime: Beyond the Basics of Discipline [Series]
This series will explore the lessons that I learned about storytime through my own self-education process–through many hours of research, attending conferences, and my favorite method of learning, hands-on experience.
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Need an Excuse to Sleep More? Read This.
I have a friend who, throughout a busy grad school semester, juggled four classes, worked a 20-hour-per-week internship, ran a business, and still somehow managed to feed her dogs and […]
Signing Off: Onward and Upward
I found Hack Library School when I was in the throes of deciding where I wanted to go to graduate school for library studies. I had applied and been accepted […]
A Tale of Two Outlooks
Like many of the Hack Library School writers and readers of our blog, I had the good fortune to attend the annual American Library Association (ALA) conference Chicago a week […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Feeling the Burn(out)
In the summer of 2016, I quit my full-time, salaried job with benefits, packed up my belongings, and moved to Denver to begin my Master’s in Library and Information Science […]
One way or another: deciding which librarianship path is for you
You know you want to be a librarian, but do you know which kind of librarian you would like to be? There are many fascinating areas of specialties in librarianship, but the ultimate divide is most often between academic librarianship and public librarianship. Why do some people choose one route […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Self-Care at ALA Annual Conference
I’ll be attending the American Library Association’s Annual Conference for the first time ever this month and I’m both nervous and excited. Pouring over the schedule of events, there are […]
Hack ALA: A Conference Advisory for ALA Annual
HLS session recommendations for attending 2017 ALA Annual in Chicago
Off the Tracks: The Benefits of Being Unspecialized in your LIS Education
The ALA states that the LIS student’s choice to specialize (also called “tracks” or “concentrations”) depends on “an assessment of [the students’] past experiences, education, personal strengths and interests, geographic […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
I’m Glad I Went to Library School: A Personal Perspective on On-Site Education
Two years ago, in the summer of 2015, my husband and I quit our jobs, packed our bags, and left our hometown for Iowa City, where I would be attending […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Professional Development for your Earbuds
One of the hazards of library school is a distinct lack of spare time. While I find myself doing plenty of reading for classes, it’s tough to squeeze in extra […]
Medical Librarianship: You Can Do It Too!
After two months working as a Health & Life Sciences Librarian at UCLA and fresh off attending my first Medical Library Association (MLA) annual conference in Seattle, I can tell […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Another Snapshot of a 21st-Century Librarian
The other day, I was looking through some old articles I had saved when I came across an article from last July 2016 in The Atlantic, “A Snapshot of a […]
Advanced Storytime: Beyond the Basics of Gender Representation [Series]
This series will explore the lessons that I learned about storytime through my own self-education process–through many hours of research, attending conferences, and my favorite method of learning, hands-on experience. […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Onward: Perspectives Beyond Library World
When you are in the throes of library school, it can be a challenge to find any inspiration from outside sources. Who has the time or the brain space for […]
Activate Librarian Superpowers Now!
The first couple of weeks of the semester are all about introductions and getting to know new classmates as we delve into the material. In my fully-online program at San […]
A Seasonal Recalibration
While relaxing with a friend of mine at the end of the semester, she turned to me and asked a poignant question: “Why was this semester so mean?” I don’t […]
Pay Your Grad Students: Problems with Unpaid Internships
For many students, the semester is either winding down or already over, which means students are seeking meaningful ways to spend their summer. Internships and practicums are coming through listservs […]
Transitions: My Farewell Post
Before I start this post, I want to tell you all how much I have enjoyed writing for Hack Library School and sharing my perspective with its readers. Often, these […]
Lessons from outside the classroom : managing information overload
If I had to choose one phrase to describe my first year of library school, “information overload” would be a strong contender.
Method to the Madness: Reflecting on my First Year of Library School
The end of a semester is always a whirlwind. I am especially trying to wrap my head around the fact that I have just completed my first year of graduate […]
Four Steps to a Lightning Talk
Lightning talks are all the rage right now. They’re a short-form presentation talk usually lasting around three to five minutes. They’re a good way to communicate new ideas quickly and […]
Choose Your Own Professor: Faculty Interviews from a Student Perspective
This year, my LIS program will be losing a faculty member to another university. We are sad to see them go! Because we are a smaller department, this is a […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
Lessons learned from a poster presentation
Earlier this month I presented a poster titled “Going It Alone: EAD Implementation for Small Repositories” at the Midwest Archives Conference annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. Here are 8 quick […]
Three Things I am Not Neutral About
On April 13, Ivanka Trump sent out a tweet in honor of National Library Week. “…we honor our libraries and librarians for opening our eyes to the world of knowledge.” […]
Weekly Spotlight!
Check out what our writers have spotted this week in library news. Enjoy!
It’s Not Shelved In the 420s: Legalized Marijuana and Other Intellectual Freedom Concerns
I’m lucky enough to live in Colorado – an absolutely beautiful state that boasts mountains and prairies, great educational opportunities, and an awesome community of library professionals. It’s also one […]
5 Tips for the Dreaded Interview Presentation
I am blessed to formally announce that I started a Health & Life Sciences Librarian job at UCLA a couple weeks ago! For this post, I wanted to write about […]
So You Wanna Do a Thesis? Part 6: The End
Welcome to my new series about my decision to do the thesis option for my program, and my advice to those of you considering the same. Are you considering doing […]
A DAM Diverse Career Field for Information Professionals
Earlier this year, I attended a meetup of local librarians, and kept hearing the acronym “DAM” come up in conversation. It took some questioning to figure out that folks was not referring […]
Reflections on a Distance MSLIS
Like many of you out there, I am fast approaching the end of my time working on my MSLIS. Although I will be moving on into a PhD program at […]
Advanced Storytime: Beyond the Basics of Diversity [Series]
This series will explore the lessons that I learned about storytime through my own self-education process–through many hours of research, attending conferences, and my favorite method of learning, hands-on experience. […]
Weekly Round-Up!
Each week, we reflect on the top articles, blog posts, tweets, news, thoughts, and other tidbits we’ve found interesting or useful. Enjoy!
Add STEAM to Your Next Program
One benefit to working at a library while being in library school is having the practical, on-the-ground experience to complement what is being taught in the classroom. However, when you […]
I Say Processing; You Say Cataloging: An Exploration of Archives in Libraries
As I am fast approaching the midpoint of my graduate program, I am realizing the importance of following my curiosities about the LIS field. One reason for this mindset is […]
Weekly Round-Up!
Each week, we reflect on the top articles, blog posts, tweets, news, thoughts, and other tidbits we’ve found interesting or useful. Enjoy!
Getting Through Group Projects
In Library and Information Science programs, there’s one assignment that students dread more than any other. Yes, I’m talking about the group project. Group projects are extremely common in LIS […]
Why Oral Is Awesome
Us librarian types, we’re all about literacy, and we all acknowledge the power of the written word. Writing helped shape civilization as we know it; of course it’s powerful. Our […]
