Student Groups: from ASIS&T to iYouth, which clubs are for nerds?

Silverfish Staff

 

ALISS: Association of Library and Information Students. We are ALISS…and so are you. You don’t need to join, you already have! All students enrolled in the residential and online MLIS degree programs here at the UW are automatically members of ALISS.  We are pleased to welcome you to the University of Washington and the iSchool.

In addition to the ALISS membership (that’s you), there is an ALISS executive board consisting of the following officers: President Jen Waller, Vice President Kelly Ann Smith, Secretary Stefanie Graen, Co-Treasurers Rachel Adams and Grant Perrigo, Publicity Officer Mary Comstock, Online Representative Stephanie Ruble and Webmaster/Alumni Liaison Lianne Ho. 

ALISS holds open meetings several times a year and serves as a channel of communication between the students and the faculty and administration.  We sponsor annual events such as Spring Fling in June, a physical book sale held in February.  We also work with other iSchool groups to sponsor events such as iCareer Week and book talking workshops.

Get involved! Come to an open meeting, you’ll get to meet great people and contribute to making the iSchool an even better place for all students (and you’ll have fun too!).  You might have an idea for a panel or a speaker you’d like to bring to campus; maybe you’d like to teach a workshop or plan an event.  You can let us know by e-mailing us at aliss@u.washington.edu.  Visit our website at http://students.washington.edu/aliss

*Our first event of the year is the MLIS Mixer sponsored by ALISS and SALA on Friday, September 26 in the HUB Bowling Alley from 5-7 PM.  Come enjoy food, beer, soda, and bowling.  See you there!  Welcome to the iSchool and ALISS!

 

ASIS&T UW:American Society for Information Science & Technology

We are the group for aspiring information architects, user experience designers, librarians and anybody else who wants to work in the Infosphere.

ASIS&T was formed because the world of information was getting too complex. Technology was advancing quickly and a concerted effort was needed to standardize and reform information storage and retrieval. While this was obvious in 1995, ASIS&T was tackling the problem in 1937. Back then microfilm was the computer of the day: a conveyance method that was cheap, easily stored, nigh-infinitely reproducible that could bring the works of humankind to any corner of the earth where a lamp could be plugged in.

Nowadays a lot of people have never had to use microfilm, and most of the rest of us hope we don’t have to again. ASIS&T still is looking to reform and improve how the world deals with its information. We’re not just a student group; we’re a student chapter of a professional organization. That gives us access to folks out there doing what we hope to do. Our main job is to facilitate contact between us and them.

Our biggest events in the year include iCareer Week when we bring information professionals (largely iSchool alumni) to campus to advise you. Later in the year we put together iEdge: iSchool’s biggest conference. With our professional sister chapter, ASIS&T PNW we are co-sponsoring InfoCamp for the second year at the end of September. If you’ve never been to an un-conference its blissful chaos.

We hope you’ll take advantage of our offerings this year; everyone at the Information School (and the rest of UW) is our constituency. We’d love it if you want to help us out with our events or plan a new one. ASIS&T UW has a proud history including numerous Student Chapter of the Year awards, and its members have gone on to be some of the most dynamic and influential professionals in the area. Send us an email, check out our website, join our Facebook group, or bug us in person-- we're computer lab regulars so let us know if we can be of service to you.

Chair: Kathryn Whitenton (MLIS)

Vice Chair: Joshua Walker (MLIS)

Marketing Director: Chad Driesbach (TC)

Webmaster: Jared Kellor (MSIM)

Treasurer: Jared Cheng (MSIM)

IUGA:The Informatics Undergraduate Association (IUGA) is a group of dedicated,
fun-loving Informatics students. Our purpose is to provide opportunities that encourage Informatics students to socialize and network with one another. Last year hosted LAN parties, game nights, and a billiards night! It is also our duty to create a feedback loop between Informatics students and the iSchool faculty and administration. We bring important student concerns to the attention of those who can listed and address student issues.

Additionally, IUGA is responsible for organizing professional networking opportunities and employer information sessions, wherein company representatives visit the iSchool to present who they are and what Informatics students can contribute to their company.

Please contact us at iuga@u.washington.edu or visit our website at iuga.ischool.washington.edu.

The 2008-2009 IUGA Officers
President: Wendy Lee, Vice President: Ray Barnhart, Director of Finance: Chris Sinco, Director of Operations: Trisha Smith, Director of Information Technology: Colin Booth, Director of Public Relations: Marlee Mukai, Outreach Coordinator: Matthew Short

 

iYouth: iSchool’s group for students interested in children and young adult services.   Clay Jensen is stunned to receive seven cassette tapes with the voice of Hannah Baker, a classmate who recently committed suicide. On the tapes, Hannah explains the “thirteen reasons why” she killed herself – and Clay is one of them. Learn why Clay is on the list – and why Jay Asher’s teen novel is so hot right now -- at the first monthly book club meeting of iYouth. The book club meets from 9:30-10:30 a.m. the second Monday of the month in Mary Gates Hall 310D; the first discussion, which includes Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why and Chris Raschka’s Arlene Sardine, will be Oct. 13.

Besides the book club, iYouth is a great way to connect with fellow students who want to work with kids or teens at public and school libraries. Members can also join kid-oriented service opportunities, network with working librarians, and learn from professional workshops.

*Upcoming events: “Working Together: Librarians & Local Children’s Authors,” a panel discussion 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 with a Seattle Public Library librarian; Deb Caletti (National Book Award finalist for Honey, Baby, Sweetheart; her newest is The Fortunes of Indigo Skye); and Nina Laden (author and illustrator of 14 picture books, including When Pigasso Met Mootisse, Romeow and Drooliet, and Who Loves You, Baby?). Meet these acclaimed local authors, learn tips for hosting successful author events, and get an insider perspective on everything from book challenges to matching illustrations to words.

2009 will bring even more exciting iYouth events. Mark your calendars now for a youth services workshop from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, 2009 with keynote speaker Nancy Pearl. Professional librarians from local schools, King County Library System, and Seattle Public Libraries will share best practices on tech trends, graphic novels, early literacy, and new books. In February, Readergirlz divas and local authors Dia Calhoun and Lorrie Ann Grover will present ways librarians can use the Readergirlz’ innovative, award-winning website to link authors and teen readers.

Visit our website at http://students.washington.edu/iyouthuw;join the iYouth listerv at http://mailman2.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/iyouth;or email a club officer at iYouthUW@u.washington.edu

 

iWorld: exploring international and cross-cultural issues through the lens of information. It's a fact: information has gone global, requiring information professionals of all types to better understand complex international and cross-cultural issues. Fortunately for iSchool students, we have iWorld. Whether you're hoping to find a position in a small public library, in a large private corporation, or anywhere in between, the unique perspectives presented at iWorld events will be invaluable during your time at the iSchool.

iWorld aims to broaden our horizons by fostering discussions about international and cross-cultural information issues. Last year, iWorld speaker topics included:
~projects addressing the digital divide in developing countries
~cross-cultural competencies to better serve immigrant populations
~developing a thesaurus for a museum on Native American cultures
~international librarianship
~ESL and foreign language librarianship

Learn more:Visit us at http://depts.washington.edu/iworlduw/index.shtml
Join our mailing list: http://mailman2.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/iworld
And watch for emails announcing upcoming iWorld events! Join iWorld!

 

sALA: Student chapter of the America Library Association. The sALA supports
MLIS students at the University of Washington. This year sALA will host:
* social events
* professional development activities
* networking opportunities
See you at future events! For more information visit us at http://students.washington.edu/sala/

 

SLA: Special Libraries Association
SLA-UW is a student chapter of the Special Libraries Association. Our goal is to introduce iSchool students to professionals in the Special Library community and to provide opportunities for networking and building professional relationships. Special Libraries have been described as non-traditional or alternative information-centered environments for librarians and information professionals seeking to improve the field of information. Whether you are interested in working for a non-profit organization, art, academic library, law or architectural firm, medical center, or IT company; our student group is here for you!

Throughout the year SLA will be hosting panel discussions with various information professionals, Special Library crawls on campus and around the Seattle area, awarding SLA membership scholarships, and of course a most celebrated event, quarterly happy hours! This is an opportunity to meet and mingle with others interested in pursuing unorthodox library careers! If you are interested in learning more about SLA, visit us at http://students.washington.edu/slauw/ or contact us by email, sla-uw@u.washington.edu. Special Libraries rock!