Greetings from the Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC)
 Happy 2020 everyone! My name is Julia Stone, and I am excited to serve as GSAC’s new president for 2020. Spring semester is almost here! I hope you all enjoyed your winter break and are gearing up for a great start to your new classes.
At our General Meeting on Monday, January 6 at 6:00pm we introduced our new executive officers and brainstormed and discussed upcoming events and initiatives for this semester. Please keep an eye on your inbox for information regarding the date and time of our February General Meeting. I am looking forward to all that we will accomplish this year!
You can read about our new 2020 GSAC officers on our blog here or in this newsletter. Please feel free to reach out to me or any of the other officers if you are interested in getting more involved in GSAC and attending our monthly meetings. We would love for more iSchool students to engage in this student-run organization. It is a wonderful way to meet other students and make meaningful connections in the iSchool.
Julia Stone
President, Graduate Student Advisory Council
For more information or opportunities to serve with GSAC, please contact Julia Stone at jstone36@kent.edu
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Calendar of Upcoming Events
ALA Student Chapter January Meeting
Wednesday, January 8, 8:00PM, online via Zoom
If you are interested in attending the January ALA Student Chapter meeting, please reach out to Raychelle Steele at rsteele7@kent.edu for a Zoom link.
GSAC Spring Semester Meet & Greet
Monday, January 13, 4:00PM – 5:30PM, 3rd Floor KSU Library
Come socialize with iSchool students and faculty to kick off the Spring Semester! We will be serving coffee and snacks. This event will take place right before Mock Caldecott Night in the Reinberger. All GSAC Meet & Greet attendees may attend Mock Caldecott for free. If you are interested in attending both the Meet & Greet and Mock Caldecott, please RSVP by Friday, January 10 to Julia Stone at jstone36@kent.edu.
Reinberger Children’s Library Center Mock Caldecott Night
Monday, January 13, 5:45PM – 9:00PM, KSU Library Room 311B
The Reinberger is holding its Sixth Annual Mock Caldecott Night! Participants will have the opportunity to discuss noteworthy picture books and decide on which book they would nominate to win a Caldecott Medal. Dinner will be provided. All attendees of the GSAC Meet & Greet are eligible to attend this event for free. Please email Julia Stone at jstone36@kent.edu by Friday, January 10 if you would like to take advantage of the free admission after the Meet & Greet. Learn more about the event here.
Application Deadline for the Library Leadership Ohio Institute
Friday, January 17, 11:59PM
A collaboration of the State Library of Ohio and OhioNET, Library Leadership Ohio offers valuable leadership training for 32 selected participants. In 2020, the Library Leadership Ohio Institute will be held on July 14-17 in Lewis Center, Ohio. Click here to apply and learn more about this opportunity.
ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits
January 24-28, Philadelphia, PA
Visit 2020.alamidwinter.org for more information about this year’s conference, including featured speakers, programs, and more. Take advantage of advanced registration rates!
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GSAC News and Blog Highlights
We are excited to announce the new iSchool Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC) officers for the 2020 academic school year! GSAC is the bridge between students, administration, and faculty. Our mission is to enhance graduate student life through social events and professional development opportunities.
 Julia Stone, President
My name is Julia Stone and I live in Kent, Ohio. I currently work as a Graduate Assistant at the Reinberger Children’s Library Center. I am excited to serve as the President of the iSchool Graduate Student Advisory Council. As President, I hope to create meaningful networking and educational events for iSchool students and enhance our blog to keep students aware of upcoming events, student and faculty news, and career opportunities. I plan to work closely with the other officers to help expand our organization and make it a valuable resource for all iSchool students.
After working in editing and marketing in Chicago for several years, I decided to pursue a career in librarianship because I am passionate about helping people and providing equitable access to information. My goal is to become a reference or cataloging librarian at an academic library. I am currently a member of the American Library Association, the Asian Pacific American Library Association, and the Ohio Library Council. I also serve as the Vice President of the KSU ALA Student Chapter. In my free time, I enjoy reading, journaling, and spending time with my puppy, Koro, who I recently adopted from an animal shelter.
EMAIL: jstone36@kent.edu
 Brenna Hubschman, Vice President of Communications
My name is Brenna Hubschman, and I am a first year LIS student at the iSchool with a focus on information access and discovery and information organization. I live in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio with my rabbit and cat, Winnie and Pixie. I am originally from Columbus where I received my BA in English Literature from Ohio State.
I currently work as a graduate assistant in the iSchool, and I am also an advising officer for Kent State’s ALA student chapter. In my free time I like to sew, cook, garden, and check out thrift stores. I am honored to be a member of GSAC this semester, and I look forward to working together to connect and support the students of the iSchool.
EMAIL: bhubschm@kent.edu
 Lauren Zollinger, Vice President of Student Outreach
My name is Lauren Zollinger. I am entering my second semester in the iSchool, with an interest in public, medical and special libraries. I have an undergraduate degree in journalism from Northwestern University and currently work for a Chicago-based company that develops corporate information solutions, primarily within healthcare.
I believe the secret to a fulfilling life is forming meaningful connections with other people, continually working on a better version of yourself, and contributing to something bigger than yourself. GSAC is a wonderful platform for all three. I am excited to serve in this role and hope to establish new channels of communication to help students feel more connected to each other and the program. In my free time, I enjoy volunteering for hospice and other local nonprofits, hiking, listening to live music and spending time with my husband and two daughters in North Canton, Ohio. I look forward to getting to know all of you better and hearing your ideas on ways we can leverage GSAC to improve the iSchool experience.
EMAIL: lzolling@kent.edu
 Molly McGirr Norris, Secretary
My name is Molly McGirr Norris, and I am a first year Library and Information Science student in the iSchool. My areas of interest are management and leadership of information institutions. I received my undergraduate degree in English from Kent State University, and am excited to have returned to my alma mater for my graduate studies.
I currently work at two public libraries, Lakewood Public Library and Rocky River Public Library. Through my experiences at these institutions I gained a passion for advocating for intellectual freedom and equity of access for all users, and particularly for underserved populations. I believe those in leadership roles are uniquely placed to advocate for individual groups. This is true for myself and the other officers of the iSchool Graduate Student Advisory Council, and I look forward to working with them to advocate for iSchool students’ needs. I reside in Lakewood, Ohio with my husband, Daniel, and our dog, Berkeley, with whom we enjoy spending our free time.
EMAIL: mmcgirr@kent.edu
 Anakarine Solórzano, Virtual Student Representative
My name is Anakarine Solórzano and I am originally from Caracas, Venezuela. I am in my late 40s, I am married, and I have three children. When I am not occupied with my family and schoolwork, I am usually working on art projects. On that regard, I am currently preparing to have my first solo show which will take place in the Spring of 2021.
After finishing my bachelors in my native country, I decided to pursue a masters in music at Central Michigan University. During my time at CMU, my interest in a music career decreased while curiosity about the library’s cataloging, reference, and overall organization became of great interest. The concept of encapsulating a representation of knowledge (or a portion of it) within a building and the possibility of expansion through the web or interlibrary loan was something I had not experienced in my native country. While pursuing my MLIS degree, I have gravitated towards metadata architecture and taxonomies, which are the areas that I am specializing in. I am really excited about my upcoming internship and consequent graduation in the Spring of 2020.
EMAIL: asolorza@kent.edu
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Connect with us.
There are many different ways to connect with the iSchool and your peers at Kent State:
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ALA Student Chapter Update
The ALA Student Chapter at Kent State aims to connect and involve the iSchool’s graduate students with ALA and its affiliate organizations. The Student Chapter hosts events, meetings, and programs throughout the semester to provide networking, professional development, and community service opportunities to current iSchool graduate students both virtually and in-person. Membership in the student chapter is free, though professional membership in ALA is always encouraged. If you are interested in joining, please fill out this form. The Student Chapter will also be hosting a meet-up at ALA Midwinter, details to be determined.
For more information, please contact Raychelle Steele, ALA Student Chapter President at rsteele7@kent.edu
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Joint ALA/OLC Membership Opportunity
As an iSchool student, you can join both the American Library Association and the Ohio Library Council for only $42 by visiting this link. See what professional organizations have to offer and take advantage of professional development opportunities! If you are not an Ohio resident, find out more about the joint ALA/state library memberships by clicking here. |
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News from the Reinberger Children’s Learning Center & Marantz Picturebook Collection
Reinberger Children’s Library Center Mock Caldecott Night
Monday, January 13, 5:45PM – 9:00PM, KSU Library Room 311B
The Reinberger is holding its Sixth Annual Mock Caldecott Night in January! All attendees of the GSAC Meet & Greet are eligible to attend this event for free. Please email Julia Stone at jstone36@kent.edu by Friday, January 10 if you plan to attend both events. If you are interested in attending Mock Caldecott virtually at no cost, please email Michelle Baldini at mbaldini@kent.edu. You can also send in your favorite 2019 picture book to win by Friday, January 10 to Michelle Baldini at mbaldini@kent.edu. Check out the Mock Caldecott Facebook Event here.
Reinberger Reviewers: A Kids Book Review Series
The Reinberger Children’s Library Center (RCLC) is launching a video series that will feature children reviewing their favorite reads. These unscripted and fun-filled videos will be a great way to celebrate the joy of reading. The RCLC is seeking young readers (ages 3-10) to participate. Recordings will be onsite in the Reinberger Room located on the 3rd floor of the main library at the KSU campus in Kent, Ohio. These videos will be shared across the RCLC’s social media platforms and blog. If your child is interested in participating, please fill out this Reinberger Reviewer Interest Form and RCLC staff will be in touch soon. If you know a child that may want to review a book, please share the form link with their parents/caregivers. Check out the RCLC’s first review video here!
Contact Michelle Baldini, Director of the Reinberger Children’s Library Center, at mbaldini@kent.edu for more information about the Reinberger and Marantz collections.
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iSchool Alumni Network News
KSU iSchool alumnus Jeff Winkle will retire as director of the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library in January. Watch his chat on YouTube with the incoming director here.
The Ashtabula County District Library recently hired alumnus Michael Thornton as their new information services manager. Visit this link to read the full Star Beacon article.
Alumna Tracy Savard has been appointed as library director at the Watkins Glen Public Library. Check out the full story from the Star Gazette: Seneca South: Watkins Glen Public Library gets new director
Alumna Sarah Meyers started a new position as a librarian at Warren-Trumbell County Public Library.
Keep an eye on the Alumni Network’s Facebook Page and GSAC’s blog for more updates!
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We’d love your input.
Have you recently received a scholarship or award? Do you know of any job opportunities or upcoming events? Want to share a professional experience or advice? GSAC’s website gsac.ischool.kent.edu is currently seeking contributions. Take advantage of the opportunity to share your work and gain writing experience! Content ideas include:
- Conference and professional development write-ups
- Advice or tips for iSchool Students
- Scholarship, grant, and funding opportunities
- Graduate research opportunities
- Professional experience/activities write-ups
- Alumni news
- Student, Faculty, and Staff Spotlights
If you would like more information or to share your ideas for future blog posts, please contact VP of Communications Brenna Hubschman at bhubschm@kent.edu
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