On December 5, 2020, 18 UHM LIS students, along with 10 LIS professionals from academic, school, public, and special libraries on Oahu, participated in a virtual speed networking event. Students had an hour to move among Zoom breakout rooms, in the hopes of connecting with as many professionals as possible in a meaningful way.
东精影业 M膩noa LIS student Stephanie Robertson worked with LIS instructor Meera Garud to plan and run this event. To make sure conversations stayed focused, Robertson and Garud provided two questions relevant to students in the midst of crafting their careers during this unprecedented time: 鈥淗ow has your role in the library pivoted because of COVID 19?鈥 and 鈥淲hat skills have you needed to sharpen or gain as a result of that shift?鈥 Students were also free to ask and discuss other questions they brought to the event.
In the end, the LIS professionals made this event a success, using this event as a platform for LIS students to make meaningful connections, in spite of the challenges of Zoom fatigue and uncertainty in the profession because of the pandemic. The LIS professionals facilitating the breakout rooms, many of whom were alumni, generously shared the knowledge they had developed over time. When surveyed, the students reported feeling comfortable, inspired, and motivated to work hard in order to be a successful member of the thriving library community in Hawai鈥榠.
Huge thanks are due to the following LIS professionals who made this event a success!
Annie Thomas, Acting Head Librarian at the Kapiolani Community College Library
Brian Huffman, Electronic Services Librarian at the UH M膩noa William S. Richardson School of Law
Darren Tanaka, Librarian at Kailua Elementary School
David Wee who is Mid-Pacific Institute鈥檚 (Pk-12 independent school) Director of Library and Media Services
Helen Wong Smith, Archivist for University Records at the University of Hawai’i at M膩noa
Janel Quirante, Head Archivist at 鈥楿lu鈥楿lu Moving Image Archive University of Hawai鈥榠 – West O鈥榓hu
Mary Campany, Collections Librarian at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai鈥榠
Natalie Wahl, Instruction Librarian from the Leeward Community College Library
Sheryl Lynch, Branch Manager at Waianae Public Library
Tamara King, Branch Manager at Kahuku Public and School Library
