Sarah Aspen Below is a topical essay I composed for my application to graduate school. It talks about book banning, how data on challenges is hard to come by, and how the American Library Association needs to do more to track that data so we can mount an effective defense.
One of my assignments this semester was to create a pathfinder, which is an introduction to a topic that provides a definition, highlights a few resources in various formats, and directs the user to where they can find more information. I chose the topic of permaculture. You can find the pathfinder for the made-up library … Read more
I am autistic. I am a graduate student in library and information sciences. And I’ve just finished my first semester. I want to take a moment to reflect on this experience, and share some of the things I’ve learned. Start the accommodation process early. Having diagnosis paperwork ready helps here, since self-identifying isn’t valid in … Read more
Below I’ve reproduced the personal statement essay I submitted when applying to my MLIS program. It outlines a bit about my history, and one of the things I might do with my MLIS after the program. I guess you can use this to get to know more about me and why I’m blogging about my … Read more
I am a student. My field of study is library and information science. It’s been 15 years since I was last in school, finishing up my degree in computer science. During those 15 years, I’ve been on teams made up almost exclusively by cisgender heterosexual white men. And while I am white, those other labels … Read more
I am autistic. Library and information science is currently a SpIn of mine, which is great in that it lets me deeply focus and immerse myself in the material of my classes. I love learning about all the intricacies of data organization and indexing, and the social justice and equity aspects as well. It’s fantastic … Read more
In one of my classes, I was assigned a project to review job descriptions in my chosen field to analyze what kind of skills they required and what the compensation might be. When I initially saw the project on the course syllabus, I assumed the presentation would be a slide deck submission. However, it turned … Read more
One of the things I’ve tried to do this semester is have regular check-ins with my professors and the accessibility office. They don’t have to be long or deep. I just talk about which assignments I’m working on, areas I’m struggling, and what kind of coping strategies I’m using. This allows them to see that … Read more
I graduated high school two years early. I succeeded in a computer science undergrad program and got my bachelors. I went on to have a successful 15-year career. I applied to and was accepted at a graduate program for library and information science. I’m currently in my first semester. But something is different going through … Read more
