Division of Library and Information Science
Inaugural Student, Alumni and Faculty
Symposium
Saturday November 19th, 2011
Manhattan Campus
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTIONS
TRACK 1: Social Justice and the Information
Professions – Panel Discussion
The People's Library at Occupy Wall Street, Christian
Collins
Why Social Justice Matters in Library Science, Chris
Pamboukes
The talk will consist of two parts. The first will connect
the social justice movement to the field of library science by
drawing attention to their overlapping ideals. The second
will discuss publicly available data supporting the need for social
justice in the field of library science like never
before.
Christian Collins is in his 3d semester in the
St. John's MLS program. He is interested in librarianship as
community building and plans to work as a public librarian.
Chris Pamboukes is a recent graduate of St.
John's Division of Library and Information Science and is a
non-practicing attorney licensed in New York and in Florida.
TRACK 2: The Internet and the Public
Library
WordPress: A Short Introduction to Building Blogs and
Websites, Leslie Chen
WordPress is one of the world's most popular blogging tools and
content management systems. In this presentation, we will discuss
some of the features of WordPress that lend to its popularity,
including basic installation, maintenance, customization, and
content creation. In addition, we will learn the differences
between WordPress.com and WordPress.org.
Leslie Chen is a lifelong New Yorker and
self-helper. Her interests include Linux, open source,
user-friendly interfaces, and pop culture. She graduated from the
DLIS in 2011, and is known occasionally to read a book or two. Her
blog can be found at www.lesliechen.us.
Digital Divide: A Challenge for Librarians and Society,
Robert Weiss
The digital divide is generally defined as the gap between
individuals and groups who have access to modern information and
communication technologies and those who do not. The issue was
incorporated into the national political agenda under the Clinton
administration following the publication of a series of studies by
the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA), located within the Department of Commerce. The talk will
recount the evolution of the digital divide as a political issue as
well as the myriad public and private programs and policies created
to address the problem. It will conclude by considering the current
situation of the library profession, which has assumed a major
responsibility for assisting the victims of the digital divide at a
time of diminishing resources.
Robert J. Weiss holds a Ph.D. in history from
New York University, and he recently received his MLS from St.
John’s, where he was an IMLS scholar. Robert is an experienced
college textbook editor, who has worked for most of the major
textbook publishers across a broad spectrum of academic
subjects.
TRACK 3: Mobile Technology
Revealing the Mystery of QR Codes, Louise
McKenzie
Walking through Macy’s. Snap! . . . Get a Backstage pass to video
tips from fashion experts and designers. Time to kill at the
airport. Snap! . . . Get free electronic books, crosswords or
Sudoku. See a restaurant menu. Snap! . . . You’re reading reviews
from people who ate there. How does this magic happen? This session
provides an introduction to the virtual wonder of this immediate
interactive connectivity via your smart phone.
Louise McKenzie holds a B.S. in Computer
Science from the University of the West Indies and a Master of
Science in Computer Science from The New York Institute of
Technology. Ms. McKenzie has been responsible for providing
training on various computer applications to the entire St. John's
University community – on all campuses – for over 20 years.
TRACK 4: Databases and Metadata: Siblings or Distant
Cousins?
Content, Metadata & Taxonomy in Perfect Harmony,
Robert Drzewicki
The presentation will focus on how Content, Taxonomy &
Metatdata are utilized in the publishing process at the Information
Technology research and advisory firm Gartner. The information
provides the insight necessary for clients to make strategic
decisions on a daily basis.
Robert Drzewicki has spent over 25 years in the
financial services industry in various technology management roles.
Over the past years Robert has worked at the Cooper Hewitt Museum,
the Morgan Library and Museum, the Rockefeller Foundation, and
Baruch College. He is currently a Content Information Manager at
Gartner, Inc.
Using MS Access to Manage Courses and Concentrations,
Judy Jahnel
The presentation describes the development of a database
application for the Division of Library and Information Science
which will improve management and reporting of information relating
to program concentrations.
Judy Auber Jahnel is currently an MLS student
at St. John’s University in her final year. Prior to living
in NY, she worked as a librarian assistant in the children’s
department at the Downer’s Grove Public Library outside of Chicago
and also worked in the same capacity at the children’s department
in the Westport Public Library in CT.
Database Design: Tracking Prospective Students,
Diana Menashi
The presentation discusses a database application being designed
for the Division of Library and Information Science for managing
the workflow process of prospective students from inquiry to
application.
Diana Menashi is currently an MLS student at St
John's University. Prior to discovering her interest in library
technical services, she played the harp for the Goucher College
Symphony. Diana graduated from Goucher College with a BA in Music
History and also pursued graduate study in speech-language
pathology.
Tracking Resources in Publishing Companies, Anne
McNamara
The presentation describes a resource tracking problem in a
publishing company which distributes resources internally and
outside to freelance editors. The development of a database
application to manage resource tracking is discussed.
Anne McNamara is in her final semester in the MLS
program at St. John’s. She holds a Master’s Degree in Art History
from New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts and has ten years
experience working in galleries and regional museums.
