WEBVTT NOTE Created by CaptionSync from Automatic Sync Technologies www.automaticsync.com 00:00:00.036 --> 00:00:04.976 align:middle >> Thank you to all the iSchool faculty and staff and most especially to you graduates. 00:00:04.976 --> 00:00:06.096 align:middle Congratulations. 00:00:06.096 --> 00:00:10.986 align:middle You are the reason we are gathered here, and it's an honor to be speaking with you today. 00:00:10.986 --> 00:00:15.286 align:middle It's a little difficult to follow Tamara. 00:00:15.526 --> 00:00:16.926 align:middle I'm kind of recovering myself. 00:00:16.926 --> 00:00:18.996 align:middle Thank you, Tamara, for your speech. 00:00:18.996 --> 00:00:24.666 align:middle I too am a graduate of the iSchool from before the days of remote, commuting over the hill 00:00:25.076 --> 00:00:28.776 align:middle on Highway 17 from Santa Cruz to San Jose for three years. 00:00:28.776 --> 00:00:33.126 align:middle At the same time, my spouse and I were raising a newborn baby and toddler 00:00:33.126 --> 00:00:37.806 align:middle and I was working full-time, and I share this story not to talk about what I've done, 00:00:37.806 --> 00:00:41.346 align:middle but because this is likely a familiar story for many of you. 00:00:42.136 --> 00:00:47.626 align:middle My spouse made my degree even remotely possible, and I'm forever grateful for that. 00:00:47.626 --> 00:00:53.206 align:middle And as many of you well know, earning this degree is a team effort really among all 00:00:53.206 --> 00:00:55.486 align:middle of us, family, friends, faculty. 00:00:55.736 --> 00:00:58.776 align:middle It takes a village to raise a graduate. 00:00:58.776 --> 00:01:04.906 align:middle Yet every term at the iSchool, I am truly humbled by the folks going through the program 00:01:04.906 --> 00:01:07.316 align:middle and now all of you going out into the world. 00:01:07.636 --> 00:01:10.586 align:middle Proud does not begin to express it. 00:01:10.586 --> 00:01:14.956 align:middle Literally and honestly, I am amazed and awestruck every term. 00:01:14.986 --> 00:01:20.086 align:middle I am truly grateful to be a small part of this program and a small part of your experience 00:01:20.086 --> 00:01:22.436 align:middle because you bring so much to the world. 00:01:23.586 --> 00:01:26.576 align:middle So, I'd like to share just a few of my thoughts and feelings 00:01:26.576 --> 00:01:30.316 align:middle about this moment in my own MLIS graduation. 00:01:30.686 --> 00:01:36.736 align:middle So, I graduated in December of 1999 right before Y2K right at the end 00:01:36.736 --> 00:01:38.506 align:middle of the 20th century and the millennium. 00:01:38.506 --> 00:01:42.956 align:middle And in the late '90s, the dotcom bubble was at high peak. 00:01:43.446 --> 00:01:46.636 align:middle And knowledge management or what I think of as kind of the first wave 00:01:46.636 --> 00:01:51.056 align:middle of knowledge management was a huge and hot trend especially in the private sector 00:01:51.056 --> 00:01:55.466 align:middle where companies were spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on KM systems. 00:01:55.466 --> 00:01:58.766 align:middle And in the end, no one was participating in them very much. 00:01:59.896 --> 00:02:03.986 align:middle When I started the MLIS program, my aim was to go into systems. 00:02:03.986 --> 00:02:07.816 align:middle I thought perhaps I would end up working for one of the ILS vendors, 00:02:08.046 --> 00:02:13.206 align:middle so I took all of the technical offerings that I could during the program including the one 00:02:13.206 --> 00:02:17.476 align:middle that I believe got my career started, Dr. Mayne's HTML class. 00:02:17.786 --> 00:02:24.096 align:middle That got me my practicum and my knowledge of HTML, I kid you not, serves me every week still. 00:02:24.096 --> 00:02:26.926 align:middle And so, quick side note, thank you so much, Dr. Mayne. 00:02:27.396 --> 00:02:28.626 align:middle Royalty checks are in the mail. 00:02:28.626 --> 00:02:34.126 align:middle But after all this technical prep and in the face of the first movement 00:02:34.126 --> 00:02:38.826 align:middle of knowledge management, I was excited as my graduation approached. 00:02:38.826 --> 00:02:44.646 align:middle I honestly had no idea where I was going to end up, but I was more excited than scared 00:02:44.646 --> 00:02:46.836 align:middle because I felt nothing but possibility 00:02:47.266 --> 00:02:51.586 align:middle because as Dr. Chow said I saw knowledge and information everywhere. 00:02:52.296 --> 00:02:57.766 align:middle And so of course upon graduation, I immediately got a temporary position doing nothing 00:02:57.766 --> 00:03:03.866 align:middle of the sort, doing secondary research, a class I only took one class for. 00:03:04.316 --> 00:03:07.866 align:middle But I learned quickly and I've been happily doing that research 00:03:07.866 --> 00:03:11.406 align:middle and happily working in this profession ever since. 00:03:11.406 --> 00:03:16.746 align:middle And so, my message here is that the best laid plans are flexible and adapt 00:03:16.746 --> 00:03:18.826 align:middle to the situation and to the times. 00:03:19.306 --> 00:03:23.656 align:middle And I've been fortunate enough to work with students and colleagues and librarians 00:03:23.656 --> 00:03:26.226 align:middle and professionals through my years. 00:03:26.226 --> 00:03:30.616 align:middle I think that this is the secret success story for librarians and information professionals, 00:03:30.616 --> 00:03:35.296 align:middle that we are flexible, that we adapt to the situation and to the times. 00:03:36.346 --> 00:03:39.546 align:middle Similar to Y2K in recent decades, we've cycled 00:03:39.546 --> 00:03:42.516 align:middle through technology scares and threats to the profession. 00:03:43.346 --> 00:03:48.016 align:middle I remember reading F. W. Lancaster in one of my core classes and the idea 00:03:48.016 --> 00:03:50.866 align:middle of the paperless office and the paperless library, 00:03:50.866 --> 00:03:53.406 align:middle which would become the paperless information system, 00:03:53.596 --> 00:03:58.116 align:middle which would become the paperless society, and all of that was more or less guaranteed to wipe 00:03:58.116 --> 00:04:01.846 align:middle out the library profession as we knew it. 00:04:01.846 --> 00:04:06.396 align:middle As I was graduating and starting my research work, it was Google that was the library killer. 00:04:06.396 --> 00:04:12.446 align:middle A lot of folks were 100% convinced that all books were going to be digitized. 00:04:12.446 --> 00:04:16.016 align:middle Librarians, reference librarians, researchers all no longer needed 00:04:16.016 --> 00:04:18.856 align:middle because everything was going to be available online. 00:04:19.186 --> 00:04:21.976 align:middle Libraries themselves would really no longer be necessary. 00:04:23.576 --> 00:04:28.496 align:middle More recently, we're combating a rise in misinformation and now AI, 00:04:29.116 --> 00:04:34.606 align:middle a powerful tool in many ways that is impacting all parts of our lives and a technology 00:04:34.606 --> 00:04:40.246 align:middle that is also a formidable challenge in terms of information literacy, in terms of sourcing, 00:04:40.246 --> 00:04:44.666 align:middle in terms of IP, in terms of evaluating information, which requires a deep 00:04:44.666 --> 00:04:48.446 align:middle and disciplined understanding of how to verify information among other things. 00:04:48.516 --> 00:04:53.396 align:middle But what really happened through all of these previous threats to the profession? 00:04:53.616 --> 00:04:56.306 align:middle Did librarians and information professionals go away? 00:04:56.306 --> 00:04:58.596 align:middle Have children's librarians gone away? 00:04:58.596 --> 00:05:00.056 align:middle Has legal research gone away? 00:05:00.056 --> 00:05:02.096 align:middle Did the need for humans go away? 00:05:03.046 --> 00:05:04.336 align:middle The short answer is no. 00:05:05.086 --> 00:05:09.886 align:middle In fact, from this perspective, the need for humans has only become more critical. 00:05:10.336 --> 00:05:13.096 align:middle The need for the skills and knowledge of librarians 00:05:13.096 --> 00:05:15.616 align:middle and information professionals has only grown. 00:05:17.466 --> 00:05:22.416 align:middle British mathematician Clive Humby -- you may or may not know that name -- 00:05:22.416 --> 00:05:27.206 align:middle is the person who declared in 2006 that, "Data is the new oil." 00:05:27.736 --> 00:05:29.156 align:middle And I think that's been true. 00:05:29.156 --> 00:05:31.276 align:middle I think we've been living through that time. 00:05:31.316 --> 00:05:34.516 align:middle Yet I think we're moving beyond that. 00:05:34.516 --> 00:05:39.346 align:middle And I am perhaps weirdly excited again for our opportunities in this next phase 00:05:39.346 --> 00:05:43.176 align:middle and not because I think AI is all that. 00:05:43.176 --> 00:05:47.366 align:middle I would update what Humby said and say that information is the new oil, 00:05:47.656 --> 00:05:53.336 align:middle knowledge is the new oil, credibility and trust are the new oil, 00:05:53.816 --> 00:05:57.316 align:middle and these things are becoming increasingly threatened by misinformation, 00:05:57.316 --> 00:06:04.526 align:middle lack of credibility, simple ignorance, outright falsehoods, and the disappearing of information. 00:06:05.816 --> 00:06:10.746 align:middle We have rarely been at a more critical time and rarely had a more critical need 00:06:11.166 --> 00:06:15.286 align:middle for your whole spectrum of skills from developing children's programming 00:06:15.286 --> 00:06:21.236 align:middle to teaching information literacy to conducting reference interviews to managing content access 00:06:21.236 --> 00:06:26.896 align:middle and metadata to carefully curating and preserving absolutely unique and precious items 00:06:26.896 --> 00:06:31.926 align:middle to understanding and sharing the knowledge that will continue to save lives 00:06:31.926 --> 00:06:34.216 align:middle and literally make all of our lives better. 00:06:35.376 --> 00:06:38.346 align:middle You are at the end of a rigorous part of your journey. 00:06:38.346 --> 00:06:40.856 align:middle FIRST, again, congratulations. 00:06:41.266 --> 00:06:44.826 align:middle No matter your experience, this is a monumental achievement. 00:06:44.826 --> 00:06:50.366 align:middle I will tell you I am still grateful to be done with my MLIS degree because it was so much work 00:06:50.366 --> 00:06:53.576 align:middle and may that feeling stay with you for a long time as well. 00:06:53.576 --> 00:06:57.066 align:middle But second, why did you do it? 00:06:57.066 --> 00:06:59.506 align:middle Why did you devote the time and money and resources? 00:07:00.616 --> 00:07:05.666 align:middle Each of you will have your own answer, but I would venture that one reason that resonates 00:07:05.666 --> 00:07:12.636 align:middle across all of us is because this work fires you up, this work means something to you and you see 00:07:12.636 --> 00:07:15.756 align:middle and believe that it means something to others and to the world. 00:07:16.206 --> 00:07:21.176 align:middle And I would venture to say because you believe people are important first and foremost, 00:07:21.286 --> 00:07:25.566 align:middle whoever they are, however they choose to identify, wherever they come from, 00:07:25.566 --> 00:07:29.216 align:middle whoever they choose to love, and you want to spread literacy and knowledge 00:07:29.216 --> 00:07:33.586 align:middle and your own insatiable curiosity and love of this work to others. 00:07:35.166 --> 00:07:41.276 align:middle A shining example of this is iSchool alum Mychal Threets whose name you likely know 00:07:41.276 --> 00:07:45.146 align:middle and who among other things spreads library joy wherever he goes 00:07:45.146 --> 00:07:47.586 align:middle and who is now PBS resident librarian. 00:07:48.276 --> 00:07:54.396 align:middle Especially in this challenging time, spreading library and information joy in whatever way 00:07:54.396 --> 00:07:57.576 align:middle that is meaningful for you is incredibly important. 00:07:57.806 --> 00:08:02.146 align:middle And so to conclude, I'm going to share a few well-worn pieces 00:08:02.146 --> 00:08:04.206 align:middle of advice because they're still true. 00:08:04.866 --> 00:08:08.566 align:middle They apply just as much in the last millennium as they do in this millennium. 00:08:08.696 --> 00:08:15.306 align:middle So, first, stay curious no matter who or what is in front of you. 00:08:15.876 --> 00:08:17.476 align:middle Stay curious about the world. 00:08:17.966 --> 00:08:22.556 align:middle This is essential to what brought us to this day and will continue to carry us forward 00:08:22.556 --> 00:08:26.746 align:middle in our careers and in our lives and in our next generations. 00:08:26.836 --> 00:08:29.566 align:middle Stay curious about what might be possible. 00:08:30.646 --> 00:08:34.426 align:middle In your curiosity, talk to others, connect with others, 00:08:34.556 --> 00:08:37.506 align:middle look for your opportunities and say, "Yes." 00:08:38.796 --> 00:08:40.826 align:middle Give more than you take. 00:08:41.476 --> 00:08:43.176 align:middle This is advice from our great friend 00:08:43.176 --> 00:08:47.426 align:middle and competitive intelligence practitioner Ellen Naylor, "The more you give, 00:08:47.426 --> 00:08:50.586 align:middle my experience has been the more the world will give to you." 00:08:50.736 --> 00:08:57.276 align:middle Finally, have an opinion, share your thoughts, keep an open mind. 00:08:57.496 --> 00:09:01.136 align:middle Your informed perspective is invaluable these days. 00:09:01.946 --> 00:09:03.286 align:middle The world needs you. 00:09:03.546 --> 00:09:08.006 align:middle I truly and deeply believe that, and I stand by that. 00:09:08.006 --> 00:09:12.396 align:middle The world may not know it yet, but often we are able to see 00:09:12.396 --> 00:09:14.806 align:middle around the corner a little more than others. 00:09:14.806 --> 00:09:17.596 align:middle And so sometimes, we have to take the first step. 00:09:17.596 --> 00:09:23.136 align:middle We often have to take the lead and show others the way and illustrate our dazzling skills. 00:09:24.136 --> 00:09:29.556 align:middle We are all finding our way in this challenging and beautiful and creative profession 00:09:29.556 --> 00:09:34.576 align:middle that we're in, but we're here for each other just as your faculty and your school 00:09:34.576 --> 00:09:37.646 align:middle and your family chosen or otherwise and your friends 00:09:37.646 --> 00:09:40.496 align:middle and peers here today will continue to be here for you. 00:09:41.126 --> 00:09:44.476 align:middle Let us not lose sight of this and let us not lose hope. 00:09:45.376 --> 00:09:50.426 align:middle And to quote the poet Rumi, "Let yourself be silently drawn 00:09:50.606 --> 00:09:53.256 align:middle by the strange pull of what you really love. 00:09:53.676 --> 00:09:55.346 align:middle It will not lead you astray." 00:09:56.396 --> 00:10:00.886 align:middle Congratulations again, graduates and family and friends and faculty. 00:10:00.886 --> 00:10:02.636 align:middle Thank you for all that you do.