2020, 2021, & 2022
About Jumpstart 2020 and 2021
About Jumpstart 2020 and 2021
Jumpstart 2021
The second Library Technology Career Jumpstart program was held virtually August 2-6, 2021.
What participants did
Our technical workshops were designed to teach and build on foundational skills cumulatively throughout the week. Our nine participants began with a Git and Github workshop, learned HTML and CSS basics, got a taste of Python programming, and put it all together to build a working app at the end of the week.
Panel discussions, including Applying to Your First Library Tech Job, gave participants a behind-the-scenes look at working in technology in an academic library and offered a chance for practical, informative Q&As.
An Introduction to Machine Learning & Tech Ethics closed out the week by investigating data sources, demystifying algorithms, and discussing bias in technology.
View the 2021 program schedule
Jumpstart 2020
The first Library Technology Career Jumpstart program was held virtually August 3-7, 2020.
Read the article: Jumpstart Program prepares students to meet the unknown needs of tech-infused futures
What participants did
In our technical workshops, participants were introduced to some foundational concepts that they will likely encounter in the wild as technical librarians. In our Intro to Python workshop, for example, participants mastered the basics by learning how to code Twitter bots.
Our “Career Path” and “Day-in-the-Life” panels were a great way for participants to hear directly from current library technology professionals. Participants also received profiles (like this) of the panelists to refer back to later.
As part of our tech showcase session, participants got the chance to learn about the various kinds of technical projects that happen in the Libraries, such as Niqui O’Neill’s work on image annotations.
Additionally, a bundle of asynchronous content was provided to participants to pursue at their leisure after the program ended. Materials included glossaries of technical terms covered, video presentations and Q&As, and presentations on topics like “Building a Portfolio + Your Web Presence”.
View the 2020 program schedule
What they thought
Comments submitted through anonymous feedback forms:
“The workshops provided enough direction for me to identify possible interests in lib tech and explore things further on my own. I also really value the mentorship and getting to know the librarians at State. I plan on staying connected with them as I build toward a career in lib tech. There is a huge need for exactly what Jumpstart is offering so I would definitely recommend this program to other LIS students and am really excited to see the program hopefully continue in future years and expand.”
“Everyone from NC State who gave real-world examples and talked through their experiences was the biggest help in contextualizing library technology, which is what I needed.”
“I enjoyed all the programming exercises, even if they were a little overwhelming. It is a great feeling when a program you write or edit actually works! Eureka!”
“I really enjoyed going through the additional asynchronous content after the program was over!”
"The Jumpstart Program exceeded my expectations. I expected to learn something about GitHub, Python, HTML, etc. But I also gained a lot of confidence through this program from the hands-on learning and working through problems with troubleshooters. Hearing from professionals in the field and how they got to where they are today gave me insight into how I can gain experience and learn the skills I need to start a career in this line of librarianship."
"The hands-on experience of learning tech from librarians skilled in this arena was invaluable. And seeing that experts have to look up error messages and how to use unfamiliar functions made me feel empowered to continue on this track."
Read more about what participants thought in an article about the 2020 program: Jumpstart Program prepares students to meet the unknown needs of tech-infused futures