Comments from LSO Officers

Maggie Swanger (swanger@email.arizona.edu) - Vice President
Volunteering my time as an LSO officer has been incredibly worthwhile. Before holding office I was one of the many "silent" students in the department. However, the LSO threw me into new situations and introduced me to new people, both within and outside of the department. I have gained so much in confidence and leadership experience. Time and again, professionals in the field have told me that active involvement outside of coursework really sets you apart when applying for jobs. So, I encourage you to make the time and get the most out of your educational experience.

Shawn Nelson (stnelson@u.arizona.edu) -Faculty/Student Liaison
I spent my first two semesters barely involved in SIRLS activities -- Serving as Faculty/Student Liaison has connected me to SIRLS faculty, staff, and students. I have had the pleasure of getting to know the faculty and staff better and especially of understanding how a department and school works. This has been a very valuable experience for me and I strongly encourage you to run. If you want to get to know faculty, and you are a confidential person, then this is the position for you!

Erica DeFrain (edefrain@email.arizona.edu) - Webmaster
Not only did I get to call myself "webmaster" (or webmistress, depending on my mood), but I also had a great time using this opportunity to refine my web building skills. This is a fabulous position for someone interested in web design, and it also looks really good on a resume. If you're creative, patient, computer literate or at least have the ambition to be, and want to be more involved with your fellow students, I strongly encourage you to run for this position. Don't hesitate to email me if you have questions!

Kim Leeder (leederk@email.arizona.edu) - Job Ops Coordinator
Serving as Jobs Coordinator is a great way to get involved with LSO and meet new people without getting overwhelmed by work! The time commitment required is minimal, but there's also lots of room for new ideas and projects. It's rewarding to play a part in helping others find great jobs in our field, and at the same time educate yourself about what's out to be more prepared when job searching in the future!

Leanne Yoder (lyoder@email.arizona.edu) - Program Coordinator
As program coordinator it is gratifying to receive feedback from SIRLS students who say that the workshops the LSO sponsors are of value to them. Serving on the LSO offers a unique window into the behind the scenes operations of a university academic department, and a chance to form new friendships with other leaders from the SIRLS student body. In addition, collaborating with workshop presenters is an ideal venue for learning to know outstanding librarian role-models from our larger community. If you are well organized, and enjoy coordinating events, then this might be the job for you!

If you have been an officer in the past and would like to share your perspective, please send your comments to alan.pannell@law.arizona.edu