Ashten Vassar-Cain

Which Workplace is Right for Me?

With so many workplace options available, it can be challenging for library and information science students to find the right fit. During my time at Simmons, I gained firsthand experience working in different libraries, archives, and museums (LAMs). I’ve put together some key insights and practical advice for students who are considering careers in different types of LAMs. Academic Library: Working in acquisitions and discovery for an academic library set a strong foundation for my career in LAMs. For a large institution, accurate metadata was essential to make our collections accessible to students and faculty. I learned from experienced librarians, identified items to weed from circulation, reshelved books, and updated holdings with more modern and complete information. My favorite part of working in an academic library was learning how large institutions prioritize decision-making in their collections. This has been extremely helpful to take into my work in smaller institutions. The most challenging part of working in an academic library was the large volume of items that needed processing. I would say that this is a…

Reflections on NCPH/AASLH Public History Conference

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of attending “The Work of Revolution” jointconference of the National Council on Public History (NCPH) and the AmericanAssociation of State and Local History (AASLH) in Providence, Rhode Island. This wasthe first joint conference of the organizations, and my first time attending a conferencecentered on public history! ​ I was eager to learn how public history projects and institutions of varyingsize/capacity are adapting to new and ongoing challenges in the field. The conferencesessions directly engaged participants and posed meaningful questions for students,scholars, and practitioners grappling with increased censorship and slashed budgets.Even with these named tensions, the conference curated an atmosphere for collectiveproblem-solving and action. NCPH and AASLH aptly described the theme as a“reflection on the work of revolutions past and the work that lies ahead.” ​ I represented the Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance in a roundtablediscussion titled “Who’s In Control?: Digitally Archiving Disability and Self-Advocacy.”We shared our approach to reparative metadata and collaboration with individuals withIntellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), many of whom had survivedinstitutions like Pennhurst. Unfortunately,…

Online

When I first applied to Simmons, I was not sure if I was suited for an online program. I had just come from an in-person degree at my previous institution and wasn’t sure which modality would suit me best. When I had to relocate for my job, I knew attending in person would not be possible. Still, I was worried, having not completed online schooling since the early days of the COVID pandemic. I quickly learned that I would still feel like a supported and valued member of the Simmons community. Group projects with classmates, working with professors on LIS research, in-person field placements, office hours, and virtual events at SLIS all made me feel less alone and helped me make the most of my studies. I learned to connect more deeply with my passion for archives and cultural heritage informatics, and also to push myself outside of my comfort zone and explore new areas of the field like academic publishing and coding. If I had any advice for myself starting this program after a…