Arianna Dahlia

Why did you choose City?

I choose City because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone so I could grow as a person and have more travel opportunities to see the world while I am still young. I also choose City because it was one of the few places that had my course as a face-to-face course instead of either hybrid or entirely online and face-to-face is easier to network with professors and other students.

Why did you choose to study MSc Library Science

I choose the Library Science MSc course (also known as CityLIS) because I love learning for the sake of learning and want to help others discover their own love of learning through becoming a librarian and assisting them with learning how to navigate the wonderful world of information. To do that in the capacity that I want to in the US, I need a degree.

What has been your favourite module to study?

It’s a tie between INM303 Information Organisation and EDM122 Digital Literacies and Open Practice (in Higher Education).

Can you tell us about some of the projects you have been involved in?

I participated in and won the SMCSE Idea Competition for a short reflection on how libraries can be utilized to better foster a sense of community while giving back to the less fortunate. I also got to participate in the SMCSE Global STEM Technology Challenges Think Tank which gave me the opportunity to learn more about emerging technology both in my field and home country, but also in other countries and disciplines I might not have otherwise learned about.

What did you think of the facilities on offer at City?

City has a great library! As a library science student, I am partially biased, but we love having group study sessions there. Sometimes we commandeer a couple rows of study desks and all silently study together to motivate and support each other while doing course work or writing assignments.

Has your course involved any trips?

Officially we have taken a few small trips to different local libraries like the public library next door, Senate House Library, and to the British Library. However, I think my favourite trips have been some of the ones my fellow student had unofficially planned for ourselves to go see other unique libraries or exhibitions related to the things we are learning about in are courses. One example of this is when a couple of us from the Child and Adolescent’s Literacy and Library Service module went to visit the V&A Museum of Childhood or when a couple of us took a road trip outside of London to visit and stay at a residential library.

What makes City unique?

What makes City unique is the opportunities and connections. City’s Library Science program is taught by experts in the field who are constantly working to stay up to date with the changes in the field and passing that information on to their students. They are well connected in the field and work hard to give their students opportunities to network and make connections with other librarians in the field in a wide variety of niches of library science. There are also tons of opportunities to explore the different types of libraries and librarianship through attending conferences and lectures. City is also in London, which being a global city, provides a great central point for travelling around the world and gaining a greater sense of global fluency.

What do you enjoy most about studying in London?

What I have most enjoyed is the friendships and support systems that were found and created in and by the people in the CityLIS program. We laughed, we cried, we learned, and all the while bonding as a class. It has been rare in my life to find a group as welcoming and supportive as my fellow CityLIS students have been, and I’m so glad I found them.

What do you get up to outside of University?

When I’m not travelling and exploring the UK and Europe, I enjoy spending a night out at the theatre or taking in a concert. In addition, I can sometimes be found swing dancing either at one of the workshops held by Swing Dance UK at City Sports or elsewhere around London.

What are your plans for after graduation?

After graduation I will be returning home to California to enjoy sunshine and warmth and to either continue looking for or begin my new job as a librarian. Ideal I’d like to be a reference librarian at a university library but I’m open to whatever unforeseen opportunities await me.

How has City helped you to prepare for life after graduation?

City has helped to prepare me by allowing me to gain a greater sense of global fluency and to learn about and sometimes gain experience in different types of libraries so that I can have a width of knowledge as well as depth. They also focus their teaching on the philosophical principles of why things are done more than how they are done, so my knowledge isn’t limited to a system or method which may become obsolete over time.

What would be your tips for those who have applied to City?

It goes by really fast. Make a bucket list of the things you want to try to accomplish during your studies, both academically and non-academically, and try to cross something off it every once in a while. Make time for friends, family, travel, and whatever is important to you.