I’m Fiona Griswold, a student in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS) working on my Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS). My focus areas within library science are community informatics and school librarianship. When I finish my CAS in  December 2010, I will be certified as a school librarian for grades K-12.

My first experience working with ESLARP was in Fall 2008 as part of a project group in LIS 451 (Introduction to Networked Systems), taught by Martin Wolske. For our final project, my team worked with Second Chance Shelter to design and install a computer lab in their facility and provide some basic maintenance and usage training for their staff. The experience really confirmed for me the value of community-based learning and made me eager to seek out similar opportunities. Before starting my M.S. in Library Science in 2008, I worked for eight years as a study abroad/international education coordinator in the Study Abroad Office and College of Education at Illinois.

This year, I’m assisting Paul Adams and ESLARP with the coordination of project work in São Tomé e Principe, including a design workshop to be offered on-island during Winter Break 2009-10. I will also be attending and helping during the work weekends this year. My other assistantship has me working with Martin Wolske to develop a Community Informatics studio course that should be offered for the first time during Summer 2010.

My husband John, a creative writing instructor at Illinois, and I live in Urbana with our 7- and 4-year-old sons.