Faculty member Joy Shoemaker’s educational and career journey highlights the cross-disciplinary opportunities in the library and information science fields. In the USC Master of Management in Library and Information Science (MMLIS) program, faculty members like Shoemaker share their specialized expertise to prepare students to lead in a variety of careers after graduation.
Joy Shoemaker discovered librarianship during law school. She went on to complete both her JD and MLS degrees, and she has spent her 20+ year career combining her passion for law and libraries. Shoemaker is currently the Librarian at the United States Court of Appeals in Pasadena, California, a branch of the Ninth Circuit Library within the federal judiciary. She has previously served as the Head of Research Services for the School of Law Library at the University of California, Irvine, a research librarian for the Supreme Court of the United States Library, and a reference librarian for the School of Law Library at Duke University.
A leader in the field of law librarianship, she serves on the Board of the Southern California Association of Law Libraries as the past president, on the Economic Status of Law Librarians Committee for the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), and as the Chair of the Council of Chapter Presidents for AALL. Joy was honored as a “Leader of Today” in Celebrating Diversity: A Legacy of Minority Leadership in the American Association of Law Libraries (2018).
Shoemaker currently teaches courses in User-Centered Collection Development. Read more about her career experiences, her approach to teaching, and her advice for prospective students below.
What inspired you to pursue a career in library and information science?
I was inspired to pursue librarianship when I started working in the law library during my second semester of law school. I learned that all the reference librarians at IU-Bloomington had their law degrees. They were wonderful mentors who provided terrific advice and inspiration. They all showed great passion and interest in their work, which was infectious.
I was so excited to start library school. Realizing I could pursue librarianship and use my law degree was a perfect fit for me, as I enjoyed the research portions of the coursework much more than synthesizing and crafting legal arguments. I later learned from long-time friends that they were not surprised by my career choice. I was inspired long ago, as our elementary school librarian was my favorite teacher. I volunteered as a library aide as soon as I could in the 4th grade, and I told friends during high school that I wanted to be a librarian. The inspiration came full circle after lying dormant for a number of years in between.
I know many librarians, including law librarians, transition from other careers into librarianship. I was lucky to have the perfect career path present itself to me while I was still in school.
How do you incorporate your real-world experience into your teaching?
The courses in the USC program are so spot-on to the real work we do in libraries; I find it very easy to incorporate my experiences into my teaching. As I prepare for a session, or during a session, a real-world example always pops into my mind.
How has the field changed in recent years? Where do you see it heading?
Our field has changed tremendously in recent years, and the first two things that come to mind are the continuing shift from reliance on print materials to online materials and, more recently, the major impact AI is having on many industries, including librarianship. As we have many times, librarians will need to shift and pivot to embrace AI in our workflows and services to our users. I think educating users will continue to be a priority for libraries, with more focus on best practices and pitfalls of AI.
What motivates you in your work, and how do you stay inspired in this dynamic industry?
I am primarily motivated by two aspects of our work: helping people and learning new things. I enjoy finding answers for people who cannot or do not have the time to find things themselves. I like solving puzzles and hunting things down. No matter how many reference questions or research projects I have had over the years, there is always a novel question that gets asked. There is always a new tool or issue that needs to be addressed. There is always something to learn about. I enjoy putting these two things together — I learn about new options and products, and bridge that content with the people who need them.
What qualities do you see in successful students in this program?
Being intellectually curious, service-oriented, and open-minded are the main qualities I observe in successful students. Some of the most satisfying moments in teaching for me are when something from our readings or session clicks into place for a student. This could come in the form of the student carefully reading the assigned materials and asking clarifying questions, starting or engaging in a dialogue with other students to arrive at a new understanding or changed perspective, or being able to imagine themselves working in a future library and ask questions that create a practical connection for them. Engaging with these program materials and making the most of this coursework by asking questions is where I see successful learning.
What advice would you give prospective students considering this program?
Do not be afraid to ask questions. Approach librarians to ask their advice, email USC faculty or administrators with questions, and ask current students about their experiences if you have a chance. If feasible, volunteer or work part-time in a library. Review the 12 courses in the curriculum described in the MMLIS Program Overview and ask yourself if this coursework speaks to you and excites you. If you see yourself and your interests aligning with this program, go for it! Librarianship was the best decision I ever made, and it may be for you as well.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I am not much of an athlete, but I have enjoyed participating in triathlons for many years and am an Ironman. Completing an Ironman triathlon was probably the toughest thing I’ve ever accomplished.
Can you share a piece of advice that has been particularly valuable to you throughout your career?
The best advice I have received in my career is to be okay with making mistakes, because if you are never making mistakes, you are not taking enough chances. It is okay to fail, as you always learn something from the experience and come out better for it on the other side.
Learn more about the Master of Management in Library & Information Science program.