iSchool Capstone

2022

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Why I Want to Quit Librarianship

We acknowledge that librarianship is subjective, but subjectivity invites potential for artistry, esotericism, provocation which I feel is sorely underexplored. My project encompasses four works of library art - art which critically and creatively engages with the theory, practice, politics, culture, technology, and mechanics of libraries and information. My work includes exploratory information technology and design experiments and ideological messaging, but above all it is art, aimed at intangible enrichment of the self and others.
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WTBBL Diversity Audit

The Washington Talking Book and Braille Library (WTBBL) needs diverse collections in order to meet its users’ needs. In order to expose gaps in WTBBL’s holdings, our team conducted a diversity audit of the young adult collection. We found that the authors and main characters in the collection are overwhelmingly white, cisgender, and heterosexual. We recommended ways to make the collection more representative of Washington’s population and improve the library’s subject headings. With these recommendations and the data to justify them, WTBBL will be better equipped to serve its users with diverse, representative collections.

2021

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¡Adios COVID!

Our team worked with Adios COVID and their Partners to create a reliable and convenient resource for the Hispanic community within Washington to ultimately put more vaccination shots in arms. Our goals were to support this ongoing project by improving the features and designs that were urgently needed to be pushed on to the web page. Specifically, we focused on simplifying the user interface and providing tools through different forms of research to improve the design of every feature of the application.
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A Colorful View

Color Vision Deficiency (CVD) is a reduced ability to distinguish colors, which currently affects 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women globally. Individuals with CVD reported that they’ve faced judgments from their peers and teachers, especially in their teen years. However, few products in the current market address this issue. Thus, we aimed to help teenagers with CVD achieve reconciliation with themselves so that they can cope with CVD in a healthy way. We developed an interactive journal game about the emotional journey taken by a boy with color vision deficiency named Bobby — A Colorful View.
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A Homelessness Report for the Sacramento Public Library

This project was focused on exploring what libraries are doing to serve people experiencing homelessness - and if there is more that the Sacramento Public Library can do to address the issue of homelessness in their communities. A literature review, Sacramento-specific report, and accompanying slide deck were created as tools and references for staff at this organization; these and our recommendations will hopefully lead to additional services and direct impacts to those experiencing homelessness on the streets and shelters in Sacramento and beyond.
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A State and Local Population Projections Database

Population projections are estimates of the future population. As part of planning, states and localities across the country develop population projections on a regular basis, but methods and resources differ by area, making quality difficult to evaluate. This State and Local Population Projections Database, stored as part of the Applied Demography Toolbox, brings together state and local population projection information and materials from different sources through survey responses and file sharing. The database can be used by population projection developers and researchers for the study and analysis of population projection methods and associated uncertainty.
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Accessible form for people with disabilities

The Alliance of People with disAbilities is a nonprofit in King County that connects people with disabilities to independent living plans and opportunities. The Alliance currently records consumer information using paper forms, which they then report to the U.S. government. Using paper forms is a barrier for two reasons – one, consumers can’t visit the Alliance’s office due to COVID-19 restrictions; two, the process can be very time-consuming, taking more than 4 hours per consumer. To solve this, our team designed an accessible and easy-to-understand online form that saves time, relieves form fatigue, and allows people to complete the form at home.
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Accessible History in the Seattle Public Schools

Until my capstone, there were no finding aids on the chosen topic: desegregation and busing in Seattle Public Schools. Researchers did not have as much access to this information. Physical materials on this highly requested topic can now be presented to researchers. Hopefully, this finding aid will lead to more transparency and accountability for both helpful and harmful actions committed by the Seattle Public Schools.
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Aghaz Investments: Calculate Your Financial Wellness Score

An increasing portion of the US population prefer making investments in companies or funds to achieve financial returns as well as positive social or environmental impacts. This is especially true for Muslim investors, who currently have few options for investing in a way that aligns with their religious beliefs. The financial health tool on the Aghaz Investments app allows customers to assess their financial situations by responding to questions which help generate a financial health score and then provide specific tips and recommendations on how users can improve.