Freshly Minted: Dominique Glassman

May 28, 2018

Master of Information Student, Faculty of Information, University of Toronto

Which information studies program are you attending?

I am currently enrolled in the Master of Information program at the University of Toronto iSchool. My concentration is archives and records management.

What are your current classes like? Which is your favorite so far, and why?

I’ve taken classes like “Introduction to Archives”, “Metadata Schemas and Applications”, and “Managing Organizational Records”. My favorite classes so far have been “Recordkeeping Cultures” and “Information Policy, Regulation, and Law”. “Recordkeeping Cultures” was a really excellent way of learning about the social theory and historical context that support how records and information are created and classified.

The course about Information Policy added tremendously to my media literacy and professional writing skills. Furthermore, I became well versed in current legislation affecting digital policy like the GDPR, or PIPEDA and FIPPA/MFIPPA in the Canadian context.

Is there one aspect of the profession that surprises you that you were not expecting when you started the program? What is it?

Something that really surprised me about the profession, is how issues arising from information management (usually poor information management) are EVERYWHERE. Every entity is constantly creating records, data, and information, and there is a great need for people with information management skills to help protect peoples’ privacy.

What was it that initially drove you to librarianship?

I was initially drawn to librarianship because it seemed like the logical next step for someone with a Bachelor of Arts Major in History.

If you could work anywhere, and do anything with information, what would your dream job look like?

My dream job would be working with privacy regulations and sensitive records at an organization like the FBI, CIA, or CSIS.

Or else policing powerful companies like Facebook or Google for GDPR non-compliance and general privacy violations.

If someone were considering going into information studies, what would you advise them about?

I would advise future information studies students to take advantage of any practical experience component that their program offers, and to take classes outside of their comfort zone, because graduate school is potentially the last opportunity to learn new skills in a low stakes environment. I would also suggest taking classes focusing on policy issues because it helps to have an understanding of the laws and policies that dictate information governance.

What do you think is the most important aspect of being an information professional today?

There is a ton of digital data being generated everyday that needs to be properly managed and protected, but there is also a tremendous backlog of analogue records that continue to hold legal and cultural significance for our society. Understanding the past, while simultaneous preparing for the digital future is the most important part of being an information professional. The ability to safeguard sensitive information, and create systems that allow the public to access important records is vital to being a conduit between people and their governing bodies.