President Caitlin with the 2007 Spring Hui Dui Officers.

Hui Dui is the group that represents the entire student body of the LIS Program – every LIS student is in fact a member of Hui Dui, and the officers help to support the student body by fundraising and hosting events. The two main events that Hui Dui plans are the New Student Orientation and the Graduation Dinner. We also help to create a friendly classroom environment in Bilger 319 (our current post-flood student center), as well as manage the Lending Library and Gowns for Grads.

Vice President Caitlin with the 2006 Hui Dui Officers.

New Student Orientation

Before school starts in the Fall and Spring we hold a New Student Orientation to give the incoming students information about the upcoming semester and welcome them to the LIS Program. The Orientation is usually held the Tuesday or Wednesday before school starts, and includes announcements for student organizations and professional organizations, registration information and advising sessions, and a catered lunch. We think this is an important function for new students, as it allows them to meet each other and the faculty in a friendly and informative atmosphere.

Preparation for this event includes: prepping the classroom; sending invitations to students, faculty and guest speakers; organizing the RSVPs; putting together the information packets; coordinating with faculty on advising sessions; ordering and setting up lunch; and creating and following a schedule for the day-long event. I think this kind of organizational experience is great for anyone trying to host an event and would certainly be useful in a professional setting.


back to top ^ Graduation Dinner

At the end of each Fall and Spring we organize a formal party for the graduating members of the LIS Program. The ceremony includes giving of awards, speeches, and the LIS certificate. We have great food and enjoy great company as we celebrate the conclusion of their hard work as students, and their beginning as professionals! Of course this is a fabulous way to bid farewell to the graduating class, and Hui Dui is proud to out on this event.

Preparation for this event includes: finding a location; making arrangements with the caterer; sending out invitations and organizing the RSVPs; setting and managing the budget; decorating the room and preparing the graduate gifts; making a schedule for the ceremony and speakers; having a great time! Again, this kind of planning experience is great for anyone working with library events or professional gatherings – I always enjoy the Grad Dinners, it’s a lot of work, but really worth it.


back to top ^ In the Classroom

Hui Dui works to make the LIS classroom a place where people feel comfortable and welcome. After the loss of the student diner in the flood of 2004, Hui Dui set up shop in the Bilger 319 classroom. There we keep a stock of snacks and drinks for students to enjoy. We also do maintenance on the classroom printers and keep them stocked with paper so students can have the convenience of printing in their own area. It’s important that students feel they have a comfortable environment to work and study in, especially so after the flood displaced us, and these things serve as a kind of morale-builder for us.


back to top ^ Fundraising

Hui Dui has to raise funds each semester to pay for the events we run and the supplies we buy throughout the year. In the past we ran smaller fundraisers like bake sales and t-shirt sales, but in the past year and a half our best event has been the Online Auction. In the Spring of 2006, Cindy Wagner (Treasurer) came up with the idea for a silent auction based on donations from local businesses. I liked the idea and suggested that we run it online rather than trying to host it in an actual physical location – figuring we’d get more customers if it were more easily accessible and convenient. Together we planned the auction and it was a great success, making more than $750 for the past three semesters.

For more details on the Online Auction, please see this write-up Cindy and I did: here.


back to top ^ Lending Library

In the Spring of 2005, my first semester in the LIS Program, I created the Lending Library to provide library course textbooks to students free of charge. After the flood the previous semester, a lot of materials had been lost, including some classroom sets of standard textbooks – I got permission to make space in the LIS classroom and sent out emails asking for donations. That first semester, thanks to the generosity of graduating students and others, we acquired our first 50 books.

Now, the lending library has over 75 books covering most of the required courses and a variety of electives. Students are allowed to check out the books for one semester, and must put their email address on the checkout sheet in case someone needs to share with them. Every semester we continue to ask for donations of books, and little by little the collection grows. I think this is a great way to support our students, especially given the rising cost of textbooks, and a wonderful way to keep people involved in supporting future students.


back to top ^ Gowns for Grads

In the Fall of 2006 our secretary Christine Cipolla had the idea to gather barely used graduation caps, gowns and hoods and provide them for LIS students at a steeply reduced cost. Since then we have been providing graduation regalia for students at $5 per set so that our graduating students can attend the UH graduation ceremony without being penalized by cost. Again, I think this is an excellent service that shows that by working together we can reduce costs for everyone and provide a sense of support for LIS students.