Technology lending programs in academic libraries are vital for improving resource accessibility for students and faculty. This capstone project focuses on enhancing the Technology Lending Program at UC Santa Barbara’s library through research-based solutions. A comprehensive set of recommendations was developed by conducting surveys, literature reviews, and gathering staff input. These recommendations target Access, Policies, Sustainability, Marketing/Awareness, and Collaboration to optimize the Tech Lending Program. The aim is to tailor the program to better align with the specific needs of UC Santa Barbara library users, fostering a more efficient and user-centric lending experience.

The “Digital Archive Enhancement Project" addresses inefficiencies in document management and accessibility. Focusing on importing Weekly Dirt newsletters from MailChimp to the UW Farm website and migrating files from Google Drive to OneDrive, the project aims to enhance data organization and archival processes. Results include the successful establishment of a stable link for the Weekly Dirt newsletters, improved accessibility for historical documents, and streamlined document management procedures. By facilitating easier access to valuable historical resources, the project makes a significant difference in the lives of UW Farm stakeholders, researchers, and the wider community, fostering increased engagement and knowledge dissemination.

The impacts of accelerating technological and social change influence all aspects of present life. New professional disciplines have emerged over the past decade addressing online-offline crises at the intersection of digital information and social conflict & violence. This project is a field report elaborating a unique professional role drawn from my personal professional experiences and library and information science skills. Digital crisis librarianship helps people and organizations find and make sense of information about extreme and harmful subjects in a fractured and adversarial information environment. Digital crisis librarians provide information services for researchers, policy-makers, trust & safety professionals, and more.

The Tri-Cities community has a growing need to address the digital literacy gap. With over 50% of Hispanic households without a desktop or laptop, it was important for us to create a product that could help individuals obtain the knowledge needed to build digital literacy programs. To achieve this, we partnered with Yekaterina Yefimova, a Ph.D. candidate at the iSchool, to develop a site with an interactive map that displays local infrastructures, a data insights page, and a sustainable resource page. By implementing these features, we aim to contribute to the addition of digital literacy programs in the Tri-Cities.

As a federal agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) must comply with Executive Order 13985, which calls for federal agencies to address the lack of diversity in the federal workforce. To meet its diversity objectives, NOAA must engage with underrepresented student populations for internships and job opportunities. Our recruiting tool assists Washington and California state NOAA offices in their recruiting efforts, with the hopes of expanding to more U.S. states in the future. By leveraging public data, the tool provides a straightforward way for recruiting staff to find schools serving underserved communities.

Nearly 10% of Americans are living with type 2 diabetes, with minority groups facing higher rates due to significant barriers such as language and access to healthcare. Sponsored by Last Myle LLC, a company specializing in generative technology research in healthcare, Dr. Dos is a web application that simplifies diabetes prevention education for Latino community. Our platform features engaging flashcards and an AI-driven chatbot for risk assessment, providing essential information and personalized advice in English and Spanish. Designed for easy home access, Dr. Dos empowers underrepresented communities to effectively prevent diabetes, improving health outcomes and bridging healthcare disparities. Website: https://get-dpp.vercel.app/

EarthLab wants to capture where and how they and their member organizations have been engaged in transdisciplinary research, community engagement and capacity building. Our team participated in its development of a network snapshot utilizing a variety of geographic, program and other related data. The result is an non-western and community-informed data visualization. We make a difference by honoring tribal and indigenous sovereignty, data accessibility and the notion that data is more than information but represents real people, experiences and places. This project facilitates EarthLab strategic priority to activate, leverage and sustain a web of cross-boundary networks, relationships and resources.

Social media effectively raises environmental awareness in youth, but it struggles to inspire consistent and sustainable actions. Our product, EcoFriends, introduces user-friendly sustainable habits for young adults, aiming to demystify sustainable living. Our website contains short videos that offer reliable information and relatable content, showcasing easy integration of sustainability into daily life. Our primary target is the 18-25 age group, being the largest social media demographic, they have the most significant stake on conservation efforts. Empowering them with actionable steps can harness their potential to make a lasting impact on wildlife conservation and environmental sustainability.

EcoMotive is a web application designed to address the growing issue of carbon emissions caused by private passenger vehicles. In the United States, the transportation sector is responsible for 29% of greenhouse gas emissions, making it the nation’s largest contributor. Our aim is to promote sustainable transportation options to empower consumers to reduce the environmental impact of their commutes. EcoMotive provides users with high quality and personalized information about electric and hybrid vehicles and serves as a valuable resource and personal learning guide for users, enabling them to make informed decisions when searching for their next car.

The Career Center for Designers (CC4D) is a platform designed by Pixel Pioneers to empower all designers at every stage of their career journey. This self-paced program is tailored to help individuals recognize their unique value in the design realm, fostering confidence and professional growth. Through strategic marketing initiatives, including website prototypes, AB testing, and targeted social media campaigns, we're committed to making CC4D accessible to all. By providing clear pathways and invaluable resources, we're excited to guide aspiring designers toward fulfilling careers in design, driving positive change in the industry one creative at a time.