Practice Makes Perfect: Rujipa Laosin, ARL Kaleidoscope Scholar, MLIS ’27

Pottery has forced me to abandon some of my perfectionism. It is simply not possible to get it totally right the first time, especially for a beginner like me. It is a good reminder that practice makes perfect!

  
Online Master of Arts in Library and Information Science student Rujipa Laosin, who is originally from Thailand, has been selected as an ARL Kaleidoscope Scholar, a prestigious two-year program by the Association of Research Libraries. Studying from Canada after also living in Australia and Singapore, she finds that time management and a clear study plan are essential for success in the MLIS, particularly as a distance learner. Learn more about Rujipa, including her passion for pottery and advice for other online MLIS students, in this student profile.

What brought you to the University of Arizona to study library and information science?

I was particularly attracted to the University of Arizona’s MLIS program for a few reasons. I had been doing thorough research to choose my dream university. I found that the MLIS program at U of A is comprehensive. The courses offered in the Academic Librarianship stream have clearly been designed for the contemporary experience and are thus highly relevant. As a distance-learning student, it is important for me to be in an online program that runs efficiently and with strong support from faculty. I also felt a strong sense of support as U of A welcomes students from diverse backgrounds.

Tell us more about your interest in academic librarianship.

I am enthusiastic to work in a research library. I have developed many areas of interest, including library leadership, digital services and library assessment work. Currently, libraries are going through tremendous change due to technological developments and navigating this change requires strong leadership and evidence-based approaches to make strategic decisions.

What has been your biggest challenge in the MLIS program, and how have you overcome that challenge?

The biggest challenge that has presented itself during my first semester is the struggle to “think big” with more holistic perspectives. Even though I am fortunate to already be working in the library field, my daily tasks are limited in scope. Most of the tasks are very granular. To overcome the challenge, I have worked on developing an understanding of overarching prospectives by engaging deeply with the program curriculum and doing extracurricular activities such as joining mentorship programs and taking part in committee work in various organizations.

What has been your biggest challenge outside of pursuing your master's degree?

I have frequently moved from one place to another and have had to adapt to new cultural environments. I was born and raised in Thailand and have lived in Australia and Singapore. I moved to Canada in 2019 with a fresh start, including switching my career path to the library field. It is unavoidable that the feeling of detachment hits once in a while. To overcome the challenge, I cook very spicy Thai food as it always reminds me of who I am and that gives me the energy that I need to keep going.

You were recently selected as an ARL Kaleidoscope Scholar, a prestigious two-year program designed to prepare graduate students for purposeful and consequential careers in research libraries and archives. Tell us about that.

With my goal of serving as a librarian in a research library, I am honored to have been named an Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Kaleidoscope Scholar in the 2025-2027 cohort. I look forward to building a community of support with my cohort through the program’s many activities, including the ARL Leadership Symposium at the University of Pennsylvania in 2026 and a member institution site visit at the University of Colorado Boulder in 2027.
 

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Outside of school, what are your hobbies?

I have various hobbies as I am always up for a new challenge. The one that is most consistent is pottery. I enjoy doing clay on the wheel which I started six months ago. I initially thought that the hobby would be relaxing for my mind and body, but I was wrong. I learned the hard way that it is quite challenging and requires patience. The most difficult part of the process is the first step, which is to center the clay. What I like most about this hobby is that it has changed my way of doing things. It has forced me to abandon some of my perfectionism. It is simply not possible to get it totally right the first time, especially for a beginner like me. Pottery is a good reminder that practice makes perfect!

What advice do you have for incoming online MLIS students?

For the MLIS online program, time management and a clear study plan are crucial to be successful. Course material and assignments come thick and fast, and it is important to be prepared. Reading thoroughly, including beyond the course material to learn about the library field’s current trends, will help you apply what you learn in the program to real-world libraries.

 
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