Goal I.A.
Students are able to evaluate critically, reflect, and problem-solve individually as well as collaboratively.
LIS 5020 Foundations of Lib/Info Sci
This course offered a fantastic introduction to libraries and their services. One project required researching an ethical or legal issue that libraries faced. For this, I researched the topic of patron privacy in libraries: new challenges in the digital age. How do we ensure a person’s right to enquire if they are scared that a governing body is spying on them? We need to develop policies and systems to ensure privacy when searching databases and to educate patrons about topics such as their digital footprint.
LIS 6409 Intro to Library Admin.
The ability to evaluate a situation, system, or organization is an important skill. This it especialy true when seeking to improve or grow a business or service. Intro to Library Admin gave me the opportunity to develop a strategic plan for a library or information center. I was lucky enough to be working in a library commons at the time and was able to discuss and develop a plan with the head librarian. The result was a plan that could actually be implemented, as it was based around a very real transition the commons was going through.
Goal I.B.
Students demonstrate effective communication skills.
LIS 5937 Rare Books/Special Collections
Rare books and special collections had us examine different types of books and materials found in libraries and special collections. One thing we were asked to do was create a special exhibit for library patrons. In this case, I chose to create an exhibit about the life and legacy of the famed martial arts master Yip Man. Through books, photographs, and other materials, I was able to tell his life’s story.
Goal I.C.
Students participate in professional and community engagement activities in the field.
LIS 5937 Community Engament
By engaging in our own local communities, we are better able to understand their needs and how we can best serve our patrons. My Community Engagement course asks me to go out into my own community and identify a unique population and an organization the library could partner with to better serve that population. I was able to attend two fundraisers for ALSO Youth, an organization that provides resources to LGBTQ+ youth. I was then able to write up how this organization and the library could collaborate and work together.
Goal I.D.
Students demonstrate leadership skills and innovation in a diverse and global environment.
LIS 6409 Intro to Library Admin.
Intro to Library Admin introduced me to a second important skill to learn about and evaluate. Leadership in libraries. Who leads a library and how are key to that library’s success. In order to be an effective leader in today’s day, you need to be able to work across a broader generational divide. To this end, I researched the spectrum of Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials in the modern workforce and what it means to have a diverse generational workforce in libraries.