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Final Product

SLO 01. Philosophy, Principles, and Ethics
 

 I have learned that librarians are a profession with a values statement. I have learned that information freedom and accessibility are core values in the providing of materials and information in an unbiased way. We strive to offer all points of view on current and historical issues to all information seekers. We are the disseminators of information as well as the teachers of how to get that information. In my LIS 600 class, as well as my LIS 643 class, I was able to expand on my philosophyis, principles and ethics within my profession through my professional values statement and my discussion on the problems with metadata and Google Books.

Here are examples of my approaches during my coursework:

 

 

SLO 02. Research and Thought

 

During my time in this program, we were required to conduct different styles of research, from a needs assesment to action research. I realized that through these different research methods, you are generating data that is used to drive your policies within the library, your professional development and ultimately, budgeting. Also, conducting current research also allows one to observe, evaluate, and interpret the effect of an action in library practice, integrate an intervention into practice, and publish the results of a research project so that other practitioners and researchers can learn from the project. In my LIS 620 class we were asked to observe a reference desk. Although I went into that project with preconceived notions of what I thought a reference desk was, I completed the project with an eye opening realitic view of the world of librarians. In my Social Media class, I was able to explore the ways of implementing social media within a library, providing a realistic exercise of how so many libraries are embrassing to meet the needs of the user. Implementing social media requires a large amount of research beginning with a needs assessment to determine the needs of your patrons and ultimately implementing your plan.

Here are examples of my application of research and thought throughout this journey:

 

SLO 03. Education Principles in Information Literacy
 

 I had often heard the term information literacy, but never really understood exactly what it meant - kind of like Metadata being 'information about information'. I took LIS 688, Information Literacy in the spring of 2012.  There was a lot of discussion and readings about how people today fail to evaluate or question any of the information provided to them through digital sources and references. Colleges and universities are seeing a huge problem with students and their lack of information literacy skills. These schools are relying on libraries to teach classes in finding information, as well as, process, evaluate and question, yet virtually provide no funding for them.  Information literacy should start in the media centers of our elementary schools. Higher educators need to commit and dedicate the time and budgeting to information literacy classes as requirements for incoming freshman. Libraries need to become more collaborative in the area of information literacy. Librarians need to continually appraise their information technology skills as educators and offer the patrons access to information.

As a MLIS student, the importance of these skills are required to be successful in presentations for courses as well as a continuation into career skills as we strive to implement and educate in information literacy. I created a pathfinder in my LIS 620 class for 4th graders researching landforms. Although pathfinders are not used as readily as they were a few years ago, pathfinders remain a vital resource that is easily available for librarians to provide to the users. In LIS 635, I created an interactive Power Point on weather maps. I was able to incorporate an assessment aspect. On a higher education level, I presented a tutorial on how to find tutorials on the Jackson Library website at UNCG.

Here are some of my examples of education principles in information literacy:

 

SLO 04. Design Services of all Users and Communities

 

SLO 4 requires designing services to meet the information of all users and communities. So basically everyone! In my course work, I designed services for diverse audiences. WIthin this SLO, I was shown how the services provided can benefit your patrons no matter which area of librarianship you are. The Librarian, especially with increased use of presentation technology, has developed a strong presence in designing the services for using and finding information effectively, From webinars, podcasts, videos, screencast tutorials, power points and creative programs, librarians are constantly reaching out and meeting the needs of their users. Librarians have created and designed services that create effortless and precise ways for all users in all communities to find, use, and comprehend what they are looking for. I am most proud of my work created in my LIS 635 class. These projects implemented designing services to all users and communities even though my own projects were focused on elementary school media centers.

Here are examples of my work designing services for users and communities:

 

SLO 05. Professional Development

 

When I first began this program, I did not have a clear understanding of the vast amount of subjects and issues that this profession embraces. Some issues seemed logical, such as intellectual freedom and accessibility of materials to patrons, but others, I had never really considered, such as the importance of privacy to the patrons as well as the importance of the management and development of the collections. I am impressed with the organization of librarians as a profession and the professional affiliations and codes that are in place to support the attributes of Librarians. Nearing completion of my first course toward an MLIS degree, I discovered there was far more to this field than helping someone find a book or check books in and out. I have come to realize that Librarians, whether school media specialists, public, academic, special or even archivists, have such a rich understanding and respect of information, the organization and collection of knowledge and also the commitment of service to share that knowledge and information. I have learned that librarians are not only collectors and organizers of information and knowledge but also, just as important, disseminators or the seed sowers. In my growth of my professional development, I have joined ALA (American Library Association, ALCTS (Association for Library Collections and Technical Services) division, Cataloging and Metadata Management section. I have also joined North Carolina Library Assocaition (NCLA) as well as Metrolina Library Association (MLA), a local area association. IN my LIS 644 class, I had to develop a digital project that projected the understanding of a digital librarian. In LIS 615, i created a collection management policy in a school media center which provided experience through the professional development of the aspect of a librarian. I also continued my professional development by taking the CITI Training intiaitive to conduct publishable research through UNCG.

Here is my work addressing SLO 5, Professional Development:

 

SLO 06. Technology for Information Services

 

Technology within librarianship is becoming a cohesive part of this profession. Library science is quickly marrying with computer science. In almost every course, I applied some sort of technology to connect patrons with information services. From my personal use of databases at Jackson Library to applying information literacy in Google searches, I appllied appropriate technology for effective information services. Taking LIS 635, Media Production, I became familiar with and applied use of free and open source technology to create videos, screen captures, and websites. I also have learned about different technologies to employ when creating presentations, as well as article reviews. I am currently learning basic XML and metadata schema development in LIS 643, Metadata, and have conducted research interviews over the internet and had to implement audio software for the recording.

Here are examples of my work with technology for information services.

 

SLO 07. Advocacy, Marketing, and Communication principles for entrepreneurial leadership

 

 Most libraries are funded through some sort of agency, non-profit or governmental, etc.. Funding and budgeting is always a prominent presence and constant factor. Librarians must assume the role of not only educator and presenter but also advocate, marketer and communication specialist within their many roles and responsibilities. Within this program, I have created marketing materials, learned how to advocate for my library and positions through professional management and communicated successfully to validate funding. These roles are important to the profession in achieving and attaining a successful library or position.  It is apparent in the works I have chosen to best represent SLO 07. My school media brochure is a direct marketing tactic to promote the school media and it's services. My power point presentation on implementing social media in a library is advocating for not only funding but advocating for the needs and wants of the patrons to give them more tools to access information in the library.

Examples of my work can be found below:

 

SLO 08. Collaboration

 

Group dynamics has been an important application and skill I have developed througout my course work. Successful collaboration is a vital skill that I will continue to develop and use to implement work projects, practice effective management skills and create beneficial relationships both within a group as well as outside a group or work environment. Building strong, effective relationships and learning how to successfully deal with them are vital aspect of learning in group collaboration. In our management class, we studied not only how to manage a library but more importantly, how to manage people. Management skills are not an easy attribute for most librarians and being presented the skills and resources with real life situations created confidence in my own ability to successfully manage people as is seen in the library management case study reflection that we had to complete in LIS 650.

 

There are so many aspects in collaborative work that can go right or wrong and having the skills and knowledge to recognize that and guide that group for the success of the community is a skill that will truly equal success in our careers as well as our communities. In our Online Bibliographic class, we had to revise an online database proposal based on a budgeted monetary number. We collaborated and worked through some challenges of group members schedules and access to computers to collaborate a successful online database for an academic institution. In my LIS 643 class, the collborative work that was acomplished for the creation of value spaces and application profiels resulted in a successful metadata schema and harvesting of metadata for the final assignment.

 

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