Reflection

The Master’s in Library and Information Studies program at Old Dominion University has successfully prepared me to be a well-rounded professional in the LIS field. I am confident that I have accomplished all seven Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs), and it is evident throughout my coursework and internship experience.

 

SLO number one is: “Create innovative responses to the needs and interests of diverse and global communities.” It doesn’t matter what we think is best for a library; we must stop, listen, and observe what’s genuinely happening in our communities, and then act. I demonstrated this SLO in my Pathfinder, Environmental Scan, Grant Proposal, Collection Plan, Program Proposal, and Library of Things assignments.

In each of these assignments, I analyzed the demographic data and then developed innovative solutions to help meet the community's needs. For example, Bedford County, Virginia, has a digital divide gap and a large population of older citizens. I served this group of citizens by curating my Library of Things assignment specifically with resources that benefit the senior population. I also created an entire Digital Literacy Course series geared towards senior patrons as part of my Program Proposal. In my grant proposal, I created an innovative solution to food insecurity in the Bedford community by proposing a Farm-to-Fridge program.

 

I serve the veteran population with mental health information through a resourceful and user-friendly pathfinder, which provides diverse materials in various formats. I also created an infographic, which is a creative way to display complex census data in an accessible format.

 

SLO number two is: “Demonstrate leadership attributes for a variety of information environments.” Leadership can take different forms for each of us. An essential part of being a leader is being teachable. In the Program Proposal, I display leadership skills by including digital literacy training for the library staff and myself to help close our own skills gap. I did this because it’s okay if the staff, including me, didn’t have up-to-date technology skills. After all, that field is evolving at a rapid rate, and it can be difficult to stay ahead of the curve. However, it was important to have a plan to catch us up so we can be effective leaders in this area. You don’t have to know everything to be a leader, but maintaining a growth mindset is crucial.

I also displayed proactive leadership through the grant proposal assignment. I saw the community’s demographics and needs, then took the initiative to apply for a grant that helped mitigate this issue. I also demonstrated leadership strengths through this assignment by engaging in community outreach and service planning, which helped a high-poverty Appalachian town combat food insecurity.

 

Through the Pathfinder assignment, I demonstrated compassionate leadership by acknowledging a gap in mental health information for veterans. I then responded to this need by creating a user-friendly site with accurate and trustworthy information. As a veteran, it was a full-circle moment for me to design a resource that gives directly back to my community of prior service members.

 

In my Advanced Library Management and Culturally Responsive Librarianship courses, I refined these leadership skills through various assignments. I'm confident that I possess a unique skill set, and I’m eager to continue learning so I can truly be the best leader I can be in any role I take on.

 

SLO number three is: “Interpret and apply basic and applied research to improve their professional practice.” Reading and learning about library science research is excellent, but putting that into practice is where the rubber meets the road. I am confident that through the featured artifacts and other coursework, I can take academic literature and apply it to improve decisions in the workplace. I demonstrated this specifically in the Environmental Scan, Collection Plan, Program Proposal, and Library of Things.

While these assignments are geared towards the Bedford, Virginia, community, specifically the Bedford Central Library, I reviewed the course readings, other LIS journals, and articles, and applied the theory and research to practical ways of serving the Bedford community.

For example, in the Collection Plan, I cite an article that discusses how the pandemic deepened the digital divide and proposed that the Bedford Library add hotspots to their collection to help bridge this gap.

 

SLO number four is: “Access, synthesize, and evaluate information to assist information seekers.” Research and learning can be overwhelming when the data doesn’t make sense. LIS professionals are experts in organizing complex information so that it is digestible and accessible. I believe I did a great job of presenting this in my Pathfinder by organizing the information clearly and concisely, while also vetting my resources to ensure they are credible and authoritative.

In my Program Proposal, I utilized census data from my Environmental Scan to inform the development of a digital literacy course that empowers information seekers to overcome technological barriers, enabling them to make informed decisions. I then utilized the same census data to help serve the same community through the Grant Proposal. That census data, along with food insecurity statistics in Bedford, allowed me to evaluate the information and then assist patrons by providing a practical solution to help mitigate this issue.

 

Overall, through these artifacts and other coursework, I have grown immensely in this area by learning how to take information and utilize it to benefit information seekers through a variety of programs, services, and collections.

 

SLO number five is: “Integrate evolving technologies and theories that underpin their design, application, and use with library and information services.” Technology is ever-changing and highly diverse. LIS professionals can utilize this plethora of technological tools to help patrons/users in a variety of ways. I am grateful for the many ways this MLIS program has helped me learn and grow in this area.

 

I had prior LibGuides experience from my time at Sheppard Memorial Library. Therefore, I opted to try something new and utilized Google Sites to create my Pathfinder. That was a great experience, and I’m glad I chose to learn something different in that regard.

I made my infographic for the Environmental Scan using Canva. I feel that my Canva skills and overall graphic design skills have immensely grown since starting this program. I made hundreds of social media images for my internship with EveryLibrary. Although I left the library marketing world in 2017, I quickly refreshed my rusty skills through my internship and coursework. I also displayed efficient video editing skills through a variety of assignments, including the artifact video walk-throughs.

 

I also learned a great deal about developing collections that include advanced technology, especially in the Library of Things assignment. In that assignment, I included EnChroma Color Blind Glasses, a 3D pedometer step counter, Nikon Binoculars, and a refractor telescope. I also wrote the grant proposal to secure durable refrigerators that were hardy enough to withstand the outside elements, helping to provide food to patrons even when the library was closed.

 

SLO number six is: “Analyze current and historical trends to forecast future directions of the library and information field.” It’s essential to review the past while analyzing the present so we can make informed and wise decisions for the future. I believe I successfully completed this through my Collection Plan, Program Proposal, and Library of Things. Through these assignments, I learned to make data-driven decisions based on past research to help create a better future that is full of diverse and inclusive library services. I achieved this by examining research from past academic articles and journals, and then using that information to anticipate patrons’ future needs. I then created progressive programs and collections to meet these needs.  

In my Community Archives and Foundations of Library and Information Studies courses, I learned about the history of libraries and archives and how they are evolving in today’s world. I learned a great deal from my Community Archiving course about how the field is progressing and how crucial it is for these institutions to exist in order to preserve diverse communities. Especially because traditional repositories historically haven’t valued these stories and experiences. It was exciting to learn about the various community archiving organizations and explore how we can support these institutions moving forward.

 

During my internship at EveryLibrary, I assisted with the book ban database. This taught me how to analyze historical and current censorship trends. I also wrote educational articles about library policy and current library studies. I then took this information and communicated future library advocacy priorities through these articles for EveryLibrary’s email newsletters.

 

SLO number seven is: “Create a plan for continuous professional development and lifelong learning.” Library and Information professionals are fortunate when it comes to continuing education, as we already possess many skills and are proficient at researching. However, as I mentioned earlier, we don’t know everything. This is why having a growth mindset in this profession is imperative. I demonstrated continuous education in my Program Proposal assignment by suggesting that staff and I take a digital literacy curriculum to close our own skills gaps, so we can adequately assist patrons. This was an essential element to include in the assignment, as we need to understand our own limitations and continually work towards improvement in these areas.

 

In an assignment not featured on my portfolio, I had the opportunity to interview a librarian. The rubric required each student to state their “next steps” after the interview. I ended up randomly choosing an ODU MLIS alumna, Miranda Southerland, who provided me with excellent professional guidance. I created a plan after the interview and set a goal for each suggestion she made. She recommended that I explore different professional organizations in my niche. I took this advice and then added these organizations to my resource curation list. This allowed me to curate a diverse collection of resources, including several continuous learning platforms, such as American Libraries Live, as well as other blogs and a library podcast.

 

Miranda also encouraged me to learn more about controlled vocabulary, so I signed up for LIBS 687: Cataloging and Classification. She also suggested that I stay open to non-traditional library positions. This inspired me to apply for an internship at a library non-profit organization. She also strongly advised me to stay organized with my portfolio and plan of study, which I greatly appreciated. This assignment was essential in cultivating my networking skills, and I learned that it is both fruitful and wise to apply the advice I received.
 

Overall, the knowledge I learned throughout this program has equipped me with a diverse toolkit. I gained confidence in areas where I lacked prior knowledge, such as programming, collection development, and grant writing. This program helped me become an innovative LIS professional committed to growth and learning. I’m eager to utilize this new skill set to be the best compassionate and ethical leader I can be for my employer, coworkers, and community members.