I’ve found that
I love doing research and discussing topics with my classmates. I love seeing
what everyone else’s take on ethical issues are and how they would address the
problem. It’s amazing to see how our life and world experiences influence the
choices and values we have as future librarians. I really enjoyed the LIS
agency visit and analysis assignment. One of the main things I’ve been working
on in my personal life is to be more confident and assertive with people. That
assignment really made me take charge and be bold. Completing that assignment made
me really proud of myself because I worked through my discomfort of asking
questions about a topic I am not an expert and came out the other end more knowledgeable
than before. I loved getting to see different libraries work through
industry-wide problems and obstacles. That assignment also taught me the value
of my organizational and time management skills. It was satisfying to turn in a
paper that I know I put a lot of time and effort into the final product.
I also learned that
it’s okay to take my time getting through this program. I work full-time and
due to financial constraints, I am unable to take more than one class at a
time. It’s frustrating sometimes to know that it will take me longer than I would
like to get into the profession, but maybe it’s a good thing. Maybe taking my
time will allow me the space and leisure to really explore what I want to do as
a librarian and how I want to contribute to the world of information. This
program has really put my career life into perspective. For a while there I was
just working because I had to, not because I was passionate about it. Sure I
excelled at all my previous jobs but there was no desire to do more with it.
Becoming a librarian is something that resonates with my soul; it defines a
part of me I didn’t know was undiscovered. It may sound cheesy, but I do
believe that this is my calling. I’m so proud of this profession and so exhilarated
to be a part of it.
I will bring a myriad
of skills to my professional position. I am a great listener, I respond well to
feedback, I am organized and detailed-oriented. I have a background in
advertising, public relations, and marketing, I know how to use a variety of
computer-software programs, I’m friendly, I have a phenomenal work ethic, I am
a self-starter, I am an avid reader, I’m naturally curious and like to ask
questions, I am committed to being a life-long learner, and I love to help
people.
My perceptions
and attitudes have changed and developed across the semester. I used to think
that being a librarian might get a little stale after a while, but it is
anything but that! Being a librarian is far more exciting than I ever imagined.
There is information all around us, and I get to be one of the people who
decide how to manage, organize, and disseminate it. I love research so getting
to assist others with finding information makes me geek out a bit. My attitude
toward the profession is one of hope rather than despair. There are a lot of
hard-hitting ethical dilemmas to be aware of and other issues relating to
patrons, funding, resources, and materials, but I see them as a chance to start
changing the way libraries are thought of and maintained. Part of my background
is Advertising and Public Relations, so my brain works in a way that is seeing
the brand image of a company; how do I feel when I think of this place, when I
walk in, when I interact with the staff. I have plans and ideas of how to shape
the image of libraries and I want to get started working on them now.
The role of the
information professional is one that comes at a high level of responsibility.
We are the gatekeepers of information. We must know how to find accurate and
relevant information for others and ourselves; wading through the junk and
inaccurate content. We must protect everyone’s right for their freedom of
access to any materials or information they want. We must protect their privacy
when it comes to the information they search for. We must listen to patrons and
the community in order to understand their needs and what resources they really
are looking to have. We need to stay up-to-date on our own skills so we can
teach others how to use technology and navigate through the digital realm. We must
always remember that we are here to serve the good of the community.
From here on out
I plan to go into each semester with the same gusto and passion I did for this
one. I’m going to continue to push myself in class discussions and in my
papers/assignments to dig deeper into the issue and really analyze it from all
angles. I plan on continuing my self-guided education by reading articles and
books pertaining to topics on librarianship, diversity, and literacy. My next
big step is to become employed at a library so I can get hands-on experience
while I work toward my degree. My next big step is to figure out a way to
finance my studies so I can take more than one class and still keep a roof over
my head, all without taking out any loans (still trying to pay back my
undergrad). But mostly, I plan on enjoying every second of this program because
it’s amazing and life-changing for me.
