SOIS Goal 1
Develop a professional identity and philosophy within the library and information professions.
Outcome 1b
In Leadership, Marketing, and Communication, we were given assignments in which we were to review local libraries or information institutions and observe how they operated according to the chosen topics. Assignments suggested we report back about various aspects of how these libraries were accomplishing the particular tasks of that week’s lesson. These weekly assignments had me carefully review what my local library does to not only operate daily, but also what great strides administrators and board members take to serve the community in appropriate ways. Each library has a particular set of demographics that drives how they serve their patrons. Community libraries that are less than 5 miles apart can be vastly different. The core of each library is to serve the community. How that service affects the community can be a determiner of the library’s value to that community. I have learned that how you serve your community is articulated through your attention to the needs of the community. (When clicking the Discussion tabs below, please click the rotate clockwise button once in the top right corner to view the PDFs properly.)
Outcome 1c
In the summer of 2017, I was fortunate to attend the ALA conference at the McCormick Center in Chicago. One of the most exciting experiences was seeing our Library of Congress’ head librarian, Dr. Carla Hayden. She had recently been sworn in by President Obama that previous September and was the first Black woman to be the head librarian. I did not get to speak with her but was happy to snap a few pictures. Her appointment was a very timely motivation for me as I could see someone who looks like me represented in one of the most respected roles within our field.
It was also a treat to see and hear Sarah Jessica Parker. She was appointed an honorary chair of ALA’s book club central. The first book she chose for the club, was “No One Is Coming to Save Us,” by Stephanie Powell Watts. Parker interviewed Watts, and that was probably the most engaging session I attended at the conference. It was all an enjoyable and highly informative experience. (Please view the photographs below from the 2017 ALA conference in Chicago, IL)
Outcome 1d
I created a context book presentation about the book Factfulness by Hans Rosling. A brief summary of the book, Factfulness is that the author, Swedish statistician Hans Rosling, stated ten reasons why humans tend to demonstrate to a worldview that is based on outdated facts and that the world is improving. Humanity has advanced successfully to decrease poverty, child death rates, and other pressing issues that stunt civilization progress.
The study of this text helped me to reshape my worldview. I believe this will affect how I serve various communities within my librarianship. It will also improve any research I attempt by forcing me to always review the relevant facts of what’s going on in the world and how that may affect people I serve.
