Philosophy
Professional Statement
Introduction
The profession of library and information science (LIS) is undergoing a dramatic change. Gone are the days of the dowdy librarian sitting high up at her reference desk “perch”, barking out “ssshh” and “shush”. Today, librarians are interactive and dynamic community leaders. They are in touch with their surroundings, embrace new technologies, advocate for unfettered access, and the tenants of intellectual freedom. Librarians build professional networks within their organizations and partnerships with neighboring service organizations. The very spaces of the library have shifted from dark cavernous halls, to light infused open community-centric spaces, sometimes with a coffee stand or area to play video games. The guiding principles and fundaments of library services promote bias-free suggestion, access to the broadest amount of information, and place the tools to access in the hands of the user. But as information continues to change, what will the future hold for the library profession?
I see diversity and opportunity in an MLIS degree: an expanding universe of information data (and metadata, and data about the metadata, etc.) will involve the information professional , and directly play a part in its success or failure. Will librarians migrate toward commercial information centers, or will the library strengthen and advocate for democracy in information? What I did not expect was to discover during the course of pursuing my MLIS was the librarian role as educator. I embrace and thrill to help patrons searching for information, and hope to continue to connect information seekers with information. Versatility and flexibility in learning and teaching methods have encouraged the life-long learner in myself, and I seek to convey this attitude throughout my career. Acknowledging the principles of librarianship as stated in the five laws of Ranganathan:
Through the competences in the ePortfolio, I enumerate the experiences, observations, applications and creation of a range of information theories and practices. Competency A focuses on the fundamental principles associated with the library profession including the Library Bill of Rights (LBOR) and The Freedom to Read interpretation. A personal interest in the self-represented litigant in the law library and his right to access information, reflect my concern in the ethical application regarding access and the role of the librarian in context to legal information. I have begun outreach to better serve this community, and have provided my suggestions in the planning stages a new Stanislaus County Courthouse to be built in 2013.
Environments and organizational settings underscore the differing methods in which libraries organize, preserve, and connect the information user to his information need. The different types of libraries, public/school, academic, and special, reflect the various ways that information is structured and accessed, and support the service population—special libraries serve a niche population of information, like a law library where I currently work; public and school libraries serve whole communities and a broad range of activities; academic libraries serve the mission and goals of the parent organization, support the curriculum, and promote information literacy. I have been very fortunate to have worked or volunteered in all the above library types, and can compare the nuanced and obvious differences apparent in all.
The social and cultural implications of information use are an ethical concern addressing the problems in our society between the haves and the have-nots. The public library continues to provide internet access for millions of patrons who cannot afford access in home. As information continues to proliferate, the right kind of information becomes increasingly valuable, and commercialized, and the digital divide grows ever wider. I promote internet access to all, unfiltered and uncensored.
Libraries are not autonomous entities, but must respond as business organizations and utilize business techniques, such as planning, management and marketing. We can build immaculate, deep and wonderful collections, but if no one comes in to use them what value will the library have? Communicating our organizations long and short-term goals, internally and externally, enable the library to stay vibrant and a growing organism.
Collection development is one of the most important duties of the librarian, but involves many facets, including selection, acquisition, evaluation, interdepartmental relationships, and many other factors. Preservation is perhaps one of the most important steps to take: the collection is the investment of the library, and we must take steps to protect and preserve the collection for future and present users. Technology has made this both easier and more difficult—what will we do with born digital data, do we need to preserve every website, and how much space does this data occupy? These are questions that the information manager must continue to ask as the field of librarianship continues to expand, and are concepts I use presently at my paraprofessional job in a law firm.
Smart phones, email, applications, tablets, blogs, and social media are just a few ways that technology has changed the way that the patron, professional--and myself--communicate. Technology has undoubtedly been the biggest variable for change in the library since the printing press. I have used virtual chats, second life, email and distance learning during my tenure at SLIS, and have had relative success with all of them. Communication relies on a series of actions and expressions—removing one can change the entire context of the question, as I experienced during a chat session reference interview.
Service is at the heart of all that the library does—and nowhere is that more evident than through the reference transaction, but if we stop there, we are missing many opportunities to reach the patron at their point of need. Developing comprehensive websites that encourage interaction with the librarian, library catalog and research databases, are ways in which libraries can serve, improve and expand upon the perceived value of the organization.
Information seeking-behavior is the theoretical underpinning of library and information science. It is a fascinating world in which theorists attempt to understand the behaviors, patterns and systems that enable we, as human beings, to communicate, collaborate, learn and form knowledge. What is so fascinating about this field is that our behaviors have been so altered and influenced by technology that we are changing the very way that we search for and interpret information. Awareness of this scientific component of LIS is especially relevant to the library-teacher.
Information literacy is a growing and dynamic field within LIS. It seeks to provide a collaborative continuum between the librarian and teacher, utilizing both professional’s skills. Information structures and learning standards need to be recognized and applied, alongside awareness of learning behaviors and technology.
Research is official communication between the scientific professions: it provides rigor and structure for the LIS profession. LIS profits form well-done research, which will uncover strengths and weaknesses, provide case studies or surveys that can then be applied to your own knowledge and skill set. Access to journals, or scholarly items, represent a large demographic of who librarians serve, and provides the necessary data for informed decision-making.
Collaboration, team work, and group skill is the future if LIS. As demonstrated through Competency K, collaboration between teachers and librarians, smaller and tighter resources will bring departments and individuals together. Paradoxically, the pervasiveness of the internet has not allowed people to work individually, but has created a culture of teams and group work. This is a trend that we will continue to see for a long time, and was one of the most important and challenging aspects at SJSU SLIS.
Evaluations are a daily activity undertaken by all librarians in order to measure and quantify their programs and services. Assessment provides data that can then be used to prove the value or quality of that service or product, which is an essential task in today’s library organization. Evaluating really is a skill and technique, and takes experience and knowledge, along with strong interdepartmental and personal skills, to not only evaluate programs and services but your fellow librarians and yourself.
In conclusion, my professional statement is this: information is only as good as it is useful and accessible. As I move into my career as a librarian, I will apply the experiences and principles that have paved the foundation to my career. I will continue to advocate for free and completely unfettered information access, including Internet, and will advocate for the self-represented litigant’s information needs. I will use the skills I have garnered, apply best practices, and continue to be a life-long learner.
Introduction
The profession of library and information science (LIS) is undergoing a dramatic change. Gone are the days of the dowdy librarian sitting high up at her reference desk “perch”, barking out “ssshh” and “shush”. Today, librarians are interactive and dynamic community leaders. They are in touch with their surroundings, embrace new technologies, advocate for unfettered access, and the tenants of intellectual freedom. Librarians build professional networks within their organizations and partnerships with neighboring service organizations. The very spaces of the library have shifted from dark cavernous halls, to light infused open community-centric spaces, sometimes with a coffee stand or area to play video games. The guiding principles and fundaments of library services promote bias-free suggestion, access to the broadest amount of information, and place the tools to access in the hands of the user. But as information continues to change, what will the future hold for the library profession?
I see diversity and opportunity in an MLIS degree: an expanding universe of information data (and metadata, and data about the metadata, etc.) will involve the information professional , and directly play a part in its success or failure. Will librarians migrate toward commercial information centers, or will the library strengthen and advocate for democracy in information? What I did not expect was to discover during the course of pursuing my MLIS was the librarian role as educator. I embrace and thrill to help patrons searching for information, and hope to continue to connect information seekers with information. Versatility and flexibility in learning and teaching methods have encouraged the life-long learner in myself, and I seek to convey this attitude throughout my career. Acknowledging the principles of librarianship as stated in the five laws of Ranganathan:
- Books are for use.
- Every reader his (or her) book.
- Every book its reader
- Save the time of the reader.
- The library is a growing organism (Haycock, p.xvi).
Through the competences in the ePortfolio, I enumerate the experiences, observations, applications and creation of a range of information theories and practices. Competency A focuses on the fundamental principles associated with the library profession including the Library Bill of Rights (LBOR) and The Freedom to Read interpretation. A personal interest in the self-represented litigant in the law library and his right to access information, reflect my concern in the ethical application regarding access and the role of the librarian in context to legal information. I have begun outreach to better serve this community, and have provided my suggestions in the planning stages a new Stanislaus County Courthouse to be built in 2013.
Environments and organizational settings underscore the differing methods in which libraries organize, preserve, and connect the information user to his information need. The different types of libraries, public/school, academic, and special, reflect the various ways that information is structured and accessed, and support the service population—special libraries serve a niche population of information, like a law library where I currently work; public and school libraries serve whole communities and a broad range of activities; academic libraries serve the mission and goals of the parent organization, support the curriculum, and promote information literacy. I have been very fortunate to have worked or volunteered in all the above library types, and can compare the nuanced and obvious differences apparent in all.
The social and cultural implications of information use are an ethical concern addressing the problems in our society between the haves and the have-nots. The public library continues to provide internet access for millions of patrons who cannot afford access in home. As information continues to proliferate, the right kind of information becomes increasingly valuable, and commercialized, and the digital divide grows ever wider. I promote internet access to all, unfiltered and uncensored.
Libraries are not autonomous entities, but must respond as business organizations and utilize business techniques, such as planning, management and marketing. We can build immaculate, deep and wonderful collections, but if no one comes in to use them what value will the library have? Communicating our organizations long and short-term goals, internally and externally, enable the library to stay vibrant and a growing organism.
Collection development is one of the most important duties of the librarian, but involves many facets, including selection, acquisition, evaluation, interdepartmental relationships, and many other factors. Preservation is perhaps one of the most important steps to take: the collection is the investment of the library, and we must take steps to protect and preserve the collection for future and present users. Technology has made this both easier and more difficult—what will we do with born digital data, do we need to preserve every website, and how much space does this data occupy? These are questions that the information manager must continue to ask as the field of librarianship continues to expand, and are concepts I use presently at my paraprofessional job in a law firm.
Smart phones, email, applications, tablets, blogs, and social media are just a few ways that technology has changed the way that the patron, professional--and myself--communicate. Technology has undoubtedly been the biggest variable for change in the library since the printing press. I have used virtual chats, second life, email and distance learning during my tenure at SLIS, and have had relative success with all of them. Communication relies on a series of actions and expressions—removing one can change the entire context of the question, as I experienced during a chat session reference interview.
Service is at the heart of all that the library does—and nowhere is that more evident than through the reference transaction, but if we stop there, we are missing many opportunities to reach the patron at their point of need. Developing comprehensive websites that encourage interaction with the librarian, library catalog and research databases, are ways in which libraries can serve, improve and expand upon the perceived value of the organization.
Information seeking-behavior is the theoretical underpinning of library and information science. It is a fascinating world in which theorists attempt to understand the behaviors, patterns and systems that enable we, as human beings, to communicate, collaborate, learn and form knowledge. What is so fascinating about this field is that our behaviors have been so altered and influenced by technology that we are changing the very way that we search for and interpret information. Awareness of this scientific component of LIS is especially relevant to the library-teacher.
Information literacy is a growing and dynamic field within LIS. It seeks to provide a collaborative continuum between the librarian and teacher, utilizing both professional’s skills. Information structures and learning standards need to be recognized and applied, alongside awareness of learning behaviors and technology.
Research is official communication between the scientific professions: it provides rigor and structure for the LIS profession. LIS profits form well-done research, which will uncover strengths and weaknesses, provide case studies or surveys that can then be applied to your own knowledge and skill set. Access to journals, or scholarly items, represent a large demographic of who librarians serve, and provides the necessary data for informed decision-making.
Collaboration, team work, and group skill is the future if LIS. As demonstrated through Competency K, collaboration between teachers and librarians, smaller and tighter resources will bring departments and individuals together. Paradoxically, the pervasiveness of the internet has not allowed people to work individually, but has created a culture of teams and group work. This is a trend that we will continue to see for a long time, and was one of the most important and challenging aspects at SJSU SLIS.
Evaluations are a daily activity undertaken by all librarians in order to measure and quantify their programs and services. Assessment provides data that can then be used to prove the value or quality of that service or product, which is an essential task in today’s library organization. Evaluating really is a skill and technique, and takes experience and knowledge, along with strong interdepartmental and personal skills, to not only evaluate programs and services but your fellow librarians and yourself.
In conclusion, my professional statement is this: information is only as good as it is useful and accessible. As I move into my career as a librarian, I will apply the experiences and principles that have paved the foundation to my career. I will continue to advocate for free and completely unfettered information access, including Internet, and will advocate for the self-represented litigant’s information needs. I will use the skills I have garnered, apply best practices, and continue to be a life-long learner.