NARRATIVE
“Information professionals must always be learning.”
– Sandra Hirsh, Information Services Today, 2015, p. 8
One of the ALA Core Values of Librarianship is the promotion of lifelong learning. As Hirsh notes, librarians must practice this in the professional realm by constantly seeking out opportunities to improve skill sets and competencies. This helps us provide better services, stay abreast of current trends, and maintain confidence in our work. When we interact with colleagues from other parts of the country and the world at professional development conferences, we raise the profile of our organizations and lay the groundwork for establishing cross-organizational partnerships. On an individual level, we position ourselves for leadership and growth opportunities. All of this helps to move the profession and individual librarians forward.
Service work complements professional development by enabling librarians to build skills while helping others. Service can take the form of professional association activities or community involvement. Through both, we become ambassadors for the profession and encourage public support for libraries.
While earning my MLIS degree, I cultivated knowledge and developed professional skills through classes, conferences, workshops, and networking. I also supported the profession through volunteering with marginalized populations and involvement in professional associations. In the future, I plan to increase my participation in these activities so that I can better serve the marginalized and underserved, enhance my professional skills, and help others progress in their careers.
“Information professionals must always be learning.”
– Sandra Hirsh, Information Services Today, 2015, p. 8
One of the ALA Core Values of Librarianship is the promotion of lifelong learning. As Hirsh notes, librarians must practice this in the professional realm by constantly seeking out opportunities to improve skill sets and competencies. This helps us provide better services, stay abreast of current trends, and maintain confidence in our work. When we interact with colleagues from other parts of the country and the world at professional development conferences, we raise the profile of our organizations and lay the groundwork for establishing cross-organizational partnerships. On an individual level, we position ourselves for leadership and growth opportunities. All of this helps to move the profession and individual librarians forward.
Service work complements professional development by enabling librarians to build skills while helping others. Service can take the form of professional association activities or community involvement. Through both, we become ambassadors for the profession and encourage public support for libraries.
While earning my MLIS degree, I cultivated knowledge and developed professional skills through classes, conferences, workshops, and networking. I also supported the profession through volunteering with marginalized populations and involvement in professional associations. In the future, I plan to increase my participation in these activities so that I can better serve the marginalized and underserved, enhance my professional skills, and help others progress in their careers.
Developing Professionally, Part 1: Class Activities
A major strength of the UNCG MLIS program is the value it places on field research and experiential learning. In my foundations class, I interviewed a public library manager and a university library employee to learn more about the day-to-day work of library staff. As someone who had previously only worked in the library as a student research assistant to a professor, I found these meetings extremely educational. I was surprised to learn, for example, how much of a public library manager’s day is spent ensuring that the library building is safe for all employees, and that a manager might in some cases ban an individual from the library due to illegal or otherwise inappropriate conduct. This exposure to the difficult realities of library management was an important part of my MLIS education.
My learning about the real-world responsibilities of running a library continued in the spring of 2018 when I took Dr. Richard Moniz’s library administration and management class. Many of my classmates were experienced library employees. On the discussion board, we exchanged ideas about management theory and shared perspectives on hiring practices in the library environment. Among the topics we discussed were team-building strategies, ways to promote staff involvement in major decision making, and how the culture of unpaid internships and volunteering in libraries might impact staff diversity.
Dr. Moniz’s class was a critical growth experience in my MLIS journey. The case studies he assigned required me to think like a library manager, even though I had never managed a library before. Dr. Moniz encouraged us to draw on our own experiences when analyzing management situations. At the same time, he assigned readings to guide our thinking. One reading that resonated with me was Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Two of the habits – “Begin With the End in Mind” and “Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood” – stress the importance of planning and listening, abilities which I consider essential to personal and professional success (“The 7 Habits,” n.d.). The ability to listen is especially important when working with marginalized populations whose viewpoints might not have been taken into account in the past due to unequal access to library facilities or advocacy forums.
The management lessons I learned in Dr. Moniz's class are ones that I will apply every day with colleagues and patrons in my future outreach work.
Developing Professionally, Part 2: Practicum Experience
My formal experiential learning experience started in January 2019 when I began working as a metadata intern for Duke University Libraries in the Digital Scholarship Services department. Just as the management class had pushed me beyond my comfort zone by making me think like a manager, the practicum pushed me beyond what was familiar to me by exposing me to the technical and legal aspects of library work that I had not been exposed to as a public library outreach volunteer. Using my organizational skills and drawing on my admissions data management experience, I co-created a file-naming system with a fellow intern and researched image copyright restrictions. I also had the chance to attend the department’s “Munch and Mull” meetings, lunchtime professional development presentations designed to educate workers about different initiatives and projects taking place throughout the library. Furthermore, I delivered two presentations to the project team about the copyright and technical work I did during the internship.
As a result of the practicum, I am more aware of the data management challenges facing libraries (e.g., developing a database that people with varying technical skill levels and work schedules can use remotely) and strategies one might use to address them (e.g., creating clear guidelines for file naming and communicating information through shared data sheets instead of databases). I am also more comfortable presenting on technical topics in small-group meetings.
The ability to adapt to an unfamiliar environment is essential when doing outreach work in diverse communities and when advocating on behalf of communities in public advocacy forums. Equally important is the ability to deliver presentations to people of varying backgrounds and life experiences. The adaptation and presentation skills I honed during the practicum will help me connect with the broadest possible audience when doing outreach and public advocacy.
Developing professionally, Part 3: Professional literature
My class & practicum learning experiences have been complemented by my reading of professional newsletters. I have found AL Direct to be especially beneficial due to the breadth and depth of topics covered. In this publication, I have read about innovative library service programs for marginalized populations, attempts to preserve library materials in war-torn areas, and the ALA’s lobbying efforts in support of increased federal library funding. Staying informed through AL Direct helps me engage more thoughtfully in discussions about issues facing LIS professionals who work with marginalized and underserved populations.
A major strength of the UNCG MLIS program is the value it places on field research and experiential learning. In my foundations class, I interviewed a public library manager and a university library employee to learn more about the day-to-day work of library staff. As someone who had previously only worked in the library as a student research assistant to a professor, I found these meetings extremely educational. I was surprised to learn, for example, how much of a public library manager’s day is spent ensuring that the library building is safe for all employees, and that a manager might in some cases ban an individual from the library due to illegal or otherwise inappropriate conduct. This exposure to the difficult realities of library management was an important part of my MLIS education.
My learning about the real-world responsibilities of running a library continued in the spring of 2018 when I took Dr. Richard Moniz’s library administration and management class. Many of my classmates were experienced library employees. On the discussion board, we exchanged ideas about management theory and shared perspectives on hiring practices in the library environment. Among the topics we discussed were team-building strategies, ways to promote staff involvement in major decision making, and how the culture of unpaid internships and volunteering in libraries might impact staff diversity.
Dr. Moniz’s class was a critical growth experience in my MLIS journey. The case studies he assigned required me to think like a library manager, even though I had never managed a library before. Dr. Moniz encouraged us to draw on our own experiences when analyzing management situations. At the same time, he assigned readings to guide our thinking. One reading that resonated with me was Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Two of the habits – “Begin With the End in Mind” and “Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood” – stress the importance of planning and listening, abilities which I consider essential to personal and professional success (“The 7 Habits,” n.d.). The ability to listen is especially important when working with marginalized populations whose viewpoints might not have been taken into account in the past due to unequal access to library facilities or advocacy forums.
The management lessons I learned in Dr. Moniz's class are ones that I will apply every day with colleagues and patrons in my future outreach work.
Developing Professionally, Part 2: Practicum Experience
My formal experiential learning experience started in January 2019 when I began working as a metadata intern for Duke University Libraries in the Digital Scholarship Services department. Just as the management class had pushed me beyond my comfort zone by making me think like a manager, the practicum pushed me beyond what was familiar to me by exposing me to the technical and legal aspects of library work that I had not been exposed to as a public library outreach volunteer. Using my organizational skills and drawing on my admissions data management experience, I co-created a file-naming system with a fellow intern and researched image copyright restrictions. I also had the chance to attend the department’s “Munch and Mull” meetings, lunchtime professional development presentations designed to educate workers about different initiatives and projects taking place throughout the library. Furthermore, I delivered two presentations to the project team about the copyright and technical work I did during the internship.
As a result of the practicum, I am more aware of the data management challenges facing libraries (e.g., developing a database that people with varying technical skill levels and work schedules can use remotely) and strategies one might use to address them (e.g., creating clear guidelines for file naming and communicating information through shared data sheets instead of databases). I am also more comfortable presenting on technical topics in small-group meetings.
The ability to adapt to an unfamiliar environment is essential when doing outreach work in diverse communities and when advocating on behalf of communities in public advocacy forums. Equally important is the ability to deliver presentations to people of varying backgrounds and life experiences. The adaptation and presentation skills I honed during the practicum will help me connect with the broadest possible audience when doing outreach and public advocacy.
Developing professionally, Part 3: Professional literature
My class & practicum learning experiences have been complemented by my reading of professional newsletters. I have found AL Direct to be especially beneficial due to the breadth and depth of topics covered. In this publication, I have read about innovative library service programs for marginalized populations, attempts to preserve library materials in war-torn areas, and the ALA’s lobbying efforts in support of increased federal library funding. Staying informed through AL Direct helps me engage more thoughtfully in discussions about issues facing LIS professionals who work with marginalized and underserved populations.
Developing Professionally, Part 4: Conference Participation
Pre-MLIS experiences as a participant, workshop facilitator, presenter, and moderator at national conferences gave me a strong appreciation for the value of conference participation and networking. Professional conferences provide a space for reflection on the “big ideas” of librarianship that can get lost in the day-to-day activities of any work environment. They also promote critical thinking about current practices and encourage discussion about new approaches to longstanding challenges.
Since 2017, I have attended three national library conferences and one state library conference. At the 2017 ALA Midwinter Meeting, a major topic was how ALA could best communicate the core values of librarianship and be inclusive in a highly contentious political climate. At the following year’s Midwinter Meeting, there was a debate about whether libraries are or should strive to be neutral, as well as discussion about the need for more racial diversity in librarianship. Hearing the passion with which the conference attendees expressed their views inspired me to reflect more deeply on the issues being discussed and, ultimately, author blog posts on my own conference experiences.
In August 2017, I attended the National Conference of African American Librarians. During this event, I learned about several approaches to outreach and programming that I would like to emulate in own professional career. Conference presenter and library board trustee Ida Thompson described a “March for Reading” that was organized to encourage state legislative support for libraries. A group of Colorado librarians discussed their experiences facilitating a “Social Justice Book Club.” Middlebury College librarian Katrina Spencer explained that by using the term “enslaved Africans” instead of “slaves,” librarians acknowledge the humanity of people who are often described in terms of their bondage status. I left this conference with some rich ideas about how to create a supportive space for public library users of color and advance public dialogue on social issues.
At the 2018 North Carolina (NC) Live Conference, I attended workshops on bibliotherapy, podcasting, and technology training for seniors. Bibliotherapy, or the use of book reading to help people work through mental or psychological challenges (“Bibliotherapy,” 2012), is a type of work I had not heard of before the conference. I am now interested in learning more about it and possibly practicing it at a later stage in my career. Podcasting is an activity that had long interested me; learning about it at the conference gave me the confidence to later produce a podcast for an MLIS class project. At the session on technology training for seniors, librarians discussed the P.A.C.E. instructional approach. P.A.C.E. stands for “Patience, Acknowledgement, Compassion, and Energy” – attributes that are useful to have in any teaching situation, regardless of the age of the population. All the NC Live conference sessions underscored the importance of lifelong learning for library staff and the communities they serve.
In addition to providing a plethora of training workshops, the conferences afforded me valuable networking opportunities. At the 2017 ALA Midwinter Meeting, I met members of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA). I later joined the Caucus and am now on the membership committee. Through interactions with BCALA members, I have learned about the history of African Americans’ involvement in ALA and in librarianship. I have also received valuable career advice and encouragement, the importance of which cannot be overestimated.
Conference participation has expanded my knowledge of outreach techniques and helped me develop a network of experienced colleagues with whom I can consult about outreach ideas and strategies. I am certain that I will be drawing on both the techniques and the contacts as I embark on my public library outreach career.
Developing Professionally, Part 5: Service Work
Although holding down a full-time job in higher education while pursuing a master’s degree left limited time for professional committee involvement, I have taken part in some worthwhile professional and community service activities over the past three years.
As a BCALA membership committee member, I encouraged family members, friends, and classmates to join the organization. As a member of the Intellectual Freedom Roundtable, I provided feedback on the draft version of ALA’s 2019 “Intellectual Freedom Advocacy and Education” statement. In addition, I have supported ALA’s governance practices by voting in two ALA presidential elections.
Community service has been an important part of my life for two decades. During my first semester in the MLIS program, I completed my last volunteer assignment with the Museum of Durham History, an oral history indexing project which I had begun earlier that year. In January 2017, I was a set-up volunteer for the Dream Big Book Drive sponsored by Book Harvest, a nonprofit literacy-focused organization based in Durham, NC. From 2017 to 2018 I served as a library outreach volunteer in Alamance County, NC, delivering books, music, videos, and instructional materials to people in residential group homes.
Community service work enriches my life and deepens my connections to both the library profession and the community. It is my passion for community service that has led me to pursue a career in outreach. The people skills I practiced while doing community service will be fundamental to my outreach work with marginalized and underserved communities. I look forward to doing more community service in the years ahead.
LEARNING ARTIFACTS
References
1. Bibliotherapy. (2012, December 7). American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/tools/atoz/bibliotherapy
(Accessed June 19, 2019), Document ID: 5c057e6a-0cfe-2e64-7d10-96ae5f18b6ff
2. Hirsh, S. (2015). The transformative information landscape: What it means to be an information professional today. In S. Hirsh (Ed.), Information services today, (3-9). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
3. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.franklincovey.com/the-7-habits.html
Pre-MLIS experiences as a participant, workshop facilitator, presenter, and moderator at national conferences gave me a strong appreciation for the value of conference participation and networking. Professional conferences provide a space for reflection on the “big ideas” of librarianship that can get lost in the day-to-day activities of any work environment. They also promote critical thinking about current practices and encourage discussion about new approaches to longstanding challenges.
Since 2017, I have attended three national library conferences and one state library conference. At the 2017 ALA Midwinter Meeting, a major topic was how ALA could best communicate the core values of librarianship and be inclusive in a highly contentious political climate. At the following year’s Midwinter Meeting, there was a debate about whether libraries are or should strive to be neutral, as well as discussion about the need for more racial diversity in librarianship. Hearing the passion with which the conference attendees expressed their views inspired me to reflect more deeply on the issues being discussed and, ultimately, author blog posts on my own conference experiences.
In August 2017, I attended the National Conference of African American Librarians. During this event, I learned about several approaches to outreach and programming that I would like to emulate in own professional career. Conference presenter and library board trustee Ida Thompson described a “March for Reading” that was organized to encourage state legislative support for libraries. A group of Colorado librarians discussed their experiences facilitating a “Social Justice Book Club.” Middlebury College librarian Katrina Spencer explained that by using the term “enslaved Africans” instead of “slaves,” librarians acknowledge the humanity of people who are often described in terms of their bondage status. I left this conference with some rich ideas about how to create a supportive space for public library users of color and advance public dialogue on social issues.
At the 2018 North Carolina (NC) Live Conference, I attended workshops on bibliotherapy, podcasting, and technology training for seniors. Bibliotherapy, or the use of book reading to help people work through mental or psychological challenges (“Bibliotherapy,” 2012), is a type of work I had not heard of before the conference. I am now interested in learning more about it and possibly practicing it at a later stage in my career. Podcasting is an activity that had long interested me; learning about it at the conference gave me the confidence to later produce a podcast for an MLIS class project. At the session on technology training for seniors, librarians discussed the P.A.C.E. instructional approach. P.A.C.E. stands for “Patience, Acknowledgement, Compassion, and Energy” – attributes that are useful to have in any teaching situation, regardless of the age of the population. All the NC Live conference sessions underscored the importance of lifelong learning for library staff and the communities they serve.
In addition to providing a plethora of training workshops, the conferences afforded me valuable networking opportunities. At the 2017 ALA Midwinter Meeting, I met members of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA). I later joined the Caucus and am now on the membership committee. Through interactions with BCALA members, I have learned about the history of African Americans’ involvement in ALA and in librarianship. I have also received valuable career advice and encouragement, the importance of which cannot be overestimated.
Conference participation has expanded my knowledge of outreach techniques and helped me develop a network of experienced colleagues with whom I can consult about outreach ideas and strategies. I am certain that I will be drawing on both the techniques and the contacts as I embark on my public library outreach career.
Developing Professionally, Part 5: Service Work
Although holding down a full-time job in higher education while pursuing a master’s degree left limited time for professional committee involvement, I have taken part in some worthwhile professional and community service activities over the past three years.
As a BCALA membership committee member, I encouraged family members, friends, and classmates to join the organization. As a member of the Intellectual Freedom Roundtable, I provided feedback on the draft version of ALA’s 2019 “Intellectual Freedom Advocacy and Education” statement. In addition, I have supported ALA’s governance practices by voting in two ALA presidential elections.
Community service has been an important part of my life for two decades. During my first semester in the MLIS program, I completed my last volunteer assignment with the Museum of Durham History, an oral history indexing project which I had begun earlier that year. In January 2017, I was a set-up volunteer for the Dream Big Book Drive sponsored by Book Harvest, a nonprofit literacy-focused organization based in Durham, NC. From 2017 to 2018 I served as a library outreach volunteer in Alamance County, NC, delivering books, music, videos, and instructional materials to people in residential group homes.
Community service work enriches my life and deepens my connections to both the library profession and the community. It is my passion for community service that has led me to pursue a career in outreach. The people skills I practiced while doing community service will be fundamental to my outreach work with marginalized and underserved communities. I look forward to doing more community service in the years ahead.
LEARNING ARTIFACTS
- Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”
- Practicum Goal Tracking Document
- Blog Post on ALA Midwinter Meeting
- Blog Post on Outreach Service
- Examining Privilege in Classifications: Connecting Critical Information Literacy to Conversations on “Latinx” (Webinar)
- Professional Development Plan
References
1. Bibliotherapy. (2012, December 7). American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/tools/atoz/bibliotherapy
(Accessed June 19, 2019), Document ID: 5c057e6a-0cfe-2e64-7d10-96ae5f18b6ff
2. Hirsh, S. (2015). The transformative information landscape: What it means to be an information professional today. In S. Hirsh (Ed.), Information services today, (3-9). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
3. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.franklincovey.com/the-7-habits.html