My journey through the School of Information Sciences program at Wayne State University has been a challenging, rewarding, and transformative experience.  As I have progressed through the program, I have experienced several key learning experiences that have been crucial in shaping my growth as an information professional and my philosophy of the information profession. These pivotal learning experiences occurred during the process of completing six specific assignments that also coincide and demonstrate my proficiency in three of the ten learning outcomes required by the program. These three learning outcomes are “[to] facilitate access to, and use of, information resources between users and communities”; “[to] utilize current management and leadership theories and practices in the workplace; and, “[to] evaluate and apply library and information science research to problems of professional practice by employing theories, best practices, and assessment strategies to the range of information function” (School of Information Sciences [SIS], 2019).

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Learning Outcome 3

As an informational professional, it is vital to be able to successfully “facilitate access to, and use of, information resources between users and communities” (SIS, 2019). The Access to Information course provided me with the opportunity to observe reference services at a public library throughout the semester and then compose a research paper based on a topic related to this experience (Artifact 1). This assignment proved to be a learning experience that has forever altered the way I view the role of a librarian when providing reference services to patrons. During my time observing reference services at this library, the librarians never completely followed the steps of the reference interview. This negatively impacted the quality of customer service provided to the patrons seeking information resources. Before taking this course, I had never been taught how to conduct a reference interview. I regretfully reflect on the years I provided reader’s advisory to patrons without using the reference interview and imagine what a difference I could have made if I had used the reference interview! As an information professional, I will use the reference interview as a tool to provide excellent customer service and to facilitate the patrons’ access to information resources.

 

The Survey and Analysis of Literature: Grades 4-8 course provided me with the opportunity to compose an essay comparing and contrasting the culture of the TransGeneration / Generation Z with the culture of adults (Artifact 2).  Although a substantial number youth in this generation do not identify as exclusively heterosexual, this demographic continues to remain significantly underrepresented in many libraries that do not offer well-developed Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender theme collections and resources. The culture of adults often creates barriers instead of facilitating access to information resources in many youth services departments for the TransGeneration. This learning experience allowed me to understand that it is essential to understand the culture of today's youth to successfully cultivate a collection of information resources that are relevant to their diverse information and literary needs. This assignment has equipped me with the knowledge I will be able to use in my career as an information professional to better facilitate access to information resources for all members of the community, as prescribed in learning outcome number three.

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Learning Outcome 8

To effectively lead a team of employees as an information professional, I must be able to “utilize current management and leadership theories and practices in the workplace” (SIS, 2019). Taking the Library Administration and Management course gave me insight into the various current leadership theories and practices. Two assignments were especially helpful in preparing me to be an effective manager and leader in my career as an information professional. The first assignment challenged me to identify my personal management style (Artifact 3). Before this assignment, I only knew what manager style I disliked, micromanagement! I discovered that I prefer the contingency approach to management. Taking a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test revealed that I favor a visionary management style. Both of these management styles allow for flexibility and creativity in management. Analyzing my strengths and weaknesses related to management allowed me to see what areas I need to improve on to become a more effective manager.

 

The assignment to interview a manager afforded me the privilege of interviewing a library leader I now consider my mentor, Leslie Tetreault (Artifact 4). During this two hour interview, Mrs. Tetreault shared the rewarding and challenging aspects of being a youth services manager she has experienced during her 31 years of managing this youth services department at the Richland County Public Library. She emphasized the importance of curating and training an excellent team of staff. Mrs. Tetreault establishes clear expectations and specific standards for her team to follow. She takes the time to train new staff using an extensive regime. I learned it is essential to establish an overarching vision for a library department which serves to unify and motivate staff to work together. Mrs. Tetreault's team works together providing excellent customer service to all patrons to fulfill the department's vision to transform the lives of patrons with books. Her goal is to ensure that every patron who enters the youth services department is greeted, provided with excellent customer service, and leaves with books in hand. If a patron departs without any books, she maintains that her department has failed! This approach has inspired me to model my future management style using Mrs. Tetreault's management practices. To this day, this youth services department remains the most positive and highly functioning department I have ever encountered. This learning experience allowed me to see how management and leadership practices translate in a real-life setting.

 

Learning Outcome 9

The Research for the Information Profession course significantly developed my ability to “evaluate and apply library and information science research to problems of professional practice by employing theories, best practices, and assessment strategies to the range of information functions” (SIS, 2019). I discovered that library and information science research is a powerful tool that can be used to improve library services. The research skills I gained while taking INF 7996 culminated in the creation a research proposal titled “The Caldecott Book Club: Evaluating the Effects of a Literature-Based Intervention on Dementia Patients Living in a Long-Term Care Memory Facility” (Artifact 5). This research proposal was designed to discover how exposure to Caldecott picture books affects neuropsychiatric symptoms and quality of life for people with dementia. The literary needs of people with dementia are often overlooked due to the misconception that they can no longer read or enjoy literature-based activities. If this research proposal evolved into an actual study, evidence based on the results could potentially be used to advocate for establishing library outreach programming and services for people with dementia. In the process of creating my research proposal, I discovered my passion for library and outreach services for older adults.

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Writing the research paper “Labeling Systems and Reading Labels” (Artifact 6) for the Collection Development course also reinforced my understanding of the importance of information professionals being able to successfully “evaluate and apply library and information science research to problems of professional practice by employing theories, best practices, and assessment strategies to the range of information functions” (SIS, 2019). Across America, many information professionals have been required to level their library collections with reading labels. Using data collection strategies I had learned in INF 7996, I was able to gather data from 31 local media specialists, many of whom had been forced by school administrators to label their collection with reading levels despite this being a violation of the Library Bill of Rights and the Core Values of Librarianship. I realized that if I were to be faced with a similar situation in my career as an informational professional, I could use library and information science research to help advocate for a label-free library collection. I will be forever grateful to Dr. Kumasi for teaching me the importance of research for information professionals.

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Philosophy

My philosophy of the information profession is based on the American Library Association’s Code of Ethics, Core Values of Librarianship, and the Library Bill of Rights. I firmly believe these documents provide a solid framework that will help guide me in my career as an information professional. The ethics, values, and policies espoused in these documents exemplify the essence of the information profession, serving to uphold the principles of intellectual freedom.

 

An information professional acts as a conduit by connecting patrons with books, information resources, and experiences. This connection is strengthened by providing patrons with excellent customer service. Through various firsthand experiences and course assignments, I learned the importance of the information professional to “facilitate access to, and use of, information resources between users and communities” (SIS, 2019). I believe that excellent customer service facilitates access to information resources by removing communication barriers that may otherwise impede communication and trust. Following the steps of the reference interview facilitates communication and is a tool I can use as an information professional to provide excellent customer service to patrons. The Code of Ethics and the Core Values of Librarianship of the American Library Association (ALA) include statements regarding the importance of excellent service. Article I of the ALA Code of Ethics states, “We provide the highest level of service to all library users through appropriate and usefully organized resources; equitable service policies; equitable access; and accurate, unbiased, and courteous responses to all requests" (American Library Association [ALA], 2016). This statement underscores the importance to extend excellent service practices to all areas of librarianship.

 

During my studies in the program, I have learned of the importance to "utilize current management and leadership theories and practices in the workplace" (SIS, 2019). This learning outcome aligns with Article VIII of the ALA Code of Ethics which states, “We strive for excellence in the profession by maintaining and enhancing our own knowledge and skills” (ALA, 2016). Utilizing current management and leadership theories and practices ensures that a library department functions as a team united to fulfill the mission of the library to connect patrons with information resources. I have worked in library departments that were poorly managed with no leadership. Poor management practices impacted the level of service provided to patrons and made for a hostile work environment amongst employees. As an information professional, I will remain committed to learning the latest management and leadership theories and practices.

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The Core Values of Librarianship include advocating for education and lifelong learning for all (ALA, 2006). The role of the information professional related to this value is creatively reflected in the analogy, “A Library is a SHIP…Librarians are captain of the ship… A library takes its passengers on a journey of lifelong learning” (Varsha, 2012). Unfortunately, this value is not upheld by many libraries who do not extend their services to older adults living in assisted living and memory care facilities. This population remains unserved and underserved. In my career as an information professional, it is my mission to see that these patrons receive library services and opportunities for lifelong learning they still deserve. Through the INF 7996 course, I learned to “evaluate and apply library and information science research to problems of professional practice by employing theories, best practices, and assessment strategies to the range of information function” (SIS, 2019). I learned that research is a powerful tool to advocate for library programs and change to uphold the ethics, values, and principles of the information profession.

 

My journey to becoming an information professional was derailed for several years while I focused on caring for my mother who developed Alzheimer’s disease in 2012. Like a puzzle, many experiences from my time as a full-time caregiver and school have joined together to expand my original aspiration of becoming a youth services librarian to include library services for older adults. I have witnessed the transformative power that books have in the lives of memory care patients who enjoy hearing the fairy tales from their childhood and other short stories being read aloud. I hope to dedicate the purpose of my career as an information professional to provide library services to the unserved and underserved populations of all ages in the community. I believe that the School of Information Sciences program has well equipped me to begin this exciting new chapter in my life as an information professional.

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References

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American Library Association. (2017, May 19). Code of ethics. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/tools/ethics

 

American Library Association. (2006, July 26). Core values of librarianship. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/corevalues

 

School of Information Sciences (SIS). (2019). Student learning outcomes - MLIS. Retrieved from https://sis.wayne.edu/mlis/learning_outcomes.php

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Varsha. (2012, April 20). A library is a ship… [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://library-soup.blogspot.com/2012/04/library-is-ship.html

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