The Public Library Association is a national library organization, a division of the American Library Association. This resource offers librarians access to conferences, continuing education, leadership developments, etc. I’ve used this resource to understand public library issues and privacy issues. I believe this resource will be beneficial as I continue my career in public librarianship.
Because of advancements in technology, the demand for its use in public spaces such as libraries increased. A significant responsibility of the librarian is to stay current. That way, they can better assist patrons. The library and information technology Association allows me to interact and stay current on the growth of technology in libraries.
I had the privilege of visiting the Library of Congress for one of my library’s visit posts, and I was pleased to learn the abundance of information available. The Library of Congress website offers digital collections and several informative blogs and is home to the U.S. Copyright Office. This resource has provided such excellent guidance and will continue to provide advice during my career.
For an assignment, I was to conduct an information interview with a librarian. I completed that interview with the adult program librarian at Slover Library. During my interview, I learned a great deal of information about what the programming librarian does. I learned about the different roles in a public library. Because of that interview, I gained a mentor, and Slover Library will be a place I go to for further reference.
A course requirement for MLIS is LIS 608; the textbook for that course is Rubin and Rubin’s Foundation and Information Science. This textbook allowed me to learn the history of librarianship and the library, meaning the organization of a library, technology, policy, etc. This textbook will be something I can look back on for reference as I finish my MLIS and enter librarianship.
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/odu/detail.action?docID=6386141
The Virginia Library Association is a state-level organization that will allow me to connect with librarians. The VLA host conference and events that I am eager to attend. Along with job and career opportunities, VLA will be a place I look to for information on topics such as Intellectual Freedom Challenges happening in Virginia.
I’ve come to look to American Libraries magazine as a resource for several assignments. The American Libraries offers librarians information on things trending in the library profession, an interesting blog that I can engage with, and a job list highlighting open positions in the field. AL has excellent information for librarians.
When it comes to selecting materials for collection, a professional book review is a helpful tool. I’ve come to use Booklist during my coursework not only for assignments but also for personal use. Booklist offers reviews on various genres; this resource provides more than just reviews. It provides podcasts, webinars, book award lists, and blogs. I can see this becoming a helpful tool later in my career.