Every Master of Library and Information Science class at ODU strives to help students meet the program’s Student Learning Outcomes, or SLOs. These seven SLOs focus on what students need to learn in order to be successful, empathetic, and innovative in their future careers. The six artifacts shared in this ePortfolio each meet one or more SOLs. An MLIS Student Learning Outcome Self-Assessment Matrix is included on the main portfolio page.
SLO #1. Create innovative responses to the needs and interests of diverse and global communities.
Community is at the heart of all librarianship. Libraries do not exist without the care and participation of members of the community. They aim to be welcoming, inclusive environments. For my Collection Development Plan, I did an environmental scan of the area around my library so we could have a very basic understanding of the demographics in the area. After comparing the demographics to the library collection, it was easy to see that there were not enough resources for Spanish-speaking patrons, and the juvenile Black/African American collection needed to be improved. Making changes in order to increase and improve these collections meet some of the needs of diverse communities.
In my Library of Things assignment, I focused on creating kits for many different marginalized communities. One of my favorite kits is Braille Game Night, which includes materials for people with visual impairments. Adding something fun and new in the already exciting and new library of things shows marginalized communities that the library is moving forward with many communities in mind, not only the dominant culture.
SLO #2. Demonstrate leadership attributes for a variety of information environments.
Most library leaders have the opportunity to center and share the information that they find important. Because of this, these leaders have the responsibility to lead for all communities in their area. It is important that leaders are open to feedback and collaboration with community members, especially marginalized populations.
For my pathfinder assignment, I created a Queer History Pathfinder. This pathfinder says that it is “a starter guide to the queer history they never taught you in school.” I created this pathfinder to be a resource for library leaders. There are a variety of introductory resources, all of which can be used to create programming or displays. It is important that librarians learn this kind of information so they can use their leadership positions to educate people about queer history and engage in outreach to the queer community.
Although my work primarily focuses on public libraries, some of my assignments involve or have information that is transferable to leading in a school environment. My Paired Text Teacher’s Guide provides a step-by-step guide to incorporate two young adult books into three different lesson plans for three different classes. It is designed to encourage leadership not just in public libraries but also in the classroom.
SLO #3. Interpret and apply basic and applied research to improve their professional practice.
Research is a very important part of library work. Libraries are constantly adding to collections, creating new programming, and starting on new projects. When it comes to embarking on this work, it is best that someone in the library has either done research or found research to support this work. For example, the goal of my Reader’s Guide was to add books that appeal to the new adult demographic, a group whose reading habits decrease once they start college. Before deciding which books would be best for new adults, I researched the reasons that new adults want to read and why many of them read less during college. I used this information to narrow down criteria for choosing which books should be added to the collection for new adults. Gathering and applying this research is the best way to implement this reader’s guide.
SLO #4. Access, synthesize, and evaluate information to assist information seekers.
When information seekers come to librarians for help in their searches, it is important that librarians examine the quality and accuracy of the information they share. In order to work towards best practices and equity of access, librarians need to access, synthesize, and evaluate information so they are sure that they are providing the best resources.. In my Paired Text Teacher’s Guide, I accessed information about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre by reading the two texts included in the assignment along with my own additional online research. I synthesized this information into activities, questions, and lesson plans for classes, making sure to focus on the most vital information. Before providing this information to hypothetical teachers, though, I evaluated the information to make sure it was current and accurate, the most relevant information to the topic, and that all information came from people with authority. This information is not often covered in classes, so it was necessary to me to work even harder to make sure that the best information was presented to teachers and students.
SLO #5. Integrate evolving technologies and theories that underpin their design, application, and use with library and information services.
New technologies are one of the most exciting changes that we see at libraries. Maker studios have technologies, such as 3D printers and recording studios, that library patrons of yore could have never imagined. Library of Things also provides unique technologies, like wifi hotspots and electric guitars with amps, and the ability to check these items out gives patrons 24/7 access. My Library of Things assignment has examples of evolving technologies that fill needs in libraries. As mentioned above, I also made sure that many of these technologies served marginalized populations. One of the most wonderful things about evolving technologies is their ability to provide more equity of access to underserved communities.
SLO #6. Analyze current and historical trends to forecast future directions of the library and information field.
Currently, libraries are being inundated with more book challenges and bans than ever before. For my Professional Submission, I wrote an article called “Young Adult Book Bans Will Not Be Taken Quietly.” This includes the state of current book bans, including statistics. At its core, the article is about young adults who are fighting against these book bans. This article forecasts a bad trend and a good trend going forward. It seems like book challenges will continue to mount, but also that more people will be fighting back. Hopefully the trend of challenging the challenges will be able to decrease the current forecast about book bans.
SLO # 7. Create a plan for continuous professional development and lifelong learning.
Lifelong learning is a core value of librarianship. Librarians are encouraged to join the American Library Association and state library associations, which provide a multitude of opportunities for professional development. Because we spread information to others, it is paramount that we are always learning, both for our own careers and for our coworkers and patrons. In my Queer History Pathfinder, I include resources for further development and learning. Librarians can always add to their lifelong learning by following the extra resources included with the information that has already been curated for them. Much of the work that we do in libraries is only an introduction to a topic, and it is our responsibility to use further resources to learn more.
I appreciate that I had the opportunity to explore the SLOs through the assignments I completed throughout my time at ODU. The SLOs do a wonderful job at distilling library skills into only a few statements. I know that between the information that I was provided with and the work I did myself, I was able to meet all seven of these important SLOs.