I believe that the library holds something for everyone. And it is my job to not only help them find it but get them to the library as well. As I look at my family, from my 1-year-old daughter to 80-year-old grandma, the needs of everyone are very different. In a school setting, meeting these needs could include students, teachers, administrators, families of students and the community. The librarian should be able to meet the diverse needs of the patrons. This is a service industry as is included in Rubin and Rubin’s book as the first value (Rubin & Rubin, 2020, p. 540). Although I love losing myself behind a desk in a world of books, research and projects, I cannot go into this field not knowing that my main job will be serving the people which Rubin and Rubin state will occur in any type of library position a person would take (Rubin & Rubin, 2020, p. 540). The connections that a librarian makes with its patrons and the help that the librarian provides is so rewarding and a major reason why I wanted to go into this field.
I have chosen the path of school librarian, what grade level, I do not know yet. But I do know I will serve the students, teachers, parents and often in small towns like where I live, possibly the greater community. And as important as it is to reach those that walk through the doors it is equally important to reach those that have never walked through the doors like the issues discussed in Sanchez’s article, “What Are They Doing, Like, in a Library? Mexican-American Experiences in Their High School Library” (Sanchez, 2018). I had never thought about serving a community that has never been in a library or didn’t see that the library was a place that was meant for them.
The library should be inclusive and offer a diversity in books that meet the community they serve but also offer a look into a world that may not be present in the community (as is accustomed in a rural setting). Rubin and Rubin provided an understanding of libraries in rural communities and lack of representation in these communities with the majority of the population being white (Rubin & Rubin, 2020, p. 98). My community where I live and plan on working is unfortunately not very diverse however to me that doesn’t meant that what is in the library should only focus on the representation of the community but should be able to open the eyes to the students about other cultures, people and stories. I have read that reading fiction books can help people be more empathetic because it lets them see a situation from another person’s eyes (Schmidt, 2020). I want to help people make these connections through the library.
The library is more than just books. The library is a space where creativity and collaboration can happen. The library is meant as a place to learn, use or master technology as in Brown’s article that discusses the changing role of librarians through the evolution of the title of librarians (Brown, 2021). She concludes that librarians are information people that “are tech savvy and far more competent than the average information consumer” (Brown, 2021). I know one of my weaknesses is technology and utilizing social media so I want to strive to have a greater understanding and knowledge of technology and social media to connect with students that I will serve and to help other staff that may have a deficiency in this area like I currently have.
The library serves as a community center for whatever kind of community it serves. I want to create a space where students can harness their creativity, find respite and work together on a project or assignment. And I want this space to be comfortable to all students, I do now want students to feel like the library is not a place for them or only for smart people as those interviewed by Sanchez felt (Sanchez, 2018).
I will be a forever learner as a librarian. I will constantly be researching new books, lessons, technology and trends that will help me better serve my community. In every job I have had I have always strived to learn, continue to grow and critically think about something I have worked on to see how I could do it better. I plan to use these skills when I become a librarian. I am excited that there are immense resources, organizations and advocacy devoted to school librarians and librarians in general. I think it is so inspiring to share what I am working on and see what others are doing and to learn from this.
Works Cite
Brown, C. (2021, February). How Have Library Job Titles Evolved? Reflections on Recent Years. https://www.vable.com/blog/how-have-library-job-titles-evolved-reflections-on-recent-years
Rubin, R., & Rubin, R. (2020). Foundations of Library and Information Science. Chicago: Neal-Schuman.
Sanchez, J. (2018). What Are They Doing, Like, in a Library?: Mexican-American Experiences in Their High School Library. Young Adult Library Services.
Schmidt, M. (2020, August). How Reading Fiction Increases Empathy and Encourages Understanding. https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/how-reading-fiction-increases-empathy-and-encourages-understanding