The ODU MLIS student learning outcomes (SLOs) have served as the backdrop to all of my coursework. So, over the past four semesters, as I progressed through the myriad textbook and journal readings, discussion boards, and projects requiring data gathering, synthesis, and analysis, I was constantly astounded by the MLIS Program’s comprehensiveness, and by the balance it struck between imparting theoretical concepts and building essential skills. Through this remarkable balance, I have learned both the theory and the practice of library and information science. I have studied the foundations and principal ideas of discipline. I have been introduced to the values and expectations of the profession. I have experienced the broad reach of librarianship and information science and explored what it means to be a librarian/information professional today. I have learned how libraries serve their communities, and I have acquired the knowledge and skills librarians need to ensure equitable access and use of information. I have the skills to develop and evaluate resources and programs, and to understand the needs of distinct kinds of users. I feel equipped to anticipate social and technological changes impacting our profession and to promote needed change. In sum, through this program, I have acquired the essential skills of a modern librarian and I will apply, update and build upon them as my career progresses.
The artifacts I highlight are a small representative sampling of my work which collectively demonstrates that I have achieved the ODU MLIS program-level SLOs. As I reflect below on applying what I’ve learned to my library career, I will be citing some– not all– of the artifacts and objectives that apply.
SLO 1: Create innovative responses to the needs and interests of diverse and global communities.
As librarian, it is essential for me to always remember the fundamental nature of communities and clientele libraries serve – – that they are dynamic and constantly evolving. So, understanding demographic changes and their implications for library services is essential to sound public librarianship. Addressing the needs of diverse communities underlies the Collection Development Plan, Serving the Underserved, Library of Things, and Paired Text Guide for Teachers. Each represents an innovative response to the needs and interests of diverse and global communities that include Latinx, east and South Asian immigrants with limited English Language skills, the working poor, and educators exposing ninth graders to the struggle for LGBTQ rights and Asian American rights. I identified immigrants with limited English language skills as an underserved population in the Tyson-Pimmit area of Fairfax County. Then I developed a new program of English language dialogue and pronunciation coaching focused on improving employment prospects and social connections through greater ease with English. Because the program is targeted at the working poor, I anchored it at a regional branch library with good access to public transportation and parking, and built it around flexible evening and weekend hours to accommodate this underserved demographic. In doing the groundwork for the community outreach and marketing plan, I visited markets and shopping malls within Latinx, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern and Korean enclaves and incorporated the wealth of weekly newspapers in Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, and Korean in my marketing plan. I was also exposed to the multitude of community organizations focused on uplifting those in need within the targeted communities. I gained experience using demographic data to identify the underserved, understand their needs, and create solutions in association with community groups. I expect to draw on these skills throughout my librarian career.
SLO 2: Demonstrate leadership attributes for a variety of information environments.
I’ve learned that leadership attributes include creating vision, taking risks, inspiring trust, charting new growth, focusing on people, and doing the right thing. Regardless of my job function or position in a library’s hierarchy, occasions will arise when I must apply these attributes towards achieving organizational goals. The artifacts satisfying this SLO demonstrate leadership in a variety of environments. The Ethics Assignment presents dilemmas I had to address from the perspective of a user services librarian and as the director of an academic library. For the Grant Proposal, my role is that of Community Outreach Librarian mobilizing funding for a new program for my library where I had to demonstrate vision, advocacy, planning and budgeting skills. For the Collection Development Plan, I had to consider big picture strategic direction and budgeting over a three-year time horizon. Because Booktalks are aimed at inspiring teens to read, I chose Vlog and Podcast formats recognizing the current popularity of personal devices.
SLO 3: Interpret and apply basic and applied research to improve their professional practice.
How would you know if a program your library wants to put in place is needed, would be valued or used? How would you go about determining if there are underserved groups in your community and whether there are opportunities to better serve them? Learning and applying the fundamentals of gathering and analyzing demographic data, carrying out needs assessments, and planning for new programming were foundational to the well-reasoned solutions I propose for the Collection Development Plan, Serving the Underserved, and Library of Things.
SLO 4: Access, synthesize, and evaluate information to assist information seekers.
Libraries exist to serve the information needs of the community. So for me as a professional librarian, the perennial question will be how can the library help? Among the ways I know libraries can help is by organizing, evaluating and synthesizing information to facilitate access for users, whether they are teachers, adult patrons or teens. Three of my works that demonstrate this SLO are: Paired Text Guide for Teachers, Booktalks, and Pathfinder. Each in their own way helps guide information seekers towards material that will be useful to them.
SLO 5: Integrate evolving technologies and theories that underpin their design, application, and use with library and information services.
As librarians, we are called upon to design and innovate; to create equitable, just, and engaging information artifacts, services, systems, spaces, resources, and technologies. Booktalks, the Pathfinder, and Library of Things illustrate innovation. The Booktalks were recorded for electronic dissemination. I deliberately developed Pathfinder using web-based tools — a new technology that is constantly evolving. Library of Things is consistent with the current sharing economy. The ability to borrow useful items from libraries serves societal and community goals because people save money and waste is reduced. As society and communities evolve, and needs and technology change, thinking about how to incorporate the new must also evolve as the artifacts for this SLO demonstrate.
SLO 6: Analyze current and historical trends to forecast future directions of the library and information field.
I chose Serving the Underserved, Library of Things, and the Ethics Assignment to illustrate how I’ve met this SLO. As an example, my analyses for the first two were based on Fairfax county, Virginia where US Census highlighted increasing racial and ethnic diversity with immigrants from Latin America, east Asia, and the Indian subcontinent many speaking a language other than English at home. These trends are observed and recognized more broadly and it is why the ALA has forums on enhancing access for multi-cultural and multilingual communities. Nowadays, libraries are grappling with decisions around providing nontraditional services like blood pressure monitoring, washrooms, and mailboxes for the unhoused. Over time, societal changes have given rise to these needs. Ethical decision making requires context. I plan to remain well informed of the background to the societal issues driving many non-traditional library services.
SLO 7: Create a plan for continuous professional development and lifelong learning.
For the duration of my career as a librarian, I have no doubt that there will always be current, new and emerging issues that present ethical dilemmas. I’ve learned that keeping abreast of the literature and ALA codes and guidelines on Ethics will be critical reference points for making well-reasoned decisions when faced with such situations. The Ethics Assignment demonstrates this. The Grant Proposal recognizes that needs for programs and services will regularly exceed available budget, so grant writing skills are essential elements of my toolkit and continuing to hone these skills will be a career long pursuit. Professional development is fostered by the Pathfinder with its combination of evolving web-based technology and new content areas. Imagine, the words crypto currency and bitcoin came into being in 2008; the word Blog, in 1997; and the QR code, in 1994. Librarians can never stop learning new content or relevant technology.