Over the course of my time at ODU, I have come to realize that librarianship is about inclusivity, equity, and overall community. Libraries, and the information they provide are of course important, but they are nothing if they do not have a good community of people to make use of such things. That’s why as a librarian, I aim to make sure that I can reach as many people as possible in whatever location I am in, and provide services to people from all walks of life.
I will serve my community by providing resources to anyone who needs them, and do so while promoting equity and inclusivity. In order to improve my reach within the community, I will work with my peers to provide programs that promote the uses of the library and how anyone can use them. I will also teach those who need it the necessary skills they may need to put their own knowledge out there for others to utilize.
As a student in ODU, I learned the importance of community and teamwork, as I utilized the knowledge of my peers and the knowledge shared with me by other librarians around the world to complete whatever tasks were asked of me. I wish to provide the same experience to the patrons of my library, upholding the values taught to me by the Core Values of Librarianship by the American Library Association (2019), and foster a good community of my own that welcomes anyone in the search of knowledge.
I may not have much experience in the field as a librarian as of yet, but I feel as though I have been fully equipped with the tools and knowledge necessary to push toward my goals. I know, thanks to ODU and the teachers and fellow students I have worked with, that librarianship is a large community in itself, and I should always be able to find answers to whatever questions I may have while serving those around me.
