“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. ” – Dr. Seuss

My love for libraries began when I was child attending library programs with my parents and siblings. Since then, libraries have become a safe space for me.  The thing I loved most about the public library as a child was that there was an even playing field financially because all the programs were free. My siblings and I were able to experience and learn so much just by going to the library.  I am so happy that I now get to create these same experiences for patrons every day.

My philosophy on libraries is that it should be a welcoming and inclusive place for all people. Libraries have so much to offer including access to physical and electronic books, historical documents, computers, programs, services and so much more.  Every person that comes through the library doors should have equal access to the services and materials in the library without censorship. They should also have a sense of belonging when coming into a library. During my Library Foundations course, I truly connected and agreed with Ranganathan’s 5 Laws of Library Science which are as follows:

• Books are for use.
• Every person his or her book
• Every book it’s reader
• Save the time of the reader
• A library is a growing organism (Rubin & Rubin, 2020)

All these laws stand true for libraries today because a library should be continuously growing and expanding its collection to reflect its population.

Because of this, I am a huge proponent of diversity, equity, and inclusion in libraries. As stated before, libraries should be an inviting place for all no matter, race, religion, ethnicity, or background. The programs and services offered should be reflect diversity as well because our communities are diverse. Since I currently work in a public library, I have been able to see firsthand the positive effect that librarians and library staff can have on the community. As seen through my assignments throughout this MLIS program, I am an advocate for all things positive within a library including intellectual freedom, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Once I graduate, it is my mission to continue working to make my community better through the programs, initiatives, and services that I provide. Working in public service is not always easy but I find joy in seeing the impact we have on the lives of those who enter the building. I feel so fortunate to work in this field and can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.

References:

Rubin, R. E. and Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman.