In the future I hope to become a distinguished librarian and achieve a leadership position within the library. I feel initially I have a lot to offer in the area of public service. In the long term I believe I could contribute greatly to the administrative aspects of a library. I also desire to publish and teach in areas related to library science. I have gained research skills through the completion of my thesis during my first masters, and believe I would be able to contribute to the discipline of library science.
My learning objectives are based on previous experiences and future goals, as I endeavor to become a true scholar of information science. Being introduced to professional competencies in my first core MLIS class, I have developed my learning objectives with those in mind. I find it important to have a general understanding of all concepts within information science while certain areas I hope to gain specific expertise. Areas I am most interested include information services, technology in libraries, and library administration.
Technology cannot be separated from practically anything we do as information professionals. I would like to gain in-depth knowledge of information retrieval systems and how users interact with such systems. By doing so I hope to improve reference services offered by academic libraries. In an era of frequent innovation for information creation, distribution and acquisition I believe it is important to be familiar with theoretical concepts for how users interact with information as well as understanding practical applications of information technology.
Furthermore, it is my goal to be familiar with the latest concepts and emerging technologies. It is crucial to understand how the digital format impacts the mission of the library and I hope to learn about application of such technology in reference, information literacy, outreach, and management of library functions. I am excited to pursue projects in virtual reference services, as well as content retrieval and management.
Additionally, I am interested in gaining skills to teach information literacy, as I believe someone who is adept at information retrieval systems as well as user behavior would be able to contribute to others learning of information literacy. I am drawn to this field in large part due to the satisfaction I gain from helping others. Whether it be through conducting a successful reference interview or engaging learners in an opportunity to develop their own skills, sharing my knowledge with others is a main motivator for my career choice.
Finally, I would like to be well-versed in administration of libraries. I hope to learn the logistics as well as the organizational dynamics of a library. I believe a good library administrator should be familiar with all functions of the organization. Library administration requires management as well as leadership skills. I hope to improve my own throughout the program. Below I have listed my objectives I hope to accomplish throughout this degree.
Academic Library Administration:
Information Services:
Technology in libraries:
These learning objectives are based the following professional competencies:
Visit the sub-pages to see a mind-map of how I accomplished these objectives.