Community Needs

Goal 4: To develop an appreciation of the service-based and user-focused nature of the information professions.

SLO 4: Graduates will be able to assess community needs, formulate plans to respond to users of information agencies, and instruct users in using informational resources.

A library is nothing without the community it serves and can only be successful when it is able to give quality and accessible information to all its patrons. Therefore, being able to assess community needs, formulate plans to respond to users of information agencies, and instruct users in using informational resources is an essential part of LIS professionals and an important part of this MLIS program. SLO 4 exemplifies the backbone of library science and gave me the tools to be able to know my community, create trusting relationships, and benefit the people that that I am honored to serve.

In ISLT_ 9433, I was given the opportunity to learn more about the Boone County community located in Missouri. This class taught me how to dig through census data, state government websites, and even public-school reports, to find out who was living in my community, and what resources and programming would best suit their needs. This user focused approach showed me that the booming number of young families in my area meant child programming was important to my patrons. From census data, I learned many of these families were single parent/guardian households and made me think about how this may affect their ability to find transportation. I also realized these programs needed to be set to later hours when the guardians would be available to take their children to the library outside their working hours. These resources gave me the tools I need to start creating ways to dismantle barriers my community is facing towards resources and learning.

In ISLT 9431, The class had an assignment where I had to read 50 children’s books and establish what their genre and reading levels were, whether they were quality material for differing age groups based on writing techniques, themes and concepts, and if they would be a good representation of the community in terms of what genders, ethnicities, cultures, and socioeconomic standings were being shown. This class taught me that the patron needs to be the focus throughout the entire library operating process. This especially includes accession and weeding. Making sure the community is represented in library material, and that materials are the right fit for patrons in terms of literacy levels and quality are crucial in making sure the best experience is had by patrons.

In ISLT 9446, I was able to research how other country’s LIS industries came to be and their current goals, objectives, and ethics. Through my country study paper, I was able to see how political, cultural, and funding problems of the past have led to institutions in Lebanon having to physically rebuild after bombings and how they must focus on community safety and the basics of food, clothing, and shelter. Lebanese libraries were therefore focusing on providing this type of support and resources of organizations that could help give their patron’s a feeling of safety. During my research I realized the importance of informed communities about one’s government and knowing who their leaders are. This is a big part of what type of support a library can expect to bring to their community and an informed public, can make better informed choices during elections. From this project, I realized that while there are so many new programs and library trends out there, it is important to remember that there are still people in my community who need resources and information about the basics. They are still searching for a safe space to ask for assistance in obtaining food, shelter, and clothing. I learned from Lebanon's resilient librarians, how to form resource guides and create relationships with other programs that help in those ways. They also have shown me how to create a welcoming space, so people feel empowered to ask for the help they deserve. Finally, they have shown me that their community sees the library as part of their family. This is where people go when they are scared and need help, and we as LIS professionals need to be ready for their call.

These projects have helped me become a competent LIS professional who is able to identify their community, define their needs, and create a plan of action to meet them and break down barriers to information. Also, community members need to be thought of during every decision-making process. This includes collection development and weeding of materials. Having quality materials and representation matter and create a well-rounded informed public, who are able to see themselves reflected in the materials they read and feel seen. When patrons feel seen, then librarians have known they have done their job well.