Oklahoma Information Environment (OKIE) came highly recommended by multiple MLIS alumni in OU Libraries. The value of shared, in-person experiences made this class one of the most impactful in my time at the School of Library and Information Studies. I continue to connect with classmates from this class, even after being isolated for a year. If the in-person nature and time requirements of the class did not prevent others from taking it, I would recommend OKIE as a required course.

We toured several libraries and institutions that serve a wide range of populations, including special libraries for minority populations, preparing me to identify and redress issues of inequity (goal 1C). We visited a wide variety of institutions that cater toward different user groups and deal with different sources and services based on their users needs. This allowed me to compare and contrast different approaches to user services and reference models (goals 2 & 2B). Understanding the goals and values of each institution, their management structure and the reasons behind them helped me understand different philosophies of management (goal 2D).

Although I had already started scheduling my student employees to do tours of OU Libraries before taking OKIE, the structure of the course informed discussions and debriefs with my student employees during weekly tours of OU Libraries departments in the fall of 2019.