I believe the library is the heart of the school and the librarian is the vital piece bridging the disciplines through access to high quality information. The library is a place of connections that reach beyond the classroom curriculum, and I view librarianship as a service position that has the ability and responsibility to connect students and staff to the type of information and resources that can transform the way they learn and teach. The ability to pursue interdisciplinary interests and transfer knowledge from school and back to the community is an essential function of a school library. In its most ideal state, the library cultivates citizens who are critical thinkers and who are capable of contributing to a democratic society in meaningful ways. This program has given me the tools to implement a library program that strives toward these ideals.
One of the skills I have developed in this program is catering instructional strategies to information literacy. My goal is to become a teacher librarian and my background in education has given me the foundation to build my library skills upon. I have also strengthened by communication and advocacy skills - skills that are essential for all librarians. I will continue to seek out opportunities for growth, especially leadership opportunities that will help me support students and staff. After this program, I feel confident in my ability to be an effective teacher librarian.