Closing Statement

I have seen my skills, knowledge, and abilities grow so much over the course of the program. I started with very little experience in libraries. Through these courses, professional development, and working in academic libraries, I am walking away from this experience with the confidence that I can help shape this field, provide excellent user services, promote accessibility, and support research wherever my career takes me. I started this experience with goals to broaden and strengthen my understandings of archival practices, ethics in libraries, user services, and special collections. I shaped my courses in the program around these areas, gained so much experience, and these have guided where I want to take my career after I graduate. The first leg of the program allowed me to build foundational knowledge of librarianship. As I had never worked in a library before, this helped guide my comprehension of the history and importance of librarians and librarianship. The second leg of the program was focused on improving and building on base knowledge. This manifested as applying basic theories to more in-depth courses as I was starting archival studies and getting an internship where I could practice what I had learned taking my general classes. The last leg helped me refine my understandings and apply it to real world scenarios where I could develop policies and procedures, build a digital collection, and provide reference services. I feel incredibly accomplished and proud of what I have done and what I have learned throughout this program. I am confident that I have met the goals I established for myself at the beginning. 

I have had the opportunity to work as a research assistant at the OU-Tulsa library and intern and volunteer at the University of Tulsa library while enrolled in this program. Having the ability to practice the concepts and theories I have learned in class has led me to make connections and further the skills I strengthen in class. My current career goal is to continue my work in academic libraries. This wasn't necessarily the area I thought I would go to when I started this program. But working with the OU faculty and working in smaller capacities in academic libraries has heavily influenced this goal. I was able to participate in the Oklahoma Library Association Conference this spring as a volunteer, I have made it a goal for myself to present at a conference in the future, which I have not done before. This program has also inspired me to make a goal to publish research, something I thought I was incapable of previously. I am so excited to see where my career takes off, I thank the faculty that supported me in the program and the librarians at my places of work for inspiring my career. I wouldn't be where I am without this program and everyone involved.