I am currently, and for the foreseeable future, the coordinator of the African American Resource Center (AARC) for the Tulsa City-County Library. It is a position that combines education, from which I draw my previous professional experience, with collection development, program planning, and community support and advocacy. The purpose and goal of the AARC is to collect and provide access for library users to resources that document and honor the histories of and experiences of people of African descent. My current interest as a librarian is in that: continuing to grow the African American Resource Center by building a larger, more robust collection, creatin g a digital footprint that provides resources to those outside of the Tulsa community, and offering programs that invite people from all communities to learn and share in the vast history of African Americans. In one word, my professional philosophy focuses on access.
Through the MLIS program, I hope to deepen my understanding of the history of libraries and underserved communities. This has, and will continue to, shape my experience as a librarian, particularly as a Black librarian. It has been one of the more important aspects of my journey - learning how access had been restricted from various community groups based on discrimination and working to make sure that such restrictions are never true again. This program will provide me with a groundwork for community advocacy: by showcasing ways to communicate effectively with community members and other stakeholders; by supporting my understanding of creating programs that interest large pockets of the library's customers; and by equipping me with the knowledge to effectively collect resources and plan programs that speak to the needs of the people the library serves.
While my focus is on African Americans by the nature of my position, my overall goal of access is one for all. As a public librarian, I recognize that public libraries are the foundation through which information should be made available to all who need them. Public librarians have the space, the opportunity, and the resources to provide access to knowledge, access to cultural history, and access to services that support a growing and diversifying population. Through preparing an engaging and robust materials collection, strengthening my skills in advocacy and communication, and continuing to learn new trends in technology, I will do my part to ensure this access.