Reflection 1

To reflect on the strategic area of ALA Core Competences (2023), I learned in the Information and Society class how libraries and information professionals play an essential role in supporting democratic principles while reading about the different instances in which librarians have lost their jobs and the support programs that the ALA has for those who are dealing with intellectual freedom cases. From the collection development class, I have learned some of the principles that have changed collection development policies from the classical ideas and that the purpose of the library has changed where collection acquisitions need to be combined with weeding policies and interlibrary loans, which instead of acquiring all the information in one centralized location. From the Information and Society class, I have learned about various types of library and archival agencies and various websites and their practices from attending the zoom meetings with information professionals in multiple fields. I have been following the intellectual freedom cases where LGBTQA+ books are being challenged in libraries around the country.

With the Management in Information Organizations, I now feel comfortable planning and executing budgeting and creating a multiple-year plan that will resolve issues and continue to progress the library in a direction that will meet the new demands of the community. Before the start of the semester,  I am currently volunteering in a makerlab where I am learning how to use 3D printers, CNC machines, Laser Engravers, sewing machines, and sound and visual lab equipment. I also have learned how to maintain this equipment. From volunteering, I have worked on effective communicating via email and working with customers to meet their information and learning needs in the maker lab. From volunteering and in classes, I have expanded my network with librarians and information professionals in the community and feel more comfortable talking with those in the LIS field.

Reference

American Library Association. (2023). 2022 ALA core competences of librarianship_final. In American Library Association. Retrieved February 28, 2023, from https://www.ala.org/educationcareers/sites/ala.org.educationcareers/files/content/2022%20ALA%20Core%20Competences%20of%20Librarianship_FINAL.pdf