Each of the classes taken towards the masters degree contributed to developing skills in
creating partnerships, collaborations and networks. Each class had some type of exercise that had to be completed within a
group or with a single partner.
The "demonstrates an ability to serve a diversity
of stakeholders" was learned on the job in the capacity as catalog assistant in the Preservation Department of an university
library. We have students, faculty and researchers from around the world request to look at volumes that are sometimes terribly
deteriorated that need surrogate copies made. As part of my responsibilities I had to quickly prepare a catalog record of
the reproduced volume so that the patron can use it.
ILS565 Library Management with Dr. James Kusack
This course was instrumental in stressing the importance of "developing partnerships, collaborations, networks and other structures within a community of stakeholders". We learned through various exercise the need to work and value the contributions of all persons associated
with a library from the Board of Trustees and director all the way down to the custodial staff, with everyone else connected
in between.
"Displays a knowledge of how change occurs, and how institutional and individual change strategies
and options are developed."1
The "Library Management" class addressed issues of change within the
confines of the library and within the library profession as a whole. We discussed the benefits and difficulties in instituting
change in the library environment and balancing the needs and concerns of stakeholders on both sides of the issue.
ILS560 College
and University Libraries with Dr. James
Kusack
"Is aware of the currently prevailing types of library and information professions, and information providing settings."1
The "College and University Libraries" class addressed the subject of library evaluation
with a "Benchmark Exercise" where we had to compare and evaluate libraries. The exercise was instrumental in showing
what libraries are doing well and a great tool for librarians to get good ideas to implement in their own facilities. It can
be used as proof to show funding authorities that a particular service is being used to good effect at another library.
"Understands the basic principles
related to reaching specific audiences and promoting concepts or services."1
We discussed at length that the patrons
at college and university libraries are varied, including not only the students but faculty, staff, visiting scholars and
researchers from all over the world sometimes, especially at research university libraries.
Graduate Assistantship with Dr. Yan Quan Liu
"Demonstrates oral and written communication skills necessary for group work,
collaborations, and professional level presentations."1
The "Graduate Assistantship" allowed me to develop the oral and written communication skills of professional level
presentations, in the form of a powerpoint and speech to relate the information from a study. I had the chance to prepare
and present a powerpoint at a conference in the professors' stead when he was unable to be present.
I
also learned to "promote" a course by looking for possible interested parties and writing promotional materials to send out
to libraries and Chinese language departments, as well as, information science departments at various colleges and universities.
Very often libraries seem not to have a good publicity of the services and resources they offer.
ILS514 Materials and Services for Adults with Dr. Elsie
Okobi
The "Adult Services" course was instrumental in preparing us for "reaching specific audiences and promoting services". We had the challenge of picking a
city and library and developing a service and ideas for advertising it. I chose a service for delivery of library materials
to the homebound. This same service is amenable for college and university students and faculty who prefer to conduct their
research and work from dorm and office. It could be especially effective for disabled students or working students who need
extra support. Books could be mailed, resources digitized.
1 American Library Association. (2005)
Appendix A: Draft Core Competencies, July 2005.
Retrieved April 19, 2009, from: http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/accreditation/prp/DraftCoreCompetencie.pdf
