INTRODUCTION

“LITERA SCRIPTA MANET (The written word endures).”

Introduction
      This e-portfolio was created as part of the requirement for a master’s degree from San Jose State Universitiy's  SLIS program. In order to demonstrate my knowledge of the library profession SLIS has created a list of 15 core competencies that every student should master before they graduate. Coursework is submitted to show evidence of my mastery for each competency.
      My goal for each competency is to show not only how I have mastered the requirement but also how the competency has reflected in my professional philosophy and personal experiences, as well as giving me an opportunity to share my coursework with everyone.
      I started the intricate process of creating my e-portfolio during my first semester at SJSU. I had a tip from a former student who explained how much easier the process would go if I created folders for each competency and saved my work accordingly from the beginning. With this thought in mind I created a separate folder for each competency and placed all the folders in a special e-portfolio folder. I realized during my third semester that just saving my work into the folders was not good enough. Each file name differed and I had a hard time figuring out what class the work came from or what the work represented if it had a generic assignment name. To minimize my confusion I started saving my work with my last name, class number, and one word to describe the assignment.  My next step was to create my professional philosophy, introduction and then I went through the competencies in order to keep track.
      I chose to use D2L to create my E-portfolio. I wanted my E-portfolio to be unique to my experience while in the SLIS program. I had a difficult time deciding how to express this to the public. Looking through my classwork from the SLIS program through my undergrad I found one distinct link. The Library of Congress. I studied the building and architecture as well as using the Library of Congress website countless times while pursuing my undergrad. When I started in the SLIS program, my family and I took a trip out to Washington D.C. to visit the Library of Congress. The Jefferson building was magnificent with paintings, sculptures and inscriptions throughout. I chose to use inscriptions from the walls of the Library of Congress to represent each of the 14 competencies, as well as the introduction and conclusion.
      I started at SJSU in the fall of 2009. I currently have a B.A. in History, although I started out my college career in the architectural field. My main concentration has been on children's library classes and I have been fortunate enough to have worked in a high school library this past school year. I appreciate you taking the time to view my e-portfolio.





References

Library of Congress (2006). On These Walls. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://www.loc.gov/loc/walls/

“THE NOBLEST MOTIVE IS THE PUBLIC GOOD.” –Virgil

Professional Philosophy

        Continuously throughout my experience in the MLIS program, the ALA Code of Ethics has been referred to as the basis that a librarian should build their career on. I have adopted and manipulated the Code of Ethics to create and define my own professional philosophy.
I. The ALA Code of Ethics states: “We provide the highest level of service to all library users…” The key to creating a useful, relaxing, and productive environment for library patrons is by providing good service. A library can be architecturally beautiful, have an abundance of books and computers yet if a patron cannot find the item they are searching for the library becomes practically useless. I believe that service is important in whichever career path you choose and it is my goal to always strive to provide great service to my patrons. I have had experience working in a low-income area and I have seen the impact the library can have on patrons with little access outside the library to technology and books. Providing access to materials specific to the cultural and economic needs of the community is important when providing good service. The library needs to continue to meet the needs of the patron and I plan on continuously reaching out to the public to insure their service needs are being met.
II. Intellectual Freedom: As part of the ALA Code of Ethics, intellectual freedom and resistance to censorship play a strong roll in most libraries. I whole-heartedly believe in intellectual freedom and I feel censoring books only inhibits learning and the expression of beliefs. I grew up in America believing in freedom of speech and I will do whatever is in my power to continue this freedom and to fight off efforts of censorship.
III. Right to Privacy: Maintaining the patrons right to privacy and confidentiality is a part of the ALA Code of Ethics. I have had first hand experience in my current position with this issue. I have explained to patrons who are concerned that their information is secure and will not be shared outside the library. It is important that the library staff allow patrons to feel safe and comfortable asking for help seeking out information they need without being judged or ridiculed. Patrons should feel comfortable checking out any book of their choice without fear or embarrassment from the staff.
IV. Treat Coworkers with Respect: The ALA Code of Ethics states: “We treat coworkers and other colleagues with respect, fairness, and good faith…” As in any job treating coworkers respectfully is a necessity to creating an enjoyable and growing work environment. Training together and sharing responsibilities will help to create a mutual understanding between employees. Everyone should be allowed to express and share their uniqueness while receiving understanding and respect. I hope to foster strong relationships that will continue to grow and create an enjoyable work place.
V. Strive for Excellence: Continuous growth is a necessity in the library field. Technology is forever changing and as information professionals we need to be on top of our field to successfully allow our patrons to succeed. I plan on continuing my education, joining professional groups and attending conferences to allow myself to grow and strive for excellence in my field. As I learned from Library 261a, Programming for Young Adults, I will create training programs and motivate my colleagues and staff to continue their training so we can all succeed together (Library 261a Staff). Using the new knowledge I will gain from my education I will create and update educational programs for the patrons.
       The needs of the community are very important to me. I have been participating in a Homeword Bound program through the Castro Valley Public Library, which matches elderly homebound patrons with volunteers. The volunteer brings books to the patron’s house to allow the patron to continue reading. Through my education and research I have found many different programs that help meet the needs of the community, such as the Booklegger program through the Pleasanton Library which provides training for volunteers to visit elementary schools to read to students. I plan on implementing some of these programs in my future career as a librarian to continue reaching out to the public.
       By following these guidelines I hope to create and maintain a successful career as a library professional.

References

American Library Association (2011). Code of Ethics. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/proethics/codeofethics/codeethics.cfm

Library of Congress (2006). On These Walls. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://www.loc.gov/loc/walls/

Pleasanton Library (2011). Booklegger Program. Retrieved September 11, 2011 from http://www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/services/library/volunteer-opportunities.html

Castro Valley Public Library (2011). Homeword Bound. Retrieved September 11, 2011 from http://guides.aclibrary.org/senior?topic=SeniorServices&cat=SeniorServices

Evidence:
Libr 261a: Staff Development

COMPETENCY A

“A LITTLE LEARNING IS A DANGEROUS THING;
DRINK DEEP OR TASTE NOT OF THE PIERIAN SPRING.” – Alexander Pope

A.
Articulate the ethics, values and foundational principles of library and information professionals and their role in the promotion of intellectual freedom.

      In every library, the goal of the librarian is to uphold intellectual freedom and to safeguard patrons from censorship. The American Library Association has a code of ethics that serve as a guideline for how libraries operate and for how librarians should behave. The ALA code of ethics states, “We uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist all efforts to censor library resources.” Censorship can be a difficult task for a Librarian. Personal biases as well as community biases come into play whenever a book is in question. Not every patron will agree on which books should be contained in the library. The librarian has to put the needs and opinions of their community above their own personal beliefs. I addressed this dilemma in a paper for Library 266, Collection Management. I created a collection development policy (Library 266 Collection Development Policy) for a library in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island. In the paper I focus on how censorship is handled within the library. I feel it is the responsibility of the librarian to receive any criticism from patrons and staff, however there should be a set standard within the policy on how the librarian will respond to that criticism. Censorship should not be an aspect of any library, yet there are times when a librarian has to make a choice for the benefit of the community and staff.
      Economy plays a large role in intellectual freedom. Patrons who are financially stable tend to be able to keep up on technology. With the increase of technology changing libraries, schools and the day-to-day world, lacking the funds to purchase or access new technology can put a library at a disadvantage. As much as a librarian strives to provide equal access to everyone, there never seems to be enough money in the budget to keep up with the latest technology. Many patrons access the library in order to read books they cannot otherwise purchase, to use the Internet and to gain help from different services. When libraries are closed or hours cut these patrons are put at a disadvantage from those who have access to services at home. Keeping up to date on what is being offered can help provide more opportunities to patrons. In Library 266, Collection Management, I created a Public Service Announcement (Library 266 Public Service Announcement) that let patrons know when the library was open and what new features and programs were available. Librarian may not be able to fix all the issues associated with economic problems, but they can continue to reach out to the community and to provide the best service possible to their patrons.
      You cannot focus on intellectual freedom without mentioning the Library of Congress. Created in 1897, the Library of Congress holds every published piece of work in the United States. The LOC went through many changes throughout the years, but it has always stood as a symbol for research and learning. I wrote a research paper for Library 200, Information and Society, on the LOC (Library 200 Reearch Paper). I focused on the history of the LOC from the very beginning all the way to the present day. All the information you could possible desire is located within the walls of the LOC and you can access the information for free online. The LOC is a sight to behold and I was grateful to have the experience of visiting the LOC while I was writing my paper. Many libraries have modeled themselves after the LOC and the website provides links to libraries across the nation. The LOC was a large step in the foundation of current libraries and their search systems.


References

American Library Association (2011). Code of Ethics. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/proethics/codeofethics/codeethics.cfm

Library of Congress (2011). History. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://www.loc.gov/about/history.html

Library of Congress (2006). On These Walls. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://www.loc.gov/loc/walls/

Evidence:
Libr 200: Research paper
Libr 266: Collection Development Policy and Public Service Announcement

COMPETENCY B

“LEARNED INSTITUTIONS OUGHT TO BE FAVORITE OBJECTS WITH EVERY FREE PEOPLE. THEY THROW THAT LIGHT OVER THE PUBLIC MIND WHICH IS THE BEST SECURITY AGAINST CRAFTY & DANGEROUS ENCROACHMENTS ON THE PUBLIC LIBERTY.”- James Madison

B.
Compare the environments and organizational setting which library and information professionals practice.

      From the Ancient Library of Alexandria to the New York Public Library, libraries have stood as monuments to learning. Every library is unique in its individual way. Design, layout, staff and the surrounding environment play large roles in creating a distinctive library space. I have been fortunate enough to visit numerous libraries throughout my life, from small school libraries to the large Library of Congress in Washington D.C. As part of the MLIS program, we had to participate in an environmental scan of a library of our choice (Library 204 Environmental Scan). I chose to use the Dublin Public Library located in Dublin, CA. This is a relatively new library and the community is rapidly growing. By using the guidelines for the assignment, I researched the city, businesses located close to the library and the types of activities provided by the library and by the community. I looked at the trends, competitor’s activities of surrounding locations and the people who will potentially visit the site. These aspects helped me create a plan that reflects what the library needs to do to continue to grow to keep up with the needs of the community.Many libraries are creating separate spaces for teenagers. The new Castro Valley Library in Castro Valley, CA, has a separate teen space. For Library 261a, Programming for Young Adults, I visited the Castro Valley Library and viewed the teen space. I created a PowerPoint presentation that gave a tour of the teen space (Library 261a Teen Space). I used the same teen space to create an analysis regarding teen areas for Library 271a, Genres and Topics in Youth Literature. The teen space at the Castro Valley Library is very modern. The layout provides amble room for reading, socializing, plugging in laptops and there are numerous computers. This space compared to the high school library that I work at, appeals to the younger generation, because the furniture, lights and technology is new, fun and fits with the current trend. I feel technology needs to be at the forefront of any design for teens.

      I had the pleasure of visiting the Bancroft Library at University of California Berkeley. Associate Director of the Bancroft Library, David De Lorenzo, was gracious enough to give SLIS students a tour of the library and its archives. For Library 256, Archives and Manuscripts, I wrote a paper on my experience during the tour (Library 256 Tour). Housing 600,000 printed volumes and 60,000,000 manuscript items, the Bancroft library is a sight to behold. A he warehouse type room houses books from floor to ceiling. A special room with refrigerators hold close to three million images. There are beautiful rooms to study in with amazing architecture. Everything is grand in this library, a complete opposite from most public and school libraries.
      Whenever I visit a new library I always get excited. You never know what the building might contain and there are always special points that make you want to remember so you can implement that idea in your own career. On a family vacation I got to visit the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. I have dreamed of visiting this library and it was nothing short of spectacular. Marble stairways and columns greet you, along with beautiful paintings. The library is a tourist destination and you get the feeling that most people are there to look at the architecture, not do research. Exhibits are set up housing documents, books and pictures. There was an exhibit of Thomas Jefferson’s library with every book including originals that he had donated to the library.
     There is no doubt that each of the libraries I have visited are extremely different but there was one common bond between all of the libraries, they are there to serve. People come to learn, do research and explore new and exciting surroundings. Each library represents a different type of learning and person but they all are available for people to use in whichever way they choose and all the librarians work hard to keep their libraries updated and accessible.


References

The Bancroft Library (2008). Fact Sheet. Retrieved July 22, 2011 from http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/

Library of Congress (2006). On These Walls. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://www.loc.gov/loc/walls/

Evidence:
Libr 204: Environmental Scan
Libr 256: Library Tour
Libr 271a: Teen Space

COMPETENCY C

“GIVE INSTRUCTION UNTO THOSE WHO CANNOT PROCURE IT FOR THEMSELVES.” -Confucius
 
C.
Recognize the social, cultural and economic dimensions of information use:

      As much as we would like to believe differently, access to information comes with a price. Although schools and public libraries give patrons access to the Internet and books, keeping these items up to date can be very expensive. Many schools do not have the funding to provide enough computers or new releases to their students. Public libraries are only open for a limited amount of time; some libraries in less affluent cities are only open a few days a week. For patrons with access outside of these ventures, the effect may not be noticed, but the patrons who struggle financially are hurt the most when they cannot access the information they need.
       In Library 200, Information and Society, I wrote a paper about the rise of information and how it is affecting society (Library 200 Rise of Information). If you walk into a high school today you are bound to see the majority of students on cell phones, ipads and computers. Facebook has become a staple for the younger generation. Teachers use Facebook to let students know what is going on in class, libraries are turning to Facebook to advertise upcoming events and patrons use Facebook to stay in touch with their acquaintances. Instead of using school computers and public computers for researching on the Internet, computers are being used to chat with friends to create a new social world. The library has become a social hangout for people of all ages. Teen spaces are becoming more popular at public libraries. Sitting areas allow groups of patrons to sit and socialize while discussing homework or current events and play games. Economic times are affecting everyone, including the younger generation. Libraries provide a free and safe place to spend time.
      In Library 261a, Programming and Services for Young Adults, I took a closer look at a high school library for an assignment on advocacy in libraries (Library 261a Implementing Advocacy). Ukiah High School library is located in the small town of Ukiah, CA. The town of Ukiah is mostly lower class and the school district has little funding. The high school library is very popular with the students. The computers always have a waitlist and books are read and re-read because there is little chance of funding providing current books. After observing the teen area of the public library in Ukiah, it was obvious why so many teens chose to access the school library. The public library had just one bookshelf dedicated to teen books. There was no sitting area or games available and the teens were lacking the access they truly needed. Teens use the high school library space because the city has little money to create and update the teen area at the public library. Students who have no access at home use the library computers and printers for assignments and fun. Not having access to new technologies is putting a disadvantage on the lower social classes. The middle and upper class do have access and those people are at an advantage, while those who do not can fall further behind.
       The cultural aspects of information access were apparent to me in my visits to the public libraries is Ukiah, Ca and Dublin, Ca. The town of Ukiah, Ca has a large population of Spanish speaking people. However, because of funding and the town’s lack of support, most of the patrons do not access the library. The Spanish collection at the library is very small compared to the population. In Dublin, Ca the Spanish speaking population is fairly low, yet there is an extensive collection of Spanish books in the library. This observation reinforced my belief that areas with money provide information access and information sources to the community it serves.

References

Library of Congress (2006). On These Walls. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://www.loc.gov/loc/walls/

Evidence:
Libr 200: Rise of Information 
Libr 261a: Implementing Advocacy

COMPETENCY D

“WORDS ARE ALSO ACTIONS AND ACTIONS ARE A KIND OF WORDS.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

D.
Apply the fundamental principles of planning, management and marketing/advocacy

     Every great library has a plan. Starting with a mission statement, a library creates their visions, values and goals to help the library run smoothly and to achieve the right environment for their patrons and the community. In Library 266, Collection Management, I created a collection development policy for a nonexistent library located in Cavendish, PEI (Library 266 Collection Development Policy). In order to create the policy I called on the knowledge I had learned in Library 204, Information Organizations and Management. In Library 204, I learned about environmental scans. I created an environmental scan for the Dublin Public Library. I researched the city of Dublin to learn about events in the community, demographics and statistics. I then visited the Dublin Public Library to access the needs of the community, which events are held at the library and who uses the library the most. I observed the neighboring business and used all the knowledge I had gained to compile an environmental scan to use in the created of a strategic plan for the library. In regards to the collection development policy, I was not able to visit the library because it was non-existent, so instead I researched the city of Cavendish and chose a place in the center of town for the library to be located. I then went about created a collection development policy that would bring in books and media that would match the needs of the community.
     Great management can help make a library successful. In Library 204, Information Organizations and Management, we covered the topic of management styles and skills. I wrote a paper on the importance of motivation in the management style (Library 204 Motivation). I compared different articles on management styles and motivation techniques. In the first article by Nigel Nicholson entitled “How to Motivate Your Problem People,” the focus is on how management reacts to problem employees. Nicholson discusses how employers usually react and how relationships with problem employees can be improved.  The second article I discuss is by Abraham Zaleznik. In the article “Managers and leaders are they different?” Zaleznik sheds light on the differences between management and the employees. He feels the manager is held in a higher regard and therefore holds himself to a higher standard. Managers are level headed and goal orientated compared to the employees who work for rewards.
     Despite the two different views on managers, both articles focus on ways to encourage employees to do their best and how managers can work harder to create better relationships with their employees. Motivation is required for any employee to succeed. If a situation arises and a staff member is not working to their ability, kindness and understanding should be shown along with encouragement and further training. Having staff members in charge of certain areas of the library and programs can help keep up motivation and allow a feeling of pride and success in reaching a goal.
     Marketing is an important tool to keep patrons informed on library and events. I covered how each event in the programming plans is marketed to bring patrons in and add interest. There is always room for improvement in a marketing plan and in Library 204, Information Organizations and Management; I worked on a group strategic plan of the Albany Library (Library 204 Strategic Plan). The strategic plan covered information and ideas on how the library could market itself better. They had an online website that had a calendar of events, but nothing caught the eye and invited you to explore the website further. Marketing to the county website, city website and at schools around town can help bring in patrons. The strategic plan proposed by my group looked at the future plan of the Albany Library, where they wanted to be in five years and how the library would grow. Research showed where the library had been and how making a coffee shop or access to the community center could help improve interest and drive in traffic to the library.

References

Library of Congress (2006). On These Walls. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://www.loc.gov/loc/walls/

Nicholson, N. (2003). How to Motivate Your Problem People. Harvard Business Review,  81(1), 57-65.

Zaleznik, A. (1977).  Managers and leaders: are they different? Harvard Business Review, 55(3), 67-78.

Evidence:
Libr 204: Motivation Management
Libr 204: Strategic Plan
Libr 266: Collection Development Policy and Public Service Announcement

COMPETENCY E

“E PLURIBUS UNUM (From one, many).”

E.
Design, query and evaluate information retrieval systems.

      Information retrieval systems play a primary role for libraries and librarians. There are many different versions of information retrieval systems from the more simplistic to the more advanced. Which system is used depends on the needs and preferences of each specific library.
       For Library 202, Information Retrieval, we learned about the mechanics behind creating a database. Part of creating a database involves dividing and grouping information into different categories and properly naming and linking those groups to allow the user to easily find the information they are seeking. In Library 202 we were given many exercises that allowed us to get a feel for how databases were created. One assignment started out with images that needed keywords to represent each image. Attention to detail was mandatory when choosing vocabulary and terminology to describe the images. After sorting through the data and editing out duplicate or generic words, we were tasked with creating a data structure, which included fields and rules. I have included a screen shot of my final database for Library 202 (Library 202 Screen Shot).
      I became proficient at querying information retrieval systems in Library 244, Online Searching. For this class the focus was on three information retrieval systems: Dialog, LexisNexis and Factiva. Each system required different skills to complete search inquiries. Dialog was the hardest to understand and navigate I believe it takes years of practice and continued learning to be successful using this system. Factiva and LexisNexis were easier to “begin” but it was obvious that the more familiar you are at any of these systems the more accurate your results will be. We had many assignments that involved finding answers to reference questions posed to us using one or all of these systems (Library 244 Exercise). Most of the assignments allowed the decision of which system to use to be that of the researcher.
      Throughout my time in the SLIS program I have evaluated many different retrieval system. I also had experience at my job using information retrieval systems, such as Destiny. Fortunately not all information retrieval systems are complicated to use. Patrons and librarians can access information they need extremely quickly with the use of keywords and boolean operations. For Library 244, Online Searching, I wrote a paper comparing the three information retrieval systems that we had used in class (Library 244 Comparison). Dialog, LexisNexis and Factiva. From my experience and research I found Factiva to be the overall easiest system to use. Dialog was extremely difficult for me, yet after all my research I came to believe that Dialog gave the best results in the most areas compared to the other systems.
      Information retrieval systems are always changing and new systems are being created. I realize that throughout my career I will have access to many systems and will always be growing and challenging myself to find the best system for my needs.

References

Library of Congress (2006). On These Walls. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://www.loc.gov/loc/walls/

Evidence:
Libr 244: Comparison of Search Services

COMPETENCY F

“GLORY IS ACQUIRED BY VIRTUE BUT PRESERVED BY LETTERS.” –Petrarch

F.
Use the basic concepts and principles related to the creation, evaluation, selection, acquisition, preservation and organization of specific items or collections of information.

      Every library is organized differently, from the layout to the selections on the shelves. Most patrons do not realize the effort that goes behind each and every book placed on the shelf and the items available when they use the libraries database. It may be frustrating at times when a new book is checked out or has not been purchased yet. How the library collection is created can be a very challenging job for the librarian.
     In Library 266, Collection Management, we learned about the creation and preservation of library collections. A collection development policy is important to keep all members of the library staff and the public working together to maintain the vision and goals of the library. The opinions and needs of the patrons are very important when selecting material to add to their library collection, however it is up to the librarian to determine the necessity and potential use of the item. Popularity of books can change from day to day and keeping up on enough copies to satisfy the public can be daunting and when the fad changes you are left with multiple copies of books that now need to be weeded out of the collection.
     For Library 266, Collection Management, we had an assignment where we needed to visit a library and find a section that was lacking in books and information. In the Castro Valley Public Library the travel section was the area I chose because it had books that were outdated. There were several books on locations such as Hawaii and Europe but not many other locations. I felt this section needed to be updated and more inclusive to other travel destinations. No book was newer than three years old.
     From my experience there is another collection at most libraries that is lacking, the large print. I have been using the large print section to provide books for an elderly reading program that selects and delivers books to patrons who cannot access the library. I very quickly realized that the book selections available would only last me a few months. With the large population of baby boomers, I see the need to grow sections that include more mystery, fiction and non-fiction books. I also would make the bookcases shorter, like in the children’s area, and have the bottom shelf higher off the ground. I have heard complaints from my grandparents about how difficult it is to reach the books on top and on the bottom of the bookcase. By having access difficult to the patron they can only reach the books in the middle cutting off the collection even more.
     Another assignment that I did was in Library 256, Archives and Manuscripts. For the assignment I created a finding aid for a collection of papers (Library 256 Finding Aid). The finding aid would allow the papers to be stored and preserved with quick access for the patron who required the information. I divided up papers into categories and dates I felt fit together and then created a list of the information in the collection.
     For Library 260a, Programming and Services for Children, I evaluated children’s online resources (Library 260a Online Resources). I reviewed ten websites and gave a brief explanation of what each website contained and then my opinion on how useful the website actually was and what the ease of use was for librarians and for children. For Library 263, Materials for Children 5-8, I helped create a wiki with information from digital resources and current children’s books. Each items was summarized and provided for a specific age group to allow parents a quick reference guide on the children’s collections available.
     Another assignment I had for Library 260a, Programming and Services for Children, was to create a collection of books similar to each other (Library 260a Book Collection). I choose one book and created a programming plan around that book. For follow-up reading I provided four other books that were similar to the first book and that could be added to the program as well.
     I have had first hand experience in acquisitions and organization at my job working in a high school library. I helped rearrange the library collection to incorporate second language books into the collection, we chose to do this instead of providing an individual section. We were having difficulty teaching those with English as a second language how to find books in the library. They knew where the second language books were, but became overwhelmed when they needed a book in English. We hoped having the English and Spanish versions side by side, they might read the Spanish version first and progress to the English version.
     I helped purchase new books for the library with the limited budget that we had accessible. When a student asked for a particular book we would write it down and if we had multiple requests we would purchase the book for the collection.


References

Library of Congress (2006). On These Walls. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://www.loc.gov/loc/walls/

 Evidence:
Libr 256: Finding Aid 
Libr 260a: Online Resources
Libr 260a: Book Talk/ Book Collections

COMPETENCY G

“THE TRUE UNIVERSITY OF THESE DAYS IS A COLLECTION OF BOOKS.”         -Carlyle

G.
Understand the system of standards and methods used to control and create information structures and apply basic principles involved in the organization and representation of knowledge.

       Information structures are tools that have been created to allow organization of information to allow users to access the information they are seeking without sorting through thousands of irrelevant documents. In Library 248, Beginning Cataloging and Classification, I learned a lot about Robert S. Taylor, and how he helped pioneer the information field and has lead information retrieval to where it is today. In the article “The process of asking questions,” Robert S. Taylor, explains the process an information structure goes through when a search inquiry is entered. Many questions are asked of information systems, yet it becomes the job of the researcher to learn how to manipulate the questions to meet the requirements and limits of the information structure.

       In Library 248 I learned about creating and using MARC records. Many quizzes and exercises allowed me to practice using different tags to create an accurate record. I performed searches using the Library of Congress online catalog and I compared their records to those found through the King Library’s online catalog. Some of the assignments I had for Library 248 involved creating MARC records from information given to me on specific books, movies and CD’s (Library 248 Tags).

      For an assignment in Library 248, I had to choose two online catalogs to compare and contrast (Library 248 Catalog). I chose to look at websites that related to children. I used the catalogs from Children’s Books Online and International Digital Children’s Library. The overall appearance of the catalogs and the ease of use I felt were important when dealing with content for children. The catalogs needed to reach out to the children, while still providing relevant and up to date content. I chose to research an obscure children’s book using both catalogs to determine if I could find the book. I was unsuccessful in my search attempts.  Both catalogs were focused on providing information to children from all over the world. Both sites used colors and graphics to reach out to the children and both had quick links to favorite books and specific well loved subjects that made searching easier for a child.

      Library 248 taught me a lot about online cataloging. The MARC tags were a challenge to memorize, however now that I know what each number means I can read a MARC record and understand the information I have been given. Acquiring this knowledge has helped me in my current job at a high school library and allowed me to add many new books to the catalog which in turn has allowed access to the students.


References

Library of Congress (2006). On These Walls. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://www.loc.gov/loc/walls/

Taylor, R.S. (1962). The process of asking questions. American Documentation, 11, 391-396.

Evidence:
Libr 248: Catalog Comparison

COMPETENCY H

“IGNORANCE IS THE CURSE OF GOD, KNOWLEDGE THE WING WHEREWITH WE FLY TO HEAVEN.” –Shakespeare

H.
Demonstrate proficiency in the use of current information and communication technologies, and other related technologies, as they affect the resources and uses of libraries and other types of information providing entities.

       Libraries continue to evolve and change through the years. Today’s libraries are nothing like the libraries our parents grew up using. Technology is taking over the library world and creating exciting new ways to gather and share information. Twitter, Myspace, webpages and online catalogs have allowed librarians to reach the public like never before. I am very excited to be a part of this new era of library services.
      Participating in the online library program at San Jose State has allowed me to use new technological tools I have never accessed before. My classes were made up of a diverse group of students from different states and countries. Working in groups provided challenges with time zones and distances, however, in my groups we used Googledocs to provide access to everyone. Each group member was able to open a free account on Google and become added to one group document. Each group member could type their information into the document at any time of day and the others could view the information within seconds. Using this technology along with a few Elluminate sessions, my group collaboration came out very successful and I have used this same concept for collaborations with members at work.
       Wiki’s have become an easy way to share information and links on specific content with the public. In Library 210, Reference and Information Services and Library 263, Materials for Children Ages 5-8, I created group wiki’s on general multidisciplinary resources and children’s resources. For Library 210, my group and I were assigned the topic of General Multidisciplinary (Library 210 Wiki). We worked together using Googledocs to compile information on books, encyclopedias and atlases. The wiki was broken down into these three categories with annotated bibliographies and reviews of each item.
      For Library 263 my group and I created a wiki for children’s books (Library 263 Wiki). We divided the list of books into different categories including early readers, chapter books and digital resources. I was in charge of creating the wiki page on digital resources. The group chose keywords to link together and allow easy searching of the wiki. Each entry included a picture of either the cover of the book or the logo from the digital resource site.



References

Library of Congress (2006). On These Walls. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://www.loc.gov/loc/walls/