As an emerging information professional, I am committed to the principles of universal access, diversity, accommodation and inclusion, service, and future growth.
Universal Access
As a future information professional, I am dedicated to the ideal of comprehensive and universal access to information for all members of society. The American Library Association (“ALA”) Core Values of Librarianship stipulate that “all information resources that are provided directly or indirectly by the library, regardless of technology, format, or methods of delivery, should be readily, equally, and equitably accessible to all library users” (ALA, 2009, Access section). This core value is a good starting point and I believe information professionals have a duty to ensure all members of the public have access to the widest possible range of information resources to explore topics of personal, professional, or political interest.
Diversity
All information institutions should offer a large variety of resources that address the needs and interests of the patrons served by the institution (ALA, 2009). Information professionals must be keenly aware of demographic changes within the constituency base and actively engage with patrons to understand the needs and interests of the evolving community. Institutions must offer updated and topical resources and cannot allow collections or resources to become stagnant. As an information professional, one of my primary goals will be to listen to patrons and constituency groups and serve as an active partner to meet information needs in a comprehensive and timely fashion.
Accommodation and Inclusion
Throughout my course work, one of the most enlightening areas of study has been accessibility to information resources for individuals with auditory or visual impairments. Technological advancements have contributed to a number of innovations that provide greater accommodations and accessibility for these patrons. Through various course assignments, I have gained proficiency in making text documents accessible for a wide-range of users and studied the implementation of audio and textual resources to create greater patron inclusion.
While I have obtained valuable experience with accessibility resources, over the next few years I hope to acquire a greater and deeper understanding of these tools. Accessibility for all patrons is an area of personal interest and my studies have provided a solid theoretical and practical knowledge base. However, I plan to continually improve my competency in this area and look forward to attending workshops, reviewing online resources, and conferring with colleagues regarding emerging trends in accessibility. Continually upgrading my technological expertise will afford the opportunity to implement programs and policies that support an accommodating and inclusive environment.
Service
Regardless of technological advances in library science, information professionals are still primarily engaged in a service profession. Information professionals must always strive to “provide the highest level of service to all library users” (ALA, 2009, Service section). A vast and comprehensive collection of resources is ineffective if patrons cannot access the materials. Therefore, information professionals must be experts in engaging patrons, understanding their information needs, and helping patrons find the proper resources. Service is an interpersonal skill that can be refined over time and through experience. I have been fortunate to complete an internship at a public library assisting patrons with their reference questions. This experience helped me gain expertise in working with the public and offered the opportunity to interact and collaborate with patrons. Although the internship was a useful starting point, I plan to continuously cultivate my interpersonal skills and gain greater insight into the information needs of patrons and the community as a whole.
Future Growth
Graduating from St. John’s University is a beginning stage in my professional development. Through engaging in continuing education opportunities, I intend to continually increase my understanding of the information profession and gain the practical skills necessary to offer patrons and the community access to a diverse range of vital information resources while providing the highest levels of inclusion and service for all constituents.
References
American Library Association. (2009). Core values of librarianship. Retrieved from: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/corevalues