Personal Goals/Objectives

I have several goals that I wish to accomplish through my studies with Wayne State University.  My main focus, of course, is to earn a MLIS degree and become a certified librarian in the state of Indiana.  When I accepted the job of branch manager at the public library I work for, I agreed to complete a library science program within two years.  Keeping my job has been my main focus, but as I look further into librarianship as a career, achieving this goal has turned into both a professional and personal one.

Professionally, I enjoy this work and I believe in the importance of libraries in our communities. My hope is that through the skills I learn from my studies, I will be able to give the community the best library possible. I want to learn updated methods of running a library, management theories, have a broader understanding of technology and the library, and learn more about the administrative role in a library system. I also hope to learn more about careers outside of the public library; maybe I will find interest in a different area of librarianship.  Networking with others in the profession, or studying to be in the profession, is a very important objective as well. The article, "Networking Today: A Guide for Business Professionals and College Graduates," states, "according to the United States Department of Labor, approximately 70% of all jobs obtained in this country are secured through networking." No one can ever be too sure where their path will lead them. The more education and networking I have under my belt, the wider my road will be. The MLIS degree will set a firm foundation for a fulfilling, lifelong career.

Personally, I have always wanted to continue my education.  Pursuing education is an ongoing joy that I always hope to achieve, even after I accomplish the MLIS degree. Setting challenging goals and achieving those goals gives me a sense of pride, as well as set a great example for my daughter. 

I hope to achieve many things, both professionally and personally, through my studies with Wayne State University. This is an exciting adventure! I have no doubts that I will be challenged, that I will learn things that will benefit the public library I currently work for, and that I will find ample opportunities for networking.  I am very hopeful as I embark on my career as a librarian!

References

"Networking Today: A Guide for Business Professionals and College Graduates." Masters Degree Online.  N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2014. <http://www.mastersdegreeonline.org/resources/networking-today/>. 

Introduction & Assumptions/Assertions/Beliefs

Welcome!

I am Sarah Geer and I live in Valparaiso, Indiana. Working for a small public library the past four years, I have grown to love this profession. The reference department is where I started part-time as an assistant. I enjoyed the daily tasks of shelving, checking in new periodicals, and assisting patrons find information. After working that wonderful job for a year, I was promoted to the Circulation Manager. I loved that job! I managed all aspects of the circulation department and assigned tasks to circulation employees. This was a wonderful way to get to know both the patrons of the library and our employees. I worked in that department for 2 years before being promoted to Branch Manager. I am fairly new to this position, and I'm still a little intimidated by all of the responsibilities. As a Branch Manager I wear many hats. I sit on committees, plan schedules, order materials (my favorite), write reports, among many other tasks and duties. I love this job! I found a home in librarianship, and I look forward to learning more about this profession through Wayne State University's LIS program.

Assumptions/Assertions/Beliefs

Three beliefs that I hold about the LIS profession is that it is still very relevant, the profession is changing, and librarians work in many different fields, not just libraries.

• The LIS profession is still relevant-There seems to be a lot of talk within the profession, either at meetings, online blogs, articles, and in class discussions on librarianship and relevancy. I believe we are just as relevant today as we were in the past, if not more so. Patrons are turning to libraries and librarians to bring them into the technological age. With job applications, bill pay, government forms and many other services being done online, the community turns to the library to provide internet service and librarians to help them navigate this new way of doing business. In academic libraries, databases and online journals can be costly. The library can provide free access to these tools. The article, "5 Reasons Why We Really Need Librarians and Information Professionals in the Information age," by Laurie Morrision states, "it’s a common misconception that online means free. Many newspapers have introduced pay walls while it is well known that academic libraries spend an enormous proportion of their budgets on e-journals." Libraries still provide the same materials they have always provided, they just use different tools.

• The LIS profession is changing- Yes it is! As we become a more technological dependent society librarians need to have the ability to use, teach, and troubleshoot these emerging technologies. The article, "Library 2.0: The Changing Face of Libraries," by Sarah Hilliard states, "Today’s librarian must be tech savvy and remain attuned to a body of users with an enormous range of needs and aptitudes."

• Librarians work in many different fields- Working in the library and networking, I have met several librarians who do not work in a library. Even at Wayne State University's LIS orientation I met people who do not plan on working in a library. I have met those who work in non-profit, museums, hospitals, and information technology. The information profession is an exciting field with an abundance of career options! I have no doubt that I will find librarians working in many other fields throughout the course of this LIS program.

References

Hilliard, S. (2012, April 16). Library 2.0: the changing face of libraries.OxfordWords blog. Retrieved     January 19, 2014, from http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/04/the-changing-face-of-libraries/

Morrison, L. (2012, February 7). 5 reasons why we really need librarians and Information Professionals in the Internet age. MmITS Blog. Retrieved January 19, 2014, from http://mmitscotland.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/5-reasons-why-we-really-need-librarians-and- information-professionals-in-the-internet-age/