Revisit Assumptions/Assertions about LIS

Reviewing my previous blog entry on assumptions and assertions I would have to say that my ideas have not changed, but I do have a deeper understanding. In my first assumptions I stated that the LIS profession is still relevant and changing. While my assumptions were correct, I have been introduced to new ways in which libraries are changing and staying relevant, ways in which I had no idea! Community hubs, maker spaces, 3D printers, technology programs, social media, cloud computing are just a few of the things we discussed in this class that libraries are embracing. One of the articles in our Think Tank exercise, Breaking Out of the Library Mold, in Boston and Beyond (Seely, 2014), discussed the possibility of putting exercise bikes in the library. What a unique concept! Librarians are starting to think outside the box in order to meet patrons where they are at. Offering expensive software for community use was a concept I found incredibly interesting. That makes complete sense. The purpose of a library is to provide easy accessibility to information and materials, expensive software fits right into that definition. My library is already offering Microsoft software and scanning capability. Perhaps we should look into offering several types of software, such as Photoshop, that our patrons would be interested in? I have definitely been given lots of food for thought this semester.

Another one of my assumptions were that librarians work in many different fields. While I could have guessed some of the fields librarians play an important role in, I did not necessarily know the details. For example, reading the team blog, “Digital Preservation of Information” by team 2 was incredibly insightful as to the amount of time, thought, and work archivists put into their projects. I have also been introduced to new job titles as well. Not only is it fun to say, but the job title “digital preservationist” is becoming an important career in the field of librarianship. I have been introduced to several job titles that reflect the digital age of librarianship. This semester has introduced me to various possible career paths that I will definitely be giving a second look.

Although my initial beliefs and assumptions of the librarian profession have not changed, I definitely have a greater understanding of librarianship as a career.



References

Digital Preservation of Information. (n.d.). LIS6010 Team 2 Blog. Retrieved April 22, 2014, from http://lis6010team2.blogspot.com/

Seelye, K. (2014). Breaking Out of the Library Mold, in Boston and Beyond. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/08/us/breaking-out-of-the-library-mold-in-boston-and-beyond.html?ref=librariesandlibrarians&_r=0