Part One
The SLIS program at USC has thoroughly prepared me for employment as a school librarian. Through grounding in the AASL standards, I have learned that information literacy is most effectively learned through a framework of inquiry. The AASL standards also give me the confidence to know what a quality school library looks like and what my responsibilities are. I have used the standards text in every class and refer back to it frequently. It will continue to guide me when I begin work as a school librarian. Looking back through my coursework, I realize that my understanding of librarianship has expanded exponentially. I began this journey wanting to share books and reading in the library space of my school. Librarians are the leaders in literacy and reading in their schools, but they are also so much more. They know and support the entire school curriculum. They serve on leadership teams, and their position in service of all students gives them a unique perspective. They are experts in technology and other tools that support learning. They collaborate with teachers in the library and in classrooms. They advocate for the library program itself. While I have learned much about the technical aspects of librarianship, the course that changed me the most was Introduction to Information Technologies. I encountered coding for the first time and it was not something that came easily to me. I had to push through the challenge, experience vulnerability, and admit that I needed help. Together with learning about agile programming and the iterative process to implementing change, this course fundamentally changed my mindset about life.
Part Two
Through the SLIS program, I have developed skill sets that will assist me as a new school librarian. I have had the opportunity to collaborate on ELA curriculum in the general education and special education support classrooms. Through these collaborations, I am familiar with various educational standards and how to locate them. I have a strong understanding of information literacy and how to instruct students in locating needed information through research. I have learned the process of locating high quality materials for the library, the steps to purchase and catalog them, and how to use data analysis tools in the Library Management System to review circulation and inform future decisions. I have had the opportunity to interview, observe, and work with excellent practicing librarians; as in student teaching in the classroom, seeing librarians implementing best practice is invaluable preparation. These connections with practicing school librarians will also be a resource of information and support. Learning and implementing new technology in the library and in the classroom to provide instructional support are skills that I will continue to develop.
Part Three
In the next five years, I hope to find employment as a school librarian and put these skills into practice. To continue professional growth, I will keep my professional memberships in AASL, ALA, and SCASL, as well as attend conferences to network with and learn from other library professionals. Reading journals, blogs, and following authors, librarians, technology experts, and professional entities on social media are all ways to stay current in the field. I will partner with the digital learning coach and other technology experts in my district to build my tech knowledge; I also plan to pursue Google and other certifications to build these skills. In the school where I am fortunate to be, I will work diligently with the school community to support students as readers, learners, and creators.