Philosophy Statement
Through my studies, I’ve learned of the many attractive professional avenues of librarianship. Below are the American Library Association (ALA) values that speak to my interests. I’ll keep these in mind when selecting my pathway (Core, 2006).
Michael Buckland’s definition of information as things, process, and knowledge is a resonating theory for me (Buckland, 1991). While serving as a library steward, breaking down questions and concerns into these three categories will help me unveil the askers’ intentions. Regardless of the workplace sector, or who I am assisting, it’s important to remember that a general understanding of anything can be present, but knowledge gained isn’t a guarantee (Zins, 2013). The quest to gain knowledge from information is to process, decipher, and decode. Each user has to create a vison to use information. This means information will get used, shared, and hold value for all individuals. Therefore, it’s crucial to not offer cookie-cutter services, because each information seeker has specific needs.
The place I aspire do the best good to support my values is as a library administrator, where I’ll review the feedback of all staff and stakeholders to make better decisions on policy, purchasing, and mold the future of the organization (Jones, 2020). By remaining an advocate for lifelong learning, I’ll meet my personal aim and also support my workplace’s mission by doing right for the staff while they interact with the greater community.
Regardless of role and environment, advocating for libraries as institutions that preserve safe places for thought and experimentation is vital to support our neighbors (American, 2021). I’ll find it worthwhile to remind colleagues of who we serve, ensuring our organization is a steward supporting our populations and peers.
In conclusion, my philosophy of practice statement to guide me in the future is to encourage everybody to explore and engage with information in new ways. Learning is a lifelong endeavor that can inspire and rejuvenate people (Anexander, 2020). All environments that promote learning and engagement will lead to stronger communities. Keeping conversations open and practicing discourse will build understanding and respect. Continued scholarship to stay current on the trends and tribulations within the field will help me contribute solutions that promote intellectual freedom and keep libraries relevant. I look forward to the continued work.
Sources:
Anexander, S., & Wakimoto, D.K. (2020). Leading Others To Lead: The Importance Of Staff Empowerment In Times Of Change. Library and Leadership Management, 34.
American Library Association. (2021). How to respond to challenges and concerns about library resources. Retrieved from: https://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/respond
Buckland, Michael K. “Information as Thing.” Journal of the American Society for Information Science, vol. 42, no. 5, 1991, pp. 351–360., doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-4571(199106)42:5<351::aid-asi5>3.0.co;2-3.
"Core Values of Librarianship", American Library Association, July 26, 2006. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/corevalues (Accessed May 2, 2022) Document ID: 33390955-19b0-2164-9d0d-07dfe5ec504e
Jones, S. (2020). Optimizing public library resources in a post COVID-19 world. Journal of Library Administration, 60(8), 951-957. doi:10.1080/01930826.2020.1820281
Reid, I. (2017, May 1). The 2017 public library data service report: Characteristics and trends. Public Libraries, 56, 20-31.
Zins, Chaim. “What Is the Meaning of ‘Data’, ‘Information’, and ‘Knowledge’?” Knowledge Map of Information Science: Data, Information, Knowledge, Nov. 2013, www.success.co.il/is/dik.html
- Promote intellectual freedom
- Outreach to underserved communities
- Embrace innovative technology
- Instill privacy
- Promote equity and inclusion
Michael Buckland’s definition of information as things, process, and knowledge is a resonating theory for me (Buckland, 1991). While serving as a library steward, breaking down questions and concerns into these three categories will help me unveil the askers’ intentions. Regardless of the workplace sector, or who I am assisting, it’s important to remember that a general understanding of anything can be present, but knowledge gained isn’t a guarantee (Zins, 2013). The quest to gain knowledge from information is to process, decipher, and decode. Each user has to create a vison to use information. This means information will get used, shared, and hold value for all individuals. Therefore, it’s crucial to not offer cookie-cutter services, because each information seeker has specific needs.
The place I aspire do the best good to support my values is as a library administrator, where I’ll review the feedback of all staff and stakeholders to make better decisions on policy, purchasing, and mold the future of the organization (Jones, 2020). By remaining an advocate for lifelong learning, I’ll meet my personal aim and also support my workplace’s mission by doing right for the staff while they interact with the greater community.
Regardless of role and environment, advocating for libraries as institutions that preserve safe places for thought and experimentation is vital to support our neighbors (American, 2021). I’ll find it worthwhile to remind colleagues of who we serve, ensuring our organization is a steward supporting our populations and peers.
In conclusion, my philosophy of practice statement to guide me in the future is to encourage everybody to explore and engage with information in new ways. Learning is a lifelong endeavor that can inspire and rejuvenate people (Anexander, 2020). All environments that promote learning and engagement will lead to stronger communities. Keeping conversations open and practicing discourse will build understanding and respect. Continued scholarship to stay current on the trends and tribulations within the field will help me contribute solutions that promote intellectual freedom and keep libraries relevant. I look forward to the continued work.
Sources:
Anexander, S., & Wakimoto, D.K. (2020). Leading Others To Lead: The Importance Of Staff Empowerment In Times Of Change. Library and Leadership Management, 34.
American Library Association. (2021). How to respond to challenges and concerns about library resources. Retrieved from: https://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/respond
Buckland, Michael K. “Information as Thing.” Journal of the American Society for Information Science, vol. 42, no. 5, 1991, pp. 351–360., doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-4571(199106)42:5<351::aid-asi5>3.0.co;2-3.
"Core Values of Librarianship", American Library Association, July 26, 2006. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/corevalues (Accessed May 2, 2022) Document ID: 33390955-19b0-2164-9d0d-07dfe5ec504e
Jones, S. (2020). Optimizing public library resources in a post COVID-19 world. Journal of Library Administration, 60(8), 951-957. doi:10.1080/01930826.2020.1820281
Reid, I. (2017, May 1). The 2017 public library data service report: Characteristics and trends. Public Libraries, 56, 20-31.
Zins, Chaim. “What Is the Meaning of ‘Data’, ‘Information’, and ‘Knowledge’?” Knowledge Map of Information Science: Data, Information, Knowledge, Nov. 2013, www.success.co.il/is/dik.html