Goal 1

Outcome 1a: Describe the evolving nature of the core values and ethics within diverse information environments.

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Our final project in LIS 701 (Core Values, Ethics, and Issues in Library and Information Professions) tasked us with conducting a literature review on a core value or ethic of the information professions and how this particular core value or ethic has shaped professional policies and procedures.

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I was particularly interested in intellectual freedom and recent book bans and challenges. Since I was just beginning my library and information science education, I took this opportunity to better understand the nature of this problem. I sought to understand what types of books were most likely to be challenged—classics with outdated perspectives on issues such as race and gender or more contemporary books that address LGBTQ+ themes and systemic racism? I researched the effect of the ALA's Banned Books Week and anticensorship movement. Finally, I sought guidelines for librarians to respond to these challenges and promote information literacy.

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Two and a half years later, libraries continue to face book banning attempts, defunding, and other political interference. Librarians themselves have been accused of "grooming" children and have been threatened with criminal prosecution in some states. Intellectual freedom is no longer a core value that information professionals may take for granted. We must fight for everyone's right to read.

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Artifact: The Battle on Our Shelves: Banned and Challenged Books

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Outcome 1b: Demonstrate how a philosophy, theory, model, and/or major perspective of the library and information profession guides practice in diverse settings.

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In LIS 775 (Intro to Archival Principles, Practices, and Services), we were introduced to the basics of Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS), which provides archivists with rules on describing personal papers, official records, and other archives. DACS, therefore, is the model that guides practice in the diverse setting of various archives. However, due to the unique nature of archival collections, which can include legal documents, photographs, personal and business correspondence, or perhaps even a lock of a person's hair, standardization in this field remains elusive. In this discussion post, I examine certain obstacles to standardization, such as a lack of necessary information upon intake and the common practice of describing collections at the series level. Past attempts at standardization have also resulted in harm to marginalized communities, and there will be situations in which individualization of records, not standardization, will be more just and equitable.

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Artifact: On Arrangement and Description Discussion Post

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Outcome 1c: Participate in professional activities and associations, such as professional conferences and meetings, internships and practicums, and professional email discussions and social media.

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Among the many things I loved about my learning experience at Dominican University were the opportunities provided by the School of Information Studies to participate in professional activities and associations. I made sure to take advantage of courses that culminated in attendance in professional conferences, such as IFLA's World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) 2023 in Dublin, Ireland and the 2023 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. 

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In LIS 806 (Professional Involvement in ALA Conference), we learned about the history of the American Library Association and the value of participating in professional associations. We were assigned to attend at least two days of the ALA Conference and create a modified PechaKucha 20x20-style PowerPoint presentation to share our experience.

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This course reinforced my commitment to ongoing professional development after graduation. Attending the ALA Conference is an exciting way to make new connections and explore new ideas in the library profession.
 

Artifact: Final PechaKucha Presentation on the 2023 ALA Conference in Chicago.

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