GSLIS e-portfolio Reflective Essay

My time as a graduate student in Dominican Universitys GSLIS program has been one
of the most difficult yet rewarding times of my life. Ive learned so much about how librarianship
works, and what kind of information professional I see myself as both now and in the future. I
feel confident that this program has given me the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in
whatever path I choose. With the end in sight, Im excited to have only one thing left to do
complete the e-portfolio. Putting together my GSLIS e-portfolio was significantly harder than
expected. I had been stashing away assignments the whole time, but very little thought was put
into the organizational process until just now. That being said, some of my articles for the
GSLIS goals are of a higher quality than others.
Goal 1: Develop a professional identity, including commitment to core values of LIS. In
this section, I found my Professional Service Philosophy my best work & example of the goal.
LIS 723 was probably the most useful yet arduous class Ive taken, and has many practical
benefits that I will continue to reap long into my career as a librarian. The professional service
philosophy is the elevator speech where I can explain the value of youth services and libraries to
anyone who asks. ALA Midwinter Reflection was supposed to be my superior Petcha Kucha
PowerPoint, but the sound wasnt working & the website builder I was using said it was too big
to upload, so I included the reflection instead. Im still pretty proud of it, and the ALA
Midwinter experience. Social Responsibility I wasnt as pleased with looking back at, as I think
my work has improved since taking 701, but its still pretty good. It was mainly included to
round out numbers and to ensure that I had the required number of articles.
Goal 2: Understand the essential nature of information & its relevance to society. For this
goal its hard to say which I like best, as they are all culminations of a semesters work &

significant learning experiences. I included the 701 Context Book PowerPoint because Amanda
and I spent a lot of time making sure our very first graduate school presentation was perfect. The
clever use of memes also reflects Carrs thesis on how well the internet has changed our
thinking. The Body Image & Teens presentation was a group project that was also on a topic
near and dear to my heart. As a former anorexic, I more than anyone am able to understand how
important it is for teens to have positive body image. Its hard enough being a teenager without
carrying around that kind of self-hatred. Not Just Vampires was one of the first websites I ever
made, and one I am particularly proud of. It also has the potential to be useful later on in my
career.
Goal 3: Navigate, curate, & create information across the spectrum of human records
from local to global customs. Happily Never After is another website that I created, which offers
teens an alternative to the Disneyfied versions of folk & fairytales, and is probably the best
article for this goal. Booktalk Bookmarks were included because they offered a visual
representation of my ability to give concise and interesting booktalks a valuable skill for any
librarian to have. The Informational Literacy Program was an early version of the reference
website I created for 704, which I tragically deleted and was unable to recover. That would have
been a better fitting article for goal 3.
Goal 4: Synthesize theory & practice within a dynamic & evolving information
environment. Best Practices was included because it was the culminating work of the most
useful of my classes, 723. It covers the best practices of librarians for the entire range of
childhood development from infants to teenagers. It really is one of the best works in my eportfolio, and will undoubtedly be useful going forward as a youth services professional. Logic
Model was similarly useful, as it shows me the best way to evaluate any future programming I

carry out. Though outputs can be more easily measured, outcomes is the evaluative measure we
want to go with as librarians. Caregiver Handout was included because it puts the theory of
Every Child Ready to Read into a practical application that facilitates formal and informal
learning. Though it is most evident in the articles in this goal, I struggled throughout the creation
process of the e-portfolio not to have all the articles come from 723 assignments. It was one of
the most practically useful and informative classes I took in the GSLIS program. Professor
Nemec-Louise also contributed a great deal to my understanding complicated theories and how
they could be used in real world scenarios.
Goal 5: Effectively communicate & collaborate to deliver, market, & advocate for library
& information services. All About that Base was one of my favorite assignments, mostly
because it served as an extension of the Body Image presentation for 722. This would be a
practical application of the need to reinforce positive body image in teens. It could also serve as
a way for those dealing with or recovering from eating disorders to illustrate their own
experiences and the pain that goes with it. I included Summer Learning Plan because not only
was it a stellar example of group work, it also gave me a taste of how collaboration in the
professional world will function. Even if you work at the same place and are tackling the same
goals, people have different approaches and schedules to deal with. It was an exercise in
patience and cooperation that will undoubtedly be useful in the future. Prisoners & ExOffenders, while not my favorite article, advocates for serving the needs of an underserved
community. The ability to advocate for the underserved in our communities is an ability any
librarian should have. Learning that, and other tenets of good services, is one of the best learning
experiences I had in the GSLIS program.

Some of the most significant learning experiences I had relate directly back to the quality
of instruction I received from my competent and highly qualified professors. Id particularly like
to thank Professors Nemec-Louise and Del Negro for teaching me so much about passion for the
profession and for youth services in particular. Without Dr. Del Negros help, I doubt I wouldve
stuck with the program at all but her genuine enthusiasm in 701 helped me realize that
librarianship is where I truly want to be. I want to have a career in the information profession,
particularly in youth services. The support she provides as my academic advisor is invaluable,
especially now that Im starting to venture out in the world and applying for jobs. Professor
Nemec-Louise, though she taught one of my most difficult classes, really motivated me to learn
more and do more in regards to serving youth and advocating for youth services. This is
reflected in the fact that approximately of the articles in my e-portfolio come from 723. Id
also like to thank Bill Crowley for reinforcing the idea of the importance of advocacy for
libraries, and how crucial marketing is as an advocating force. That these people in particular
inspired me says a lot about me and my values as an information professional.
My e-portfolio says quite a lot about me as an information professional. I understand the
value of belonging to a professional organization, and how such membership can benefit my
career. Not only do professional organizations like ALSC or YALSA provide invaluable
networking opportunities, they can help me better serve my community through idea-sharing and
with continuing education like webinars and conferences. I know how to gauge community
interests & respond to their information needs in a tech savvy way especially for children and
young adults. I know the value of providing access to information, and how to do so in a way
that offers an alternative perspective. For instance, instead of offering traditional access to
materials through print resources, I can create a website that gives patrons access to information

in a variety of formats. I know how to put theories to practical use, which can be used to
facilitate formal or informal learning, like using bookmarks for a booktalk or giving a caregiver a
handout detailing the tenants of Every Child Ready to Read after storytime. I can collaborate
with coworkers and other project partners in order to promote common understanding. For
example, I could work with the Friends of the Library (or other supportive community
organizations) to advocate for the libraries value to the community at large. The GSLIS program
has made me the confident information professional I am today, which is very different from the
inexperienced initiate I was when I started the program.
Upon entering the GSLIS program, I was aware that libraries played a very big role in my
life and the life of the community at large, but was unable to articulate how or why. Though I am
still somewhat inarticulate in my explanations, I have come a long way in being able to advocate
for the value of libraries in general and youth services specifically. Libraries are essential to the
community because they provide access to information and cultivate a culture of education and
lifelong learners. Librarians have always been well known for the ability to provide access to
information that people would not otherwise have, and this is even truer in the information era.
Just because the internet and technology is so prevalent in our society does not mean that
equality of access is a reality. Since technology has become so crucial to finding employment
and housing, it is of the utmost importance for libraries to meet this need for the members of our
communities. By cultivating a culture of education and lifelong learners, libraries enrich the
quality of our communities by enabling our patrons to make better decisions and in turn improve
the world. Encouraging education and lifelong learners is also important in advocating for the
value of youth services.

By advocating for the needs of children and young adults I hope to instill a sense of
appreciation as wells as a love of reading and lifelong learning - amongst a new generation of
potential library advocates. Youth services also has value because it improves outcomes for the
youth and families within the larger community by providing diversity in programming and
literature. If a community is better served across racial, cultural, and ability lines, the needs of
the underserved members of the community can receive higher quality service. The outcomes of
youth and families can also be improved by providing children with fun and educational
programming and literature that promote 21st Century learning. By promoting 21st Century
learning, we can better prepare our children for the workforce and stepping out on their own into
the ever changing world.
Nearing the end of my education and the true beginning of my career, I am both excited
and nervous for what is to come. While I dread student loan payments, I am excited to start my
work as a youth services professional. Starting out, I see myself working with teens or youth in a
public library, hopefully full-time. I am so excited to start serving and advocating for the
informational needs of children and young adult, especially teens. I believe that teens are
underserved members of our communities that are in dire need of attention. I remember how
difficult being a teen could be, and if I can make it even a little bit better for someone else, that
would be so satisfying. After working in youth services for a number of years, I would like to
become head of a Youth Services Dept. Eventually, if time or energy permits, I would like to
become more involved in professional organizations and maybe even serve on a committee
someday.
In conclusion, the GSLIS program has equipped me with enough skills and competencies
that I can face the future and the building of my career with a degree of confidence and pride I

did not have before enrolling in the program. Over the course of the program I have changed for
the better as an informational professional, which is in no small part due to skill and excellence
of my instructors. I cannot thank them enough for what they have taught me, and their support in
my professional pursuits. Maybe one day I can mean as much to library students, and be able to
one day pass on my knowledge and skills to a new generation of librarians.