Introduction
I have assembled this ePortfolio to demonstrate my competency in five core areas of librarianship, highlight my accomplishments, discuss contributions I intend to make to the profession in the future, and shed some light on how I intend to continue learning and develop professionally. When I started my studies at the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) at the University of Alberta in September of 2012, I began with a minimal understanding of what it meant to be a professional librarian. Within the first few weeks of my Masters in Library and Information Studies (MLIS), I became astounded by the strong sense of professional identity and community among librarians and information professionals. I finally found a group of individuals who shared similar core beliefs as myself. I strongly believe in freedom of information, improving education, transparency, improving access, lifelong learning, intellectual freedom, maximizing the public good, and maintaining patron privacy. To my great delight these other members of the library community also shared my thirst for knowledge and insatiable curiosity. Needless to say I had found a professional community I was more than proud to be a part of.
Over the next two years of my MLIS, I received many opportunities to expand my knowledge of librarianship, gain valuable skills, and began to enmesh myself in the larger network of library and information professionals. Further details can be found on my Master of Library and Information Studies page where I list all the MLIS courses I have completed along with selected examples of my work and on the other pages of my ePortfolio.
With my varied skills, many interests, and self-identification as a modern day renaissance man, I am extremely excited about the varied positions I could end up pursuing in the world of libraries and information. I could see myself working in a corporate, academic, public, special, or school library and I possess a strong desire to facilitate the ability of others to discover, think, learn, create, and dream. The areas of which I have particular interest include:
Reflecting back on my practicum at Rutherford Library and my time as an intern at Jake Epp Public Library, I learned I enjoy working on multiple projects in multiple areas. As a result I would prefer a position where I have a variety of tasks to do and projects to work on. I enjoy working alone, with others, and with the community directly. From my management and leadership experiences operating my own business and as VP volunteers for HUB Community Association, I learned I also enjoy managing and directing people and projects.
Currently I spend a great deal of my free time following multiple news sources, listening to podcasts, reading, watching documentaries, and learning anything of interest online. I have an endless desire to read and learn (I was one of those kids who loved to read the encyclopedia); desires I see no chance of diminishing in the future.
I intend on learning the python programming language via free online courses and resources. In addition, I will be on the lookout for interesting webinars. In the more distant future, I intend on taking advantage of more online learning resources. An example of some online learning resources can be found in the ‘Online Learning’ section of my Links page. While I have no desire to return to formal university studies in the near-term, I am keeping the option open for the long-term.
In the pages of this ePortfolio (accessible via the drop-down menu under EDUCATION > MASTER OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION STUDIES > ePORTFOLIO at the top navigation bar), I will reflect on five core competencies of librarianship (service, organization, technology, leadership and research), provide evidence of my understanding, and discuss why each competency is a key element of the field of library and information studies.
Two major examples of my library and information professional experience I would like to highlight and make easily accessible include the video and prezi presentation described below.
Manitoba Youth Initiative Intern
This is a video I created to depict and communicate my successes as a Manitoba Youth Initiative Intern at Jake Epp Public Library in Steinbach, Manitoba.
Over the next two years of my MLIS, I received many opportunities to expand my knowledge of librarianship, gain valuable skills, and began to enmesh myself in the larger network of library and information professionals. Further details can be found on my Master of Library and Information Studies page where I list all the MLIS courses I have completed along with selected examples of my work and on the other pages of my ePortfolio.
With my varied skills, many interests, and self-identification as a modern day renaissance man, I am extremely excited about the varied positions I could end up pursuing in the world of libraries and information. I could see myself working in a corporate, academic, public, special, or school library and I possess a strong desire to facilitate the ability of others to discover, think, learn, create, and dream. The areas of which I have particular interest include:
- Digital Literacy
- Digital Libraries and Repositories
- Reference and Research
- Analyzing and Improving Systems (both technological and human)
- Technology
- Science
- Astronomy
- Philosophy
- Science Fiction and Fantasy
- Community Programming
Reflecting back on my practicum at Rutherford Library and my time as an intern at Jake Epp Public Library, I learned I enjoy working on multiple projects in multiple areas. As a result I would prefer a position where I have a variety of tasks to do and projects to work on. I enjoy working alone, with others, and with the community directly. From my management and leadership experiences operating my own business and as VP volunteers for HUB Community Association, I learned I also enjoy managing and directing people and projects.
Currently I spend a great deal of my free time following multiple news sources, listening to podcasts, reading, watching documentaries, and learning anything of interest online. I have an endless desire to read and learn (I was one of those kids who loved to read the encyclopedia); desires I see no chance of diminishing in the future.
I intend on learning the python programming language via free online courses and resources. In addition, I will be on the lookout for interesting webinars. In the more distant future, I intend on taking advantage of more online learning resources. An example of some online learning resources can be found in the ‘Online Learning’ section of my Links page. While I have no desire to return to formal university studies in the near-term, I am keeping the option open for the long-term.
In the pages of this ePortfolio (accessible via the drop-down menu under EDUCATION > MASTER OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION STUDIES > ePORTFOLIO at the top navigation bar), I will reflect on five core competencies of librarianship (service, organization, technology, leadership and research), provide evidence of my understanding, and discuss why each competency is a key element of the field of library and information studies.
Two major examples of my library and information professional experience I would like to highlight and make easily accessible include the video and prezi presentation described below.
Manitoba Youth Initiative Intern
This is a video I created to depict and communicate my successes as a Manitoba Youth Initiative Intern at Jake Epp Public Library in Steinbach, Manitoba.
Jake Epp Library
This is a prezi presentation I created for Jake Epp Public Library. The purpose of the presentation is to communicate and inform the local community about Jake Epp Public Library and services offered.
Thanks for taking the time to explore my ePortfolio. Feel free to follow and check out any of my digital presences.