LO V

Professional Growth as Emerging Librarian

Proficiency Statement:

I have demonstrated in Professional Growth, Development, and Leadership by reading professional journals and attending professional conferences.

• reading professional journals (SLIS 701 assignment -what journals did you review that will be helpful to you as a future school librarian and why should you read these journals in the future to keep up with the profession -- specific examples of types of information to be gained);
• attending professional conferences (what conference and what sessions did you attend and what did you learn from these sessions that will help you keep up in the profession ?)

Description:

701 Exploring Information Environments

     This activity researched the American Association of School Librarians and a few other professional resources, analyzing for the value and application of each. While this is a fairly basic entry into the field of LIS, it is still a collection of resources I still use nearing the end of my degree.

Analysis:

701 Exploring Information Environments

     There is no real struggle or challenge with this assignment: it is mostly a collection of information. The execution of this assignment met the needs required.

Reflection:

701 Exploring Information Environments

     This assignment began my journey looking for varied resources. The interviews also made it pretty clear I wanted to work in a school library rather than a public library based on the two interviewees' experiences. The knowledge from such a basic assignment still guides me through the basic origin steps of many practical projects.

Professional Development as Conference Attendance

 

Proficiency Statement:

I have demonstrated proficiency in Professional Growth, Deveopment, and Leadership by attending professional conferences.

Description:

• Mar. 23, 2017: Greenville, SC: SCASL--This conference is sponsored by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians and offered both seminars and an exhibit hall. I spent significant time in the exhibit hall talking to vendors and other service providers to find out more about their agreements with districts and schools. In addition, I attended with my practicum district librarians and continued to learn nuances of the county system and particular SLM programs at various grade levels.
• Nov. 12, 2016; Charleston, SC: YALLfest--This festival brings various young adult literature authors and publishers together to exchange ideas, promote recent books, and encourage literacy across the genre. In addition to meeting many inspiring authors, much paraphernalia (including advance copies of YA books) are handed out for free from vendors.
• Summer 2016; Augusta University, GA: Mentor Teacher Academy--The day of lectures and hands-on professional development offered an introduction and techniques for establishing a mentor relationship with colleagues and educators-in-training. Many ideas of positive and productive collaboration and shared teaching methods were presented.
• Spring 2016; Atlanta, GA: Lightning Talks by Atlanta's Emerging Librarians--The seminar had a series of "lightning talks" with various information and technology leaders in the library field. Topics included publishing as an education professional, assistive technologies, Web 2.0 tools, and database tagging and creation.

Analysis:

The SCASL conference was the most exuberantly library-centered professional development I attended. Every session was led by SC library professionals to demonstrate understanding and trends for current SC practices. The Lightning Talks in Atlanta were some of the most useful professional development as they were both specific and diverse. That so many topics were covered in just a morning made that PD the most effective and appealing that I would return to again. YALLfest was by far the most fun event, with authors and giveaways on every corner. Lastly, the Augusta University training offered many practical approaches to real situations within a school program.

Reflection:

I felt like the SCASL conference was suited to professionals in the middle of their careers rather than new library media specialists. Many of the topics and seminars were either summaries of resources or discussions of topics already covered in our LIS program. I would love to be a presenter at this conference as a leader of ideas and programs. I am interested in attending more of AEL's programs as I start my career in Georgia.