Reflection Paper for Parts I, II, and III of Information Services Today 1

The Relevance of Public Libraries

Gerri Hawkins
LIS 600
Fall 2016
 Reflection Paper for Parts I, II, and III of Information Services Today 2

I. Introduction

The decision to study the roles, responsibilities and tasks of public librarians was one that
I pursued because of my years of experience with public education, and the empirical
observations that have come along with the years that I have worked with children and their
families. My career has taken a span of about twenty five years, beginning with a position as a
school counselor in York County, Virginia. Since then, I have had many experiences with
working with children and families from different grade levels, communities, and demographics.
Regardless of the demographic of the community that I worked with as a school counselor,
nearly everyone that I worked with needed to be empowered with information that would enable
them to either overcome obstacles, find the resources to do so, and experience more healthy and
prosperous qualities of life. As I prepare for my career as a public librarian, my desire is to
prepare myself to teach the literacy that is necessary to achieve that quality of life. In order to
meet the needs of the communities that I aspire to serve, the training that I receive must prepare
me with the basic competencies that are required of all who enter the world of librarianship. I
am facing several challenges as I prepare for this.

The first challenge that I face is making sure that I am able to understand the relevance of
libraries and library services. Modern librarians struggle with making sure that the public
understands the relevance of their jobs and the institutions that they work in. In the age of
technology, we deal with ageism, the lack of face to face collaboration, and the risk of losing
patrons who do not understand the importance of library services. Libraries sometimes carry the
stigma of being outdated, unnecessary, and stuffy. In order to promote my profession, it isn’t
enough to simply become defensive about that. I have to display a thorough knowledge of the
competencies that professional librarians must have as well as the services that they provide, and
have the ability to articulate those competencies both verbally and in writing.

Another challenge is making sure that I not only know the basic competencies that I will
need to function in the profession, but also that I know how to participate in ongoing
professional development. This is necessary in order to keep up with the growing needs of the
communities that I work with. As I embark on this new chapter of my life in the field of Library
and Information Studies, I realize that I made this decision to pursue a career as a public librarian
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because I want to meet the needs of the patrons that I work with. While I have a clear
understanding of my value system, passion for working with the public, and experience with
serving the public, the field of Library and Information Science is one that I pursued because I
wanted to receive the training and instruction that was needed to be able to use those passions in
a professional library setting. I am now finding that becoming a librarian is so much more than it
appears to be on the surface. It is more than planning groups and activities. It is developing and
demonstrating an understanding of how to receive and organize information, how to conduct
research, how to utilize and teach technical skills, as well as demonstrating management and
leadership skills. Technological advances continue to take place and librarians must stay abreast
of those changes and have the skills to assist patrons and meet the expectations of the library.

As I participate in the classroom discussions, engage in the readings, and experience

conversations with experienced library professionals, I am finding ways to meet the challenges
that I am faced with in. The first phase of my training in Library and Information Studies 600
has provided me with a foundational understanding of the history of librarianship, the various
genres of the profession, the preparation and training that is required for each genre, as well as
the processes and procedures that are necessary for finding, organizing, and sharing information.
As I have had the opportunity to explore the various genres of librarianship and what librarians
do, I have found it not only necessary to focus on developing my ability to work in public
libraries. I also need to cross train in other areas that would benefit me in the library profession
so that I can be utilize those skills in other areas if I need to. My conversations with Carrie and
Elena, the public librarians that I interviewed, provided me with valuable insight into the daily
lives of a public librarians. Since the ongoing and ever changing world of digital libraries and
technology is something that will take some getting used to, the class discussions and
Powerpoint slides on digital libraries, accessing information anywhere and anytime, finding
information, organizing information, and teaching users have been helpful. The most significant
questions for me however were related to the relevance of public libraries and their impact on the
community. After participating in the classroom discussion which was facilitated by Terah
Kelleher on chapter 8 of the book Information Services Today by Sandra Hirsh, there were 3
questions that stood out from her presentation that resonated for me. Those were:
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1) “Each public library (PL) serves the people that surround it. At times, this may be
patrons that are homeless or mentally ill. What aspects of the library need to be present in
order to help serve this demographic of patrons?”
2) “PLs are noticing a dwindling of numbers of patrons that physically walk through their
doors. For those that work in a PL, how are you all bringing people into the library?”
(Kelleher, 2016).

As I continued to engage in discussions, activities, and readings from LIS 600, these
questions became the cornerstones for helping me to face the challenges that I was presented
with regarding the relevance of public libraries and how to serve the patrons that utilize them.

II. The Relevance of Public Libraries

The very engaging classroom presentation and discussion which was prepared and
facilitated by by Terah Kelleher gave me valuable insight into the world of public libraries. In
the chapter that Kathleen de la Pena McCook wrote titled “Community Anchors for Lifelong
Learning: Public Libraries”, in the book Information Services Today, she stated that “The public
library is simultaneously a tangible representation of humanity’s ideals and a place where library
services are delivered. The library can be a public space that inspires, sustains, and anchors a
community’s educational and cultural perception”. (de la Pena McCook, 2015, p.75). As I
continue to build a new chapter of my life that is fulfilling, gratifying, and peaceful, I was
relieved to read this and to use this as the framework for which I would begin to explore the
profession of Library and Information Science. De la Pena McCook’s statement speaks to the
timeless relevance of public libraries. As academic, special, and digital libraries continue to
thrive with advances in modern technology, public libraries also serve as a pillar of the
community, regardless of the demographic. Public libraries provide programs and services
which not only provide resources and avenues for people to gain literacy on their own, but also
services which teach literacy in large and small groups. The more I read, listened to lectures, and
conducted interviews, the more I found this information to be true.

Upon receiving the assignment to prepare and Powerpoint slide on an interview with a
public librarian, I was eager to venture out and find people who could give me a glimpse into
their daily lives and activities. I ventured to two public libraries in the county that I live in. The
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first was the public library that is close to my neighborhood, and the other is one that is closer to
the neighborhood that I work in. Although I prepared a Powerpoint slide for the interview that I
conducted with the librarian who works closer to my neighborhood, I also talked with another
librarian who works in a neighborhood that is from a slightly different demographic. I wanted to
compare the services that were offered at both of the locations so that I could understand how the
libraries were used and why people needed the services that were offered. I was also eager to
learn of the skills that I already had which were transferable to the library profession, as well as
the skills that I needed to develop.

My county classifies public libraries into two categories: Community Libraries and
Regional Libraries. Community libraries are located in smaller, rural areas and less populated
urban communities. They don’t offer the programs and services that are offered in the more
densely populated communities. Regional libraries are primarily located in suburban areas.
These libraries, unlike the community libraries, offer a vast number of programs and services to
patrons that aren’t offered in the community libraries. I chose to interview an Adult Services
Manager in the Regional Library in my neighborhood, and a Regional Manager of the Regional
Library which is located closer to the neighborhood that I work in. Both librarians gave
interesting perspectives on the relevance of what they do. After participating in the classroom
discussions, I found that Kathleen De La Pena Cook’s statement supported the relevance of the
community libraries. The interviews with Carrie, the Adult Services Manager and Elena, the
Regional Library Manager, gave valuable insight and supported the relevance of the regional
libraries.

During my conversation with Elena, we discussed the disparities in my county regarding

the availability of programs and services. Elena is a seasoned professional with nearly 26 years
of experience. She has worked in various leadership roles at libraries across the region. The
library that she manages now is a regional library in a very large, exclusive, suburban
community. In that community, the residents are generally middle to upper middle class and
well educated. Most of the programs and services that her library offers are designed to meet the
needs of that demographic. Examples of some of the programs at her library are 14 story time
sessions for preschool aged children. These programs range from reading activities for infants
called Babytime to programs for children who are aged from 6 to 24 months to Toddlertime for
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children who are aged from 2 years old to 4 years old. A vast array of other programs and
activities exist such as Teen Leadership and Every Teen Must Read exist to promote literacy for
school aged children. Adult programs such as book discussion groups, personal development
groups, and job seeking programs such as “Get That Job” exist for adults. These programs are
regularly promoted and are supported by the patrons of the library. Because of the demographic
of her community, the demand for preschool reading programs for children from middle class
families, and the number of people who frequent these programs, they remain in existence. The
programs are relevant, and her library is well staffed and functional.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, there is a small Community Library nestled on the
corner of a busy intersection that is close to a Kentucky Fried Chicken, a city bus stop, and
several locally owned auto repair shops. This is considered to be the Southern part of the county
which is close to the downtown area. Most of the residents who live close to this branch do not
have high incomes and are mostly African American and Latino. There are no preschool reading
programs, no teen leadership programs, no college and career readiness programs, and no college
preparation initiatives. Some of the children from these communities often enter school not
knowing how to read and write as well as those who live in the more affluent communities.
Since these programs are not offered at the community libraries, educators sometimes see
disparities in the reading levels when the children of these communities enter schools. As Elena
and I continued to talk, she spoke of these disparities in the availability of services and the need
for programs and services in the Community Libraries. The needs of the patrons of the
Community Libraries are as relevant as the needs of those patrons of the Regional Libraries.

III. Reflections on Readings and Discussions

My ventures in the community and conversations with professional Librarians lead me

back to the questions that Terah proposed in our class discussion of chapter 8 of the textbook
Information Services Today. As I reflected on the presentation from that chapter, I thought of the
questions from her presentation: “Each public library (PL) serves the people that surround it. At
times, this may be patrons that are homeless or mentally ill. What aspects of the library need to
be present in order to help serve this demographic of patrons?” (Kelleher,2016). During that
particular classroom discussion, we had conversations about the need for diversity training and
cultural competence in libraries in order to meet the needs of that demographic. We talked of the
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need for Librarians to be equipped with knowledge of how to meet the needs of patrons from
communities with limited resources who serve populations of homeless and mentally ill patrons.
Some librarians cringe at the sight of homeless people, even though statistics show that most
homeless adults are simply in that situation because of a temporary setback. Some are victims of
domestic violence, some are misplaced because of a fire or other disaster, some have had
medical bills which have set them back financially. Frankly, it was somewhat troublesome to
know that programs and services were not available to patrons of Community Libraries as
opposed to Regional Libraries. The burden is on the Librarians at those locations to meet the
individual needs of his or her patrons.

Terah’s second question, “PLs are noticing a dwindling of numbers of patrons that
physically walk through their doors. For those that work in a PL, how are you all bringing
people into the library? (Kelleher, 2016)” resonated when I began to contemplate how to bring
patrons into Community Libraries. When I ask myself how I, as an aspiring public librarian, can
transfer my skills as a counselor to a career as a Public Librarian, Heather O’Brien and Devon
Greyson addressed some of those concerns in Chapter 12 from our textbook Information
Services Today, “Information Needs: Understanding and Responding to Today’s Information
User”. The most important lesson that I took away from this chapter was “Information
professionals must take seriously, and strive to meet, information needs articulated by their users.
Even trivial-seeming requests may be relationship building, paving the way for more significant
queries down the line (O’Brien and Grayson, p. 120). We must focus on the needs of the patron,
regardless of his needs or situation, and discover how we can provide the literacy which will
offer him or her the opportunity to build or experience a healthier and more prosperous quality of
life.

I am enjoying my journey into the field of Library and Information Services. As I

continue to interact with professionals in the field, I learn of ways that I should continue to
develop a skillset which would enable me to serve the population of patrons that I aspire to serve.
 Reflection Paper for Parts I, II, and III of Information Services Today 8

References

Grayson, Devon and O’Brien, Heather (2015). Information Needs: Understanding and
Responding to Today’s Information User. In Sandra Hirsh (Ed). Information Services Today
(119-130). Maryland, Rowan & Littlefield.

Kelleher, T. (2016) Community Anchors for Lifelong Learning: Public Libraries

[Powerpoint Slides] Retrieved from http?//uncg.instructure.com/courses/23508/files

McCook, Kathleen de la Pena (2015). Community Anchors for Lifelong Learning: Public
Libraries. In Sadrea Hirsh (Ed.). Information Services Today (70-82). Maryland, Rowan & Little