18 Conclusion
Now that you have read this entire book, you know about the importance of each facet of librarianship. You know the basic skills of library science. It is time that you apply them. As my dad always said to me when I reported all the things I learned at the library as a child, “It’s not enough to know. It is enough to do.” As we discussed in the first chapters of this textbook, information only becomes knowledge when you internalize it and act upon it. Some refer to the proper application of this knowledge as wisdom. If you want to be truly wise, learn through experience how each of the parts of the library support each other. Then, learn how you as a librarian can support your patrons and expand your service population. After all, a librarian has no purpose without a group of people to serve.
In order to demonstrate an understanding of the interconnected nature of the departments of the library, you are going to create your own library. This can be influenced by libraries at which you currently work, but please do not simply copy every aspect of the library as it currently exists. To illustrate the importance of this, I quote another figure from my childhood. One day, my grandmother and I were making a delicious dinner for my entire extended family. I was in charge of making the gravy. I thought, “I am going to make the best gravy my family has ever tasted. This will be utterly delicious.” I followed the recipe to the letter, or so I thought. My grandmother took one look at my gravy, smiled, and set it aside. Then she made an entirely new batch. Needless to say, my heart was crushed. When I asked her why she did this, she just told me. “The gravy was good. It’s good to have good gravy, but you should really set your sights for the best gravy.” In other words, no matter how good your current library is, you should always perform your tasks to the highest standard. When you create your library, create the ideal library. Hold your library to two standards:
- The best practices and environments illustrated in this textbook and the resources to which it links, and
- What you would most desire of a library that served you as a patron.
The rubric for this assignment is as follows:
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What is the name of your library and where is it located? Provide a name for your library and its location.
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What type of library did you create? Classify (academic, public, school, special, etc.) and provide details about this type of library.
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What is the mission of this library? Provide your mission statement for this type of library with details of how the mission is being accomplished.
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From where does your library receive its funding? Provide full details of all sources of funding.
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Who are your patrons/users? Fully describe your patrons and users consistent with your type of library.
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Describe your collections. Provide a full description of all collections found in your library. Include how many and what subjects/materials are included.
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What services does this library offer? Describe in detail the services offered by your library.
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What are your circulation policies? Include length of checkout, fines, limits, and other details specific to your library.
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What hours is the library open? Provide actual hours of library with details of special closures.
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Describe the physical aspects of the library. Is the physical layout efficient and also convenient for the users? Does it portray a friendly atmosphere? Provide a colorful, detailed description of the library. Enable readers to visualize the library. Provide a description of the library’s atmosphere.
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Describe the signage. Provide a full description of signage and placement of all signs.
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Staff Fully describe number of staff, positions, and what each job entails.
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Classification System Describe the classification system used in your library.
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Public Access Catalog Fully describe the type of catalog system used by your library.
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Unique features Colorfully describe all unique features that can be found in your library.
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APA format. |
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Mechanics/Grammar No grammatical errors. Correct punctuation and spelling. Language is clear and precise; sentences display consistently strong, varied structure.
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Organization Structure of this project is clear and easy to follow. Enjoyable to read.
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Total Points: 400
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Have fun with this assignment! If you have trouble determining what model you should follow, find another library’s policies or guides and use those. Be sure to cite those examples in APA format. This assignment can be a paper, but it does not have to be. You can create a slide presentation, a video, an audio recording, or any number of items.
I wish you the best of luck in your journey as a new librarian.
Feedback/Errata