Conclusion

Reflections

When I started the MLIS program, I was unprepared for the extent of the demands it would make on my time and energy. It was a completely different experience from my undergraduate work, and I spent most of my first semester scrambling to keep up. After that experience, I lowered my course load, which enabled me to not only handle the work but also enjoy the classes. They were still difficult, and still stressful, but the concepts and material were intriguing, and sometimes fascinating. I regret that I was unable to fully appreciate my first three courses.

The MLIS program allows for a lot of flexibility. For the most part, I followed the information architecture track, but I also took some archiving courses, which is another area of interest for me. I regret that I could not get more in-depth with some of the subjects I studied, but the classes gave me a good introduction and a foundation I could use to pursue the subjects on my own.

Strengths

One of my strengths is my wide range of interests. Instead of focusing narrowly on one aspect of library work, I notice and take interest in a variety of areas. Because of this, I can better see how the work of the different areas fits together to create and support the library as a whole, and can potentially work in many different areas.

Another strength is my understanding of software and technology. I pick up new applications and techniques quickly, and enjoy learning the ins and outs of a program. By preference I do all of my Web coding by hand, and am always eager to learn Web technologies such as CSS and Flash.

Lastly, I can find enjoyment in even repetitive or monotonous tasks such as data entry or shelving. I enjoy classifying and entering items into a database, and arranging them on the shelf. Much of library work is repetitive, but I'm not likely to be bored or dissatisfied.

Growth Plan

Since I have no clear career plan in mind, this is a little hard to address. I intend to further pursue Web technologies on my own, such as Flash, PHP, and methods for building dynamic pages. I hope to get to the point where I could maintain or even design a professional-level site. Along these same lines, I want to gain further experience using and building databases. Both kinds of technology are used extensively in libraries and other information professions. In addition, I plan to keep studying design and layout, especially as it applies to the internet. Different browsing platforms, such as a PC versus a mobile phone, have different design requirements, and this is something I'm only beginning to look into.

Further, I would like to study cataloging. Cataloging is a class that I had wanted to take, but somehow never managed to, due to scheduling and other problems. Since this is an area I would like to work in, I would like to train on my own to help myself prepare.