Revisit Assumptions/Assertions About LIS

For this post, I will be revisiting my assumptions about LIS that I wrote about in my blog post towards the beginning of the semester.  I have decided to take a look at each assumption individually.

Dynamic - One aspect of the LIS field that interested me at the beginning is that it is dynamic.  This is certainly true, and if anything I have seen that the field is perhaps even more dynamic than I originally thought.  Information is evolving and changing rapidly, and as information scientists we are at the forefront of that evolution of knowledge and information because we are working to connect people to this information.  Public libraries are certainly a dynamic place to work, each day is different.  Even somewhere such as an archive, however, is dynamic in the sense that there may always be new information to be discovered from the materials, as well as new technologies and ways of preserving information and materials.

Diversity - At the beginning of the semester, I mentioned that one of the appeals to me of the LIS field is its diversity.  While it is true that the patrons served, especially in a public library setting, are very diverse, the profession itself is not necessarily as diverse as it could be.  There are organizations working to increase the diversity of professionals in the field, such as Future Librarians for Inclusivity and Diversity.  I hope to become involved in organizations such as this throughout my career to show people the appeal of working in the LIS field and keeping up to date on issues related to diversity.

Technology Driven - It is clear from my experience so far in my classes that the LIS field is certainly technology driven.  Much of our information comes to us through technology, and it is important for librarians to stay up to date on technology so that they may help patrons with any questions they may have.

Community Driven - This is another assumption about LIS which I feel has been affirmed for me throughout the semester.  Especially in the public library, it is very important for librarians to be aware of the needs of their community and working to meet them.  This means that the layout of a library may vary greatly from one community to the next, as may the materials and services offered.

In revisiting my previous assumptions, I would say that for the most part, I was correct, at least in my ideas about public libraries.  As I learn more about academic libraries, archives, and other information agencies I will have to see if these assumptions ring true there as well.