Conclusion

“In your Conclusion Statement, include here your reflections on your MLIS program, a discussion of your strengths, and a professional growth plan, plus any final comments and conclusions.”

MLIS Reflections

I was always the odd one in my family. Perhaps that is too bold of a confession to make here, but it is true. I was the type of kid who read encyclopedias for fun, and wanted to know everything about everything. As I grew up, my passion for “knowing things” as I called it then, also matured. I took up hobbies like bird watching and gardening because they both offered a lot of information to learn.

I returned to college as an adult, and I decided to study history. What better field to learn as much as I could? History had the potential to teach me the sum of the human experience, and I savored it. I spent hours in the library doing research for projects or papers. At the time, I thought it was history that I loved (and I do), but it was the act of searching - the act of finding and discovering - that really drove me. I tried to think of careers that would allow me to research and learn new things while helping others learn to research. After I graduated from college, I took a job in publishing. It seemed like a very good fit for my interests. As time passed, I found that it wasn’t challenging me. After I had mastered all of the things there were for me to learn at my job, I was ready to look for something motivating and stimulating.

Library and Information Science had been in the back of mind since I had graduated. I had loved libraries as a kid, but developed a new appreciation for them - as centers of knowledge and research - as a college student. I knew I wanted to pursue a graduate degree, and I thought that library science was the right area for me. I knew that I wanted to do an online program, because I could not quit my full time job, and I had a family, so moving to another city or state was out of the question for me. The next consideration for me was cost. I told myself that I would only get the degree if I could pay for it as I went. I was unwilling to take on any debt.

Two and a half years later, I have never regretted my decision to pursue the MLIS degree. The more courses that I’ve taken, the more I have learned about who I am, and what I excel at. Likewise, I have never regretted my decision to study at San Jose State. The program has been phenomenal, and I have had opportunities to work on projects with several members of the faculty, including Debbie Faires, Dr. Sandra Hirsh, and Dr. Anthony Bernier. These experiences have shaped the way that I view myself as a professional, and have provided me with the confidence to go forward into my career.

Strengths and Plans for Growth

During the final year of my program, I started volunteering at my local community college. I knew that I wanted to work in an academic setting, but at the time, I didn’t have any real work experience in a library setting. The volunteering led directly to a job offer. As I started working, I learned more about the operations of the library, and I was able to apply all of the things that I learned in the program into a practical setting. As I learned more about the field through my job, I became increasingly interested in instructional design and information literacy. I took courses in the “Information Intermediation and Instruction” career pathway in order to develop my career. My ultimate goal is to work as an instructional librarian, and either teach or coordinate programs for information literacy in higher education.

My strengths are tied to my determination and my natural curiosity. I also feel strongly connected to the foundational values of library science. I appreciate curiosity and desire to learn in others, and I hope to be able to cultivate that curiosity in students.

I cannot say enough positive things about the MLIS program at San Jose State. I can’t count the number of times that I have recommended the program to others. The time that I spent in this program was time well spent, and it was a great investment into a future that I look forward to.

Affirmation

[This text is taken from the SJSU e-portfolio handbook with permission.]

All introductory, reflective, and evidentiary work submitted is mine alone (except where indicated as a group or team project), and has been prepared solely by me.
I am protecting the privacy of the contents of my e-Portfolio by password protecting it or by sharing the URL only with my e-portfolio advisor.
Before making my e-portfolio public I will respect the privacy of others by removing mention in this e-Portfolio of information that could lead to the identity of individuals (team members in group projects, internship supervisors, interviewees, etc.) and institutions.
Holley Cornetto