Goal 2: Understand the essential nature of information and its relevance to society
Outcome 2a. Describe various definitions and concepts of information
There are many different concepts and types of information. One of the most important ideas about information that I needed to understand as a cataloger was metadata. In LIS 882 (Metadata for Internet Resources) I reflected on this idea. In one of the discussion boards I tried to understand it and give my own definition. I concluded that metadata is information about a resource with a number of sets of properties and corresponding values, existing apart from the information resource, structured and grouped together creating records.
There are many different concepts and types of information. One of the most important ideas about information that I needed to understand as a cataloger was metadata. In LIS 882 (Metadata for Internet Resources) I reflected on this idea. In one of the discussion boards I tried to understand it and give my own definition. I concluded that metadata is information about a resource with a number of sets of properties and corresponding values, existing apart from the information resource, structured and grouped together creating records.
metadata_discussion1_lis882_2a.pdf | |
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Outcome 2b. Interpret information policies from local to global levels in relation to their impact on intellectual freedom, access, literacy, and information behavior
Academic and research libraries need to establish policies that reflect their mission and goals to ensure that intellectual freedom is enhanced, access to all resources is provided, literacy is supported, and research is facilitated. In my Final Project in LIS 770 (Management of Libraries and Information Centers) I analyzed the strategic plan of a Canadian university to evaluate its policies as they developed over time. This university’s strategic goal was clear “we are a dynamic and innovative library that inspires exploration, discovery and knowledge creation”. Each mission statement and related goal supported the university’s strategic goal. They also developed means to measure their success in achieving those goals. What was particularly interesting was to see how their strategic plan developed over time and became more sophisticated as they clarified their role as being the “intellectual crossroads of the university”.
Academic and research libraries need to establish policies that reflect their mission and goals to ensure that intellectual freedom is enhanced, access to all resources is provided, literacy is supported, and research is facilitated. In my Final Project in LIS 770 (Management of Libraries and Information Centers) I analyzed the strategic plan of a Canadian university to evaluate its policies as they developed over time. This university’s strategic goal was clear “we are a dynamic and innovative library that inspires exploration, discovery and knowledge creation”. Each mission statement and related goal supported the university’s strategic goal. They also developed means to measure their success in achieving those goals. What was particularly interesting was to see how their strategic plan developed over time and became more sophisticated as they clarified their role as being the “intellectual crossroads of the university”.
stuart_final_project_lis770_01_graded_2b.pdf | |
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Outcome 2c. Assess community information needs and interests
There are many different communities that require information. Sometimes we forget about our own community of librarians and also of the community of universities that train librarians. In LIS 884 (Competitive Intelligence and Big Data) I studied 132 out of 407 ALA job postings for librarians to learn what jobs and skills are in demand. The primary question I was trying to answer was “What kind of courses should be offered by GSLIS”? I was surprised to learn that one of the biggest areas in demand at 42% of the jobs analyzed was for librarians with administrative and management skills. After assessing and analyzing this data, I recommended that university library science programs should offer a Certificate in Library Management.
It was a large and overwhelming project that taught me how to aggregate, cleanse, structure, and manipulate big data. I learned to use different visualization tools such as Google Fusion Tables, Google Maps and some others. I think that in this class I received very useful and necessary skills.
There are many different communities that require information. Sometimes we forget about our own community of librarians and also of the community of universities that train librarians. In LIS 884 (Competitive Intelligence and Big Data) I studied 132 out of 407 ALA job postings for librarians to learn what jobs and skills are in demand. The primary question I was trying to answer was “What kind of courses should be offered by GSLIS”? I was surprised to learn that one of the biggest areas in demand at 42% of the jobs analyzed was for librarians with administrative and management skills. After assessing and analyzing this data, I recommended that university library science programs should offer a Certificate in Library Management.
It was a large and overwhelming project that taught me how to aggregate, cleanse, structure, and manipulate big data. I learned to use different visualization tools such as Google Fusion Tables, Google Maps and some others. I think that in this class I received very useful and necessary skills.
stuart_lis884_final_project_gslis_job_raw_data_collected_updated_april_11_2014_from_wwwalaorg.xlsx | |
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stuart_final_project_analysis_lis884_graded_2c.pdf | |
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Outcome 2d. Develop appropriate responses to information needs
The cultural power of sacred places seems to have diminished little, and perhaps even grown, in the modern era. Participation in pilgrimages has increased immensely in recent decades as greater numbers of people are able to travel the world to visit holy sites, partake in ceremonies and rituals, and add another dimension to the expression of their faith. In LIS 701 I prepared a subject bibliography meant to enlarge the collection of a large public library regarding a spiritual pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. This is something that I am personally interested in doing someday and I found a number of very valuable resources. Later, for LIS 704 (Reference and Online Services) I came back to this topic and using technology created a subject guide on this pilgrimage. It can be accessed at http://www.slideshare.net/ElenaStuart/cultural-heritage-spiritualjourneysandpilgrimages.
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