Mary Lambert
MLIS Capstone
SLO #4
SLO #4 The student designs services to meet the information needs of all users and communities.
Identifying and meeting the needs of the community is a never-ending project for librarians. In addition to being repositories for books and computers, libraries are community centers where people can learn new skills, connect with others, and become more informed members of society. As public servants, librarians work tirelessly to build programs, develop collections, produce educational literature, and enhance services to fulfill the needs and desires of their community. Although they often receive little-to-no praise for their efforts, their work is essential if we are to create free and open societies.
There are countless methods librarians can employ to meet the information needs of their users. One such way is by creating infographics that display data or information clearly and quickly. During my coursework in LIS 625, I created an infographic using Piktochart that informed school administration and parents about NC WiseOwl and how it benefits students. The information provided was brief, making it considerably easier to digest at a glance, but also backed by research, making it credible. The graphic also contained vibrant images and bright colors to immediately grab the attention of anyone walking by. Although there is no guarantee the information provided on an infographic will reach every member of the intended audience, they are a great way to reach visual learners and others who simply do not have the time to read lengthy publications. For librarians, this is exceptional, because we have the ability to present information in a creative, engaging way that does not overwhelm our patrons. This will especially come in handy when I become a Teen Services librarian and find myself trying to capture the attention of busy and/or apathetic teens. Infographics are undeniably a tool that every library professional should keep in his or her toolbox.
Another brilliant means of meeting the information needs of users and the community is through the creation and usage of LibGuides. By utilizing this research guide format, librarians can organize and share resources on almost any topic imaginable. For academic libraries, many guides focus on research skills or a specific research topic. Public libraries often provide similar offerings, but many use this medium to create more practical guides to share information about town laws or regulations for new residents, or detailed information about local establishments or library services. The possibilities are endless, and that makes this an excellent medium to effectively disseminate information to patrons.
In LIS 620: Information Sources and Services, I created my first LibGuide. I was immediately blown away by the amount of information that could be collected, organized, and provided to assist patrons or students in becoming more informed. However, I also became quickly aware of the pressure to select credible, relevant sources in order to make the guide beneficial. Because we were given the liberty to select our own topic, I focused my efforts on collecting resources relating to zombies. Although my topic was not as serious as some of my classmates, I worked assiduously to select only the best resources for my guide to ensure that, if used, it would be helpful. Information was clearly organized by fiction books, nonfiction books, articles, TV shows, films, and zombie events to avoid confusion, and additional surveys and images were added to make it more appealing. Accessing the materials is simple, and many can even be retrieved online, making it helpful for distance students or those who prefer the digital world. Creating LibGuides is a wonderful way for librarians to reach their patrons and successful meet the needs of their community. Although they take quite a bit of effort, I would love to take on the task of creating guides to match the interests of my community in the future and see their impact first hand.
Using two different mediums to create and share information has shown me that, if we intend to reach all of our users, we must be willing to use a variety of tactics. Our patrons are not cookie-cutter models of one another. Instead, they come from different backgrounds, have different experiences, and possess different personal beliefs and opinions. To be successful at designing services that are attractive, it is essential that we do not take a “one size fits all” approach. It is because of this I intend to utilize both infographics and LibGuides as a librarian, regardless of my eventual area of specialization. Infographics are great for keeping patrons informed and/or persuading stakeholders. These wonderful graphics can also make delivering information at staff meetings, professional development, or Teen Advisory Board meetings considerably more effective and easier to digest because they prevent the audience from becoming bogged down by lengthy texts. LibGuides, considerably more detailed than infographics, are beneficial to those who appreciate digital collections of materials or need to access library materials but cannot visit the library. These guides are extremely flexible and can be tailored to meet the diverse interests and needs of community members, making them an invaluable resource.
Meeting the needs of all of our patrons is something librarians must strive for every day; however, we must also be realistic and understand that, regardless of our efforts, some community members will be difficult to reach. If we do not try, though, we ultimately fail at being servants of the community and cannot expect to keep our doors open for long. There is simply no room for complacency if we intend to evolve and grow with the world around us, which is why we must remain ever-vigilant of both the needs of our community and new ways to meet them.
