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Faculty member gives personal philosophy of librarianship

Libraries are great, cool, warm and an exciting place to work. As everybody knows “Knowledge is Power,” and we must try to acquire more and more knowledge in this challenging world. My personal philosophy of librarianship is particularly coming from two major sources: first is the American Library Association’s Code of Ethics, and the second is Dr. S. R. Rangnathan’s Five Laws of Library Science.

Those five laws of Library Science are:

– First Law: Books are For Use

– Second Law: Every Reader, His or Her book

– Third Law: Every Book, its Reader
– Forth Law: Save the Time of the Reader

– Fifth Law: The Library is a Growing Organism

The Laws provide essential guidelines for librarians with the potential for planning and providing patron services in all types of libraries.

I have been on the front lines of librarianship; working with all types of people, students, and faculty almost 30 years. My day to day job is to answer questions, assisting to retrieve and dissemination of information from various resources. My passion is to provide quality services and access to resources in all formats which is being effectively implement, support, and enrich the university’s mission and goals for achieving excellence in meeting the information needs to a diverse clientele.

My memories of libraries as a child, though certainly romanticized, have always been positive. According to Sir Henry Ward Beecher “A Library is not a luxury, but one of the necessities of our life.” Libraries are the backbone of our education. The librarian has first hand interaction between the student and others using the library.

I believe a librarian have an increasingly prevalent role to play in our society. Outside the traditional roles, librarians are information brokers, educators, marketing managers, information scientists, archivists/curators, system administrators, and even consultants for radio and television.

Librarianship is changing with the advent of new and faster technologies, libraries need to make sure we protect the principles of our profession. Librarian supports intellectual freedom by providing access to information. As the amount of available information increases, we need to be there, as knowledgeable as possible, to help guide people in their thirst for knowledge. I see librarianship as a service profession where providing for the information needs of a person can be a reward itself.

Some libraries are becoming a part of many corporations to help them train their employees and to provide references and resources. Employees often check out books or collect data to compose reports or presentations.

Librarians can play an important role and perform the research if the employees do not have time and can have ready for them if needed.

Like other professions, librarianship requires specialized knowledge and academic preparation. Librarianship also has a professional organization, definite objectives and a code of ethics. There is a wide range of professional publications. The importance of research and continuing education are stressed. This profession has a strong service orientation. Librarianship has most in common with the education profession. Librarians and teachers are less concerned with prestige and money than some other professions. Their rewards are measured in terms of human accomplishment.

Good librarians should have faith in the development of the individual, because they know that society advances when individuals within it improve themselves. Due to lack of motivation and encouragement, many students pass through the school system, yet learn very little. Continuing education is vital today. Many people have two or more careers because of rapidly changing economic conditions. Good librarians should like people at all levels of education with all their faults and filings. They should courteous, helpful and encourage all those who are seeking knowledge. They should never deny library services because of race, age, sex, religion or political views. Good librarians should promote reading of all kinds. Reading generates intellectual and moral values and provides pleasure. It increases understanding, widens horizons and develops new interests.

My particular strengths are in communicating: I am an excellent service provider, I enjoy working with people of all levels and specially students, I have research skills on which I would like to build, I am proficient with computer technology and Internet use. I am somewhat contemplative, I believe in thinking matters through and finding practical solutions to problems.

Libraries are a vital part of our lives and will always be there for us when we need them. As long as service and enthusiasm are displayed by Librarians, people will come to rely on them and visit libraries more often. Librarians have a responsibility of their users. They need to be flexible and help users stay up to date with future trends. I urge all my library professionals to take this challenge and the responsibilities seriously and do the best to fulfill their needs. What I believe, in a nutshell, is in balancing the two missions: providing the best service possible for all users, while conscientiously and thoughtfully protecting our resources. I also believe in keeping myself actively informed in my subject areas and issues of the future.