Introduction
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Emporia State University, Salt lake city, UTah - cohort 10
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Two Years. One Journey. Many possibilities. This portfolio represents two years of intense study, research, and collaboration toward earning a MLS. I intend to pursue a career in medical libraries, and the assignments presented here highlight skills needed to flourish in that field. The body of work displayed reflects commitment to a discipline that has treated me well and helped me become a champion of information and an advocate of lifelong learning.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank all my professors, classmates, and mentors, without whom I would not have succeeded in this program; my family--near and far--for their unending support; my young daughter who gave me much-needed moments of levity and snuggles; and most of all my husband Reilly, whose encouragement and enduring devotion keep me moving forward and always striving to be better. We have a great thing going on.
Please feel free to explore this capstone portfolio to learn more about my adventure pursuing a Master of Library Science degree from Emporia State University.
Video Tour
Retrospection and anticipation |
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When I decided to attend Emporia and earn a Master’s degree in library science, all I knew was that I wanted the degree. I loved books, I loved information, and I loved serving people, but I did not have specific goals. Yet I wanted the flexibility in career choices I felt a MLS degree could offer. In the course of the program, I encountered a few critical landmarks that would benefit my professional development.
New Student Orientation Before the program started, my cohort (Salt Lake City, Utah Cohort 10) gathered for a new student orientation in early January 2014. We introduced ourselves to each other, the people with whom I would journey to obtaining an MLS degree. I would get to work with these people in groups; we would share our goals and concerns over the next two years. We would send each other emails of various job openings. We would even become friends. This was the beginning of a great networking opportunity. Most of the cohort were already librarians and needed the MLS to advance their careers, but I was not yet a librarian. I had a bachelor’s degree in English, and I had a couple of years’ work experience in instructional design. I felt like a nomad, an explorer with no set direction. I came into the program wondering where my career should go. At orientation, I heard my classmates talk about their jobs in public and school libraries, and while I appreciated those types of libraries, those settings did not necessarily resonate with me. At the new student orientation a panel of several librarians from different fields spoke to our cohort. Librarians from the public sector, an academic setting, a school, and a hospital talked to us about their careers and gave us advice about library school. When it was the hospital librarian’s turn to speak to us, I listened closely to her story. I wrote down her name and where she worked (Emily Eresuma, Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah). As she continued, I started seriously considering a career in medical libraries. I came home after orientation, excited about the prospect of expanding my professional network and eager for the possibility of working in a medical library. By reaching out to Ms. Eresuma over the next few months, I would eventually end up volunteering at Primary Children’s Hospital Library, where I am still gaining meaningful experience. Coursework Once I decided to specialize in medical librarianship, the MLS program became more defined for me. Because there are no course offerings specifically geared to medical librarianship, and because the courses discuss public, school, and academic libraries more than special libraries, I had to more or less make my own way in the program. I tried to relate as many of my assignments to medical libraries as possible. For example, during the first semester I interviewed a librarian from the Mayo Clinic about her career. For another assignment I created an infographic about the life cycle of information as it pertains to childhood vaccines. The second semester our cohort studied schemas, and I was able to research the MeSH thesaurus and the PubMed database from the National Library of Medicine website. In my last semester, I get to write a review on a book about the history of the National Library of Medicine. Networking In addition to tailoring assignments to focus on medical libraries, I had excellent opportunities to build a network that would include future colleagues. In October 2014 a medical librarian visited our cohort on a class weekend and told us about the forming of the Utah Society of Health Sciences Librarians (USHSL). The following Friday I attended the inaugural meeting and was appointed the webmaster for USHSL. It was exciting talking with other medical librarians and finding out where they worked, and they were immediately and generously supportive of students like me. That experience further confirmed that the medical library field is where I want my career. The highest point of networking during my program was the practicum, which I completed at the Eccles Health Sciences Library (EHSL) at the University of Utah. This opportunity also came through Emily Eresuma, who put me in touch with the necessary contacts. I worked on various projects with several faculty members from EHSL. The practicum gave me an opportunity to see how a medical library works in an academic setting, compared to the hospital library where I volunteer. It was humbling to work with the faculty and listen to their advice. They were especially encouraging when I applied for a library job at a hospital. They gave me pointers about group interviews and giving presentations. Because of faculty guidance, I was a strong contender for the position, making the cut for an individual interview. That process will always be a learning experience to draw from. The connections I made at the practicum proved fruitful. About a month after I completed the practicum I received an email from the deputy director at Eccles, Melissa Rethlefsen. She forwarded a message from someone who works at a publisher of medical journals. I followed through on the reference, which resulted in getting a part-time telecommuting job with the company. It is an ideal position that allows me to continue volunteering at Primary Children’s Hospital Library and to schedule time for studying during the MLS program. The position requires skills obtained earning an MLS, and not only does the job have the potential to become full-time, there is growth within the company that I can pursue. Additionally, my contribution to the company helps maintain a database used in a medical app for diagnosing cancer, and I truly feel that I am helping people with my work. I feel extremely fortunate for being able to find a specialty early in the MLS program. This focus fostered a passion I did not know I could have for a career. Obtaining a degree in library science has inherently provided options for professional development as well as prepared me to seek opportunities to progress in the workforce. Carving out my own niche and building networks among other medical librarians have broadened the meaning in the work I do, and the nature of my job continually deepens the value of my work. The medical library field attracts resourceful, innovative, and service-oriented people. It fits me well, and I look forward to learning and growing in the new directions it may take me. |