Mary Tobin LIBS 6010 Module 1, Assignment 1 January 23, 2012

Initial Impressions Essay

Libraries exist for many reasons which are as varied as the types of libraries that have been created. All libraries though, whether they are public libraries, school libraries, university libraries, medical libraries, government libraries, or presidential libraries, exist with the common characteristic of gathering and organizing information and making it readily available to a particular client base. Libraries exist as repositories and disseminators of books, information, and artifacts for the public in the communities that they serve. The role of each library is dependent on the community or institution. A small town public library may provide story hours, book clubs, access to a wide variety of popular literature, DVD loans, meeting spaces, internet access, and teen programs while a medical library will focus on professional journals, research materials and access to the most current medical information from all corners of the globe. The role of every library is to provide the information and services that its community needs and demands. Another crucial aspect to consider when discussing the role of the library is that these services are provided at no cost to the consumer and, during difficult economic times, the value of these services cannot be minimized. Librarians wear many hats in the workplace. They catalog and organize library materials, build collections, locate information, repair books, read stories, develop programs, check out books, check in books, market their libraries and interact with patrons. Interacting with patrons

may very well be the most important service that a librarian provides, for these interactions help to determine the reputation of the library and whether or not the public feels welcome and comfortable. A library with no patrons is just a big storage closet. A good librarian needs to be organized, self directed, enthusiastic, helpful, and intelligent. Acceptance and a non-judgmental attitude are crucial as well, as it is not our place to influence or choose the material, information, and books that others select but to provide a wide variety so that requested materials are available for everyone. A good librarian must also be perceptive and in tune with the community/institution that he/she serves. The role of the librarian is to provide the most thorough selection of books, programs, and materials possible within the institutional constraints and to assist patrons in locating and utilizing the materials that they seek. Within a more narrow view, the librarians role in a public or school library also includes literacy promotion and programs. Assisting others is the most important service that a librarian provides and it encompasses so many aspects of the profession. Whether reading a story to toddlers, locating a journal article for a student at a university, repairing a well-loved book so that others may enjoy it, or encouraging a troubled student who loves to read to join the book club, the common thread is helping others. This thread is interwoven in all aspects of librarianship. The biggest professional mistake a librarian can make is forgetting that. We must always be mindful that ours is a helping profession and that those who utilize our libraries deserve our best service. The greatest ethical dilemma facing libraries today, and in the past, is censorship. In selecting which material is available in a library, we must make judgments about the clients and the material. We must do our best to be fair and impartial, but personal experience, values and opinions will inevitably affect decisions. Obviously, a different collection should exist in an elementary school than that which exists in a big city, public library. Several years ago, a local

librarian made the news when a first grade child in her elementary school checked out the book King & King from her library, and the parents publicly complained about the content. I fully supported the parents opinion, not from a religious or moral standpoint, but from the viewpoint that an elementary school should not have such a potentially personal topic as a part of the general collection that very young children could freely choose. Such a topic, in that age group, is best left to families to teach when they feel their children are old enough. I felt, though, that the book is a valued part of the collection and should be kept with other similar books and made available for families to check out to help them explain topics like that to their young children if they so desired. In no way did I believe that the book should not exist or be available to those who sought it. That was my opinion then, and it is my opinion today. I am very interested to see if it is still my opinion when I complete this program. Regarding censorship, I believe we must make the best judgments we can based on the population we serve, the standards set by the ALA, and the law. Volunteering in my childrens schools and with their Battle of the Books teams brought me to this place of working to obtain my MLS and become a librarian. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the kids, and I have seen what a love of books and reading can do for children, my own as well as others. Becoming a librarian means that I can continue to do this for many, many years to come, and I will even get paid! Although I do plan to focus on school librarianship, these first weeks of reading and exploring the world of libraries have made me realize all of the possibilities and opportunities that exist in librarianship, and I look forward to learning even more.