In March of 2007, during my time as a student aid at the DePaul University library, I stumbled on a brand new copy of the “Lucifer Effect” by Philip Zimbardo. It was a record of the infamous Stanford Prison Experiment that I had heard was just released and I had eagerly anticipated the opportunity to read it. Then, just a scant few days later it was in my hand with a fresh DDC-compliant label and date slip. At that moment I realized how apt the library was for acquiring and sharing knowledge both old and recent. So in interest of further advancing the agenda of information distribution, I decided to apply to the field of Library and Information Science with a focus on the Certificate of Digital Libraries.
Since then, I have held several jobs both within the library and outside it. My first exposure was during my work study as a clerk for the DePaul University library’s technical services department. After graduation I became an IT clerk for a public library, exposing me to the technical aspects and community-mindedness of the library. My work as a graphic designer for a small business allowed me to further hone my skills interacting with customers and vendors alike. Currently, I have returned to the academic field as a multimedia specialist for the audio and visual equipment of Moraine Valley Community College. The occupation has been rewarding, but I have come to realize my desire to return to the library in a professional capacity.
To this end, my both inside and outside the library system have prepared me for pursuing the study of Information Science and the library profession as a whole. During my employment as a Technical Services clerk I was responsible for cataloguing and processing hundreds of library materials, from novels to movies to multi-volume reference encyclopedias. I was amazed, and then fascinated, by the complexity of preparing inventory for sharing amongst patrons across a state-wide library network. Then, as an IT clerk for the Blue Island Public Library, I became familiar with the day-to-day workings of a library as a whole while I made my rounds repairing and troubleshooting public and staff computers. While working closely with the staff and even managing a computer lab for teenage patrons, I observed the role of the library in the community, serving as a secure place for study, ready internet access, and resources for finding employment. Along with my experience in the library, I have learned to provide audio/visual teaching tools and anticipate the needs and concerns of faculty and staff as a multimedia specialist.
Combining my professional library experience, my proven aptitude for working effectively and amicably with patrons and staff, my technical ability, and even my education with art and computer graphics, I can bring innovation and passion to the field of library and information science. With technology changing rapidly and more and more information being accessible through the internet, a push towards digitizing collections and information will become paramount to the future of the library. By pursuing a concentration on data collections and eventually the Certificate of Advance Study in Digital Libraries, I plan to help with that transition.