Aron's Artifacts

Describe the evolving nature of the core values and ethics within diverse information environments.​

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Course

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LI​S 701: Core Values, Ethics, and Issues in the Library and Information Professions

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Primary Artifact

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• Social Justice Paves the Way for Libraries Serving Transgender Communities (PDF)

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Why this artifact?

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This (PDF) research paper explores the core value of social justice through the practice of "diversity by design." With this core value and framework in mind, I explore actionable ways that libraries can serve transgender patrons. Transformation is a key tenant of the paper, considering there are three primary evolutions discussed. First, the evolution of library services to transgender patrons through actionable, evidence-based recommendations. Second, the evolution of transgender patrons' perceptions of library services. Third, the evolution of user needs, including individual contexts (such as a transgender patron seeking different information at different points in their transition) and communal contexts (such as libraries serving as safe spaces in a socio-political climate that's increasingly hostile to transgender people). Overall, this paper explores the evolving nature of social justice (a core value) for a particular user community (the transgender community). Through ​diversity by design, the diverse information environment of the library can better align with the diverse community served by this library.

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Although I'm listing the paper as my primary artifact, I'm including secondary (bonus) artifacts. In the spirit of a poster presentation at a library conference, I created a handout, poster, and presentation to synthesize, visualize, and verbalize the paper's core ideas.​​​​​​​​​

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Secondary Artifacts:​​​

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• Handout (PDF)​

• Poster (PDF)​

• Presentation (Canva video stream)

Demonstrate how a philosophy, theory, model, and/or major perspective of the library and information profession guides practice in diverse settings.

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Course

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LI​S 724: Integrating Technology into Programming, Services, and Instruction

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Artifact

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Meeting SAM R - not a person, but a pedagogical model! (blog post)

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Why this artifact?

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​​In this blog post, I explore the S.A.M.R. model (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition). I explore how this ed tech model can be utilized to strategically integrate technology in library programming. By analyzing the use of technology in my Writing Club library program, I discover how each step in S.A.M.R. makes the program more engaging to K-8 grade students. I demonstrate this model's successes and limitations through a real life library program. I also demonstrate a commitment to further exploring tech integration in library programs. This model guides practice in diverse settings by guiding technology use in libraries and classrooms, both of which serve diverse students with a wide range of technological confidence and curiosity.​

Participate in professional activities and associations, such as professional conferences and meetings, internships and practicums, and professional email discussions and social media.

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Course

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LI​S  810: Book Reviewing and Publishing for Children and Young Adults

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Artifact

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Professional Reviews

• Bathe the Cat, a picture book by Alice B. McGinty (PDF)

• Caprice, novel by Coe Booth (PDF)

• Spi-ku: A Clutter of Short Verse on Eight Legs, a science poetry collection by Leslie Bulion (PDF)

• The Golden Hour, a graphic novel by Niki Smith (PDF)

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Why this artifact?

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By learning how to write reviews intended for publication in professional library journals, I participated in the professional activity of review writing. In MAYL 814, I learned how to navigate review journals and websites to cultivate diverse library collections. Per our course discussions, I've continued following diversity-centric organizations on social media, such as The Brown Bookshelf. Beyond this course, I've continued reading reviews in School Library Journal, Hornbook, and additional publications. Thanks to my library's staff subscription to these journals, I'm empowered to be informed about upcoming titles. Learning not only how to write, but also how to read reviews from diverse reviewers has made an impact on my library programs. For example, I've utilized reviews to help choose BIPOC-centric titles for my monthly LGBTQ+ Book Club. All in all, review writing connected me to a wider professional learning network, enriched additional facets of librarianship, and provided a fun yet challenging way to hone my creative writing skills.