My love of books and libraries has spanned my whole life.

My earliest memories include a treasure hunting game played in the library, to help learn the Dewey Decimal System. Since beginning my education as a Library and Information Science student at Dominican University five years ago, my appreciation and understanding of libraries has deepened. In reviewing my coursework for this digital portfolio, I reflected on basics I learned, in my Introduction to Library and Information Science Course. Ranganathan's five laws of library science1 are relevant, over eighty years after being introduced. Combined with ALAs key action areas, they provide a foundation for librarians. It is vital we continue to advocate for libraries, our profession, and transform libraries. We must support diversity, provide equitable access to information and library services, and develop literacy initiatives and programs. Our job is to provide education, lifelong learning, and promote intellectual freedom2. One of my earlier research papers, Return on Investment, Cost Benefit Analysis, and How to Fund Libraries, for The Management of Library and Information Centers Course, reinforces the necessity to advocate for libraries and our profession. Libraries are a valued and valuable part of a successful community. Without community support and resources, they are vulnerable. The strongest library supporters are those that have strong positive feelings

Cloonan, V., and John G. Dove. "Ranganathan Online." Ranganathan Online. Library Journal, 01 Apr. 2005. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. 2 "About ALA." American Library Association. American Library Association, n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.

towards their library and librarian. We must continue to cultivate these relationships. The research paper I wrote for Literacy and Library Involvement, Asian Human Services, reinforces what advocacy can do for an institution. The director increased the annual budget from $270,000 to $11.5 million and has over thirty community partners. The community partners include the local library, local and national government, health and legal associations, and colleges. She has transformed AHS to a center that provides literacy programs, education, and lifelong learning. My coursework in Library and Literacy Involvement and Community Informatics had a profound impact on my perspective of libraries and information management in communities. Dr. John Berry showed the movie, Waiting for Superman, directed by Davis Guggenheim. In the movie, a win or loss in the education lottery leads to a significant difference in quality of life and opportunity for the student, family, and community. Dr. Berry also discussed his work with The Partnership for 21st Century Skills. Dr. Chris Hagar introduced the concepts of Internet and communication technology, social capital, and close-knit ties and communities. These classes and instructors showed the value of access to information and education. They introduced the various definitions and concepts of information, literacy, and access. P21 and community informatics emphasize the need for multiple literacies, life and career skills, as well as core subjects. These ensure a successful student, individual, and community.

Library User Instruction and Knowledge Management have influenced my current career and future goals. I am a corporate instructor and have had years of teaching experience. Library User Instruction taught the importance of goals, outcomes, and standards in lesson plan development, to assess the needs of my students. I now spend more time on these facets of lesson planning. Knowledge Management has enabled me to assess needs, develop appropriate responses, and negotiate group dynamics with fellow instructors and students. These skills ensure knowledge flow. The best artifacts in my portfolio reflect what I learned in Community Informatics and Knowledge Management. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Case Study was a difficult assignment. The logistics of a case study, data collection, time involved, and subject matter were a great learning experience. As sad and profound as some of the posts were, I found great joy and comfort in the community support and transfer of education and knowledge I saw, in the Discussion Boards. The strong, supportive ties in a virtual world were inspiring. The individual and community needs met online sometimes exceeded what could be accomplished in person. My professional proposals and recent workplace initiatives are a direct result of my learning, while taking Knowledge Management. Professor Chris Kiess taught the importance of sharing information in the workplace. This is accomplished by utilizing a variety of methods to improve communication and productivity by making a learning organization. I have been able to implement standard methods of communication and information sharing at work, utilizing

email, shared documents and drives, information binders, and bulletin boards. Additionally, I have spurred informal knowledge transfer through mentoring, storytelling at Sunday Family Dinners at work, and the sharing of best practices. My portfolio reflects my broad interests as a library professional. My lesson plans, professional work, and interest in Knowledge Management portray my current position as a teacher and information manager. The website I designed with XTML and CSS and my interest in digital literacies point to my interest in information and communication technologies. I spend time investigating and evaluating new tools and emerging technologies to improve knowledge transfer. The Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Guide, Outreach Services Guide, and research on emerging medical technologies detail my desire to ensure accurate, reliable, and current medical and emergency information is readily available to all. I started my studies of Library and Information Science with the idea that libraries and librarians provide resources and information to individuals and communities. I understand that this is still true, but only a facet of the core values. Libraries provide a safe, reliable venue for education, lifelong learning, and intellectual freedom. This equitable access is provided to all, regardless of age, race, gender, mobility, political views, and income. Libraries and information centers are an important, dynamic, and evolving resource for successful individuals and communities. It gives me great satisfaction to use the tools I have learned to help my students, colleagues, community, friends, and family.

I would like to continue my career as a corporate teacher for the time being. I teach, schedule classes, organize information, develop curriculum, and was recently promoted to corporate liaison and calibrator for the Federal Aviation Administration Advanced Qualification Program. I enjoy managing and sharing information, but am reluctant to leave teaching. Interacting with students is the high point of my week. When I am buried under too much administrative or IT work, I miss teaching. Eventually I would like to leave the corporate world. I would like to combine my technical skills and interest in outreach services for a position at an academic library. I have learned far more obtaining my Masters of Library and Information Science than I could have imagined. I am excited to graduate, but as I have enjoyed my studies so much, I find the end of my studies bittersweet. I look forward to auditing all of the fun classes I did not have the opportunity to take, such as Indexing and Abstracting, Searching Electronic Databases, Crisis Informatics, Networks, Metadata for Internet Resources; the list goes on. First, I will take Ranganathan's advice this summer and find myself my book, preferably fiction.