I. Use Service Concepts, Principles and Techniques
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Introduction to Core Competency I. Use service concepts, principles and techniques that facilitate information access, relevance, and accuracy for individuals or groups of users. Demonstrating competency in service concepts, principles and techniques to me means demonstrating competency in providing references services to library users. I can demonstrate this competency through the Reference Services assignments I completed in LIBR 210. In one group assignment I was one of three students who played the roles of librarian and library user. Peer Reference Service is my report of my experience as the librarian. I was asked to discover the last time the sugar pine trees on a section of land in Fish Camp, Mariposa County, CA, were logged in addition to any information on the town of Fish Camp, such as when the land was subdivided and sold. I was able to answer the question and found the search exciting and stimulating to work on. I report my response to the question and my search strategy starting on page 6. Other pages detail the interactions I was involved in to answer the question. Information gateways, also called information pathfinders, are annotated collections of websites pertaining to specific topics that are designed to cater to the needs of specific groups of library users. I created an information gateway for a public library Website on the subject of Eldercare Information using the following subheadings:
I created the Open Access Pathfinder an information gateway for academic library users interested in background information about on the Open Access movement. Accurate cataloging also demonstrates competency in providing access to accurate and relevant materials for library users. I have completed LIBR 248 Cataloging and Classification and can demonstrate my understanding of classification systems and how they work. In the Midterm Cataloging Exam, I describe how a cataloger uses AACR2R (the code) and MARC encoding to make records retrievable for the library user and provide examples. I also discuss the relationship between authority control and the functions of a library catalog, a relationship that ensures accuracy in a user's search. In the Final Cataloging Exam, I discuss the impact of descriptive cataloging and subject analysis on the user access to resources in a collection. Discuss issues involved in classification and assignment of subject headings to library resources. I also discuss why it is essential that the contents of a library are physically arranged according to the classification code it uses. Organization by subject enables users come to find resources on a subject and find books they have never heard of because, when they locate a book, they also locate other books on the same subject. To reinforce my competency in understanding techniques that ensure user access to relevant information, I submit some actual cataloging records. One service techniques for ensuring accurate access to information that I undertook was to create bibliographies for all articles posted to the LIBR 230 Issues in Academic Libraries class reflector. The four issues we discussed in depth were: bibliographic instruction, collection development, faculty status, and libraries and the Internet. The organization of the class around these topics required that students post both an article and a report to the class reflector. We also shared one vital article pertaining to our final projects. For my own purposes, I created a bibliography for each topic that compiled all the articles in one place for easy reference. I then posted these bibilographies to the class reflector for all to download and use. I'm submitting these bibliographies as evidence of my competency in understanding service concepts for meeting the information needs for a select group of users.
People make use of the services of information professionals to undertake online searching assignments. Much of a librarian's training involves developing online search skills. I demonstrate my competency with Dialog and Lexus-Nexus databases in LIBR 244 Online Searching Quiz I and Quiz II. I work in the Public Affairs division of a large medical foundation. We are concerned with providing clients and the general public with news and information about the medical field and the organization. Healthpoint is the online newsmagazine that I upload to weekly.
We are also concerned with creating searchable records on the institution's intranet that physicians and medical personnel can access quickly and efficiently. Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) Policies and Procedures are a good example. I worked on creating metadata that will enable better search and retrieval. Because the intranet is not a public site, I have a set of screen shots that demonstrate our service principles. One of our services is a teen frequently asked questions (FAQ) site where teens from all over the world ask questions pertaining to health, sex, and other teen issues that are answered by health experta. Part of my weekly responsibilities is uploading to Ask an Expert (see Check Before You Ask). This site demonstrates a service technique that is daily meeting the needs of teens from around the world. |