This tag was created by Curtis Fletcher.  The last update was by Sarah Tribelhorn.

Sarah Tribelhorn Portfolio

Program Goal G

For information professionals to effectively meet their stakeholder needs, it is necessary to be able to successfully develop and implement innovative programs and services that enhance information use and ideas and to continually assess these to ensure they evolve with changing environments. Furthermore, these programs should enhance information accessibility and discoverability. In all courses in the Master of Management in Information and Library Science (MMLIS), I had the opportunity to develop essential skills to consider new programming and information services that would benefit different communities, including programing to meet technology, information literacy, and science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education needs. This is illustrated though the discussion of the projects below: the development of a digital access program, website enhancement, planning for different scenarios, and a STEAM program for public libraries

Digital Access in the Detroit Public Library

In LIM 562: Library and Information Technology Management, my team and I developed a business plan to provide digital access to members of the Detroit Public Library by providing laptop computers and Wi-Fi hotspots to patrons, enabling them access to these technologies. To develop this program, we undertook a comprehensive community analysis, identifying community needs, and then implemented a lending program to patrons for this technology. The program included in depth financial planning, and continual program assessment and evaluation tools using quantitative and qualitative data combining surveys and checkout data.

Library Website Enhancement 

In LIM 535: Library Information Sources and Services, my team and I evaluated a public library website and determined that it was in dire need of updating, particularly as libraries have been virtual during the Covid-19 pandemic. After evaluating the website, we determined that the library offered many essential and important services, but because the website was not intuitive, valuable information and services were not easily accessible. Therefore, we developed a plan to optimize the website to enhance information accessibility and discoverability. We provided different scenarios, and budgeted accordingly, proposing a solution with that would benefit both the library and community, ultimately enhancing information accessibility.

Scenario Planning

In LIM 537: Legal, Ethical and Strategic Fundamentals for Library Managers, after extensive community and stakeholder research, I proposed an information literacy plan for a public library. This plan included three different scenarios, that build on each other and are incrementally dependent on funding with a goal of meeting the needs of the community regarding information literacy as well as STEAM, while simultaneously considering the major trends in the community. This program will ensure that the benefits and services of the library reach as far into the community as possible through the expansion of the mobile library and resources.

STEAM Innovations

Similarly to the scenario planning discussed previously, in LIM 500: Fundamentals of Library and Information Science, a program was developed to enhance STEAM at a public library negatively impacted by Covid-19. This program planned to have STEAM kits that would be borrowed from the library by school-going children, with the option of an online workshop and tutors to enhance the learning experience. Furthermore, these kits would be developed to support current school curricula. This program was developed based on a community need, and was proposed to be implemented for assessment as a pilot project.

Conclusion

No matter the type of library or information organization, it is essential for all information professionals to be able to effectively develop, implement, and assess programs. This is of fundamental importance currently as information organizations are having to pivot from serving their community primarily through physical resources, such as books, to providing a diverse range of innovative solutions, including virtual programming, to meet evolving community needs. Through the MMLIS program, I have been challenged to develop my skills in this area, as illustrated with the various programs proposed, and will be able to confidently use these skills to creatively develop and assess innovative new programs as an information professional.

This page has paths:

Contents of this tag: