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Final Response

Responsibilities 

I think that the most important part of Library Science is helping students out when they come and ask things like where a book is or whether this book is good or not. Describe some of your duties and assignments. Every Library Science class starts with checking in books and then shelving them. I also check out books to students and teachers but in teacher's cases, it is mostly DVDs. Also, there are times where Ms. McLean would ask me to look for books on the shelf and pull them off for a class to use or set-up a new display in the library.
I believe that my strengths are my experience. Before I took this course, I have been volunteering at the library as a helper so I knew how to do the majority of the work required of a library science student. My weakness is my imagination. I do not have a creative mind and am unable to come up with fun ideas that draw students to come into the library or things like that.
The thing I like and dislike the most is the book shopping excursion. I liked it because we got to choose new books to add to the library catalogue and I dislike it because I had to have a list to follow. If there was no list to follow, that would have been better in my opinion. But I guess I disliked it mostly because of the way the bookshop was set-up. The way it was set-up made it hard for me to find certain books because it is set-up in a way that is more convenient for people that does not have a list of certain books to find.

Suggestions/Tips for Success 

All that it takes to be a great library science student/assistant is trying your best and knowing how to shelve.
A possible project that the next library science students could do is creating a site on our library. They can start a websites with more than just research websites and the catalogue. The website could talk about new books that the library just got sorted by the month it was released. There could be a page dedicated to genres, allowing students to choose which type of book they want. In my opinion, some students are too lazy to type up things like "Vampire -- Fiction." Emphasize on the 'some' though.
The only thing that I dislike about the library system is the way the new books are always kept in the back for awhile before they gradually put out for the students. By the time that the books are available to students, the 'new' book became 'old' news. I mean it is still available for students to check out but the only ones that would be able to check them out would be the ones that are looking for a certain new book, not students looking for new books to read. I still remember one time when I was looking for a new book in the catalogue. It said that it was available but I could not find it on the shelves so I had to go to the public library instead to check it out. It was not until later that I found out that the Ms. Suarez kept new books in the back.

Things You Know Now 

Address a least one obstacle or concern a library Science student might face.
Through this course, I have learned gain knowledge on numerous unfamiliar programs, either online or offline. I learned about prezi, an online application that allows people to create a slideshow that does not bore the audience to death like the old fashioned PowerPoint program. I also liked it better than PowerPoint because it does not require the user to download and install the software. I learned about how to voicethread. A great website that lets people post their comments/thoughts, giving us the options of recording our voice, recording ourselves or plainly type out our comment. There were also a couple more things I learned in this course. For example, things like how to blog, using Google Site, creating a book trailer and so on.
One obstacle that a library Science student will most likely face is trying to find a book for someone but cannot. Those books are always hiding somewhere and will not show up until you no longer needed. In most cases, it is mostly because these books are miss-shelved. In other cases, it could be checked out incorrectly, displayed on the shelves or hidden in the back. The ones in the back are the new books that are not put out yet but are shown as available on the catalogue so in those cases. When you want to know whether that is the case or not, check when it was last checked out and if there is no previous check out, it is most likely in the back.

Ideal Library

My Ideal Library

Book Buying Excursion

I did not really know much on how to select resources. During the book buying excursion, I pretty much just follow the book list given and try to find certain books. I also learned that book list of what to buy is mainly composed of three things: requests from patrons, replacement of lost/damaged books and book subjects that the library does not have books on.  Besides that, I just look through the bookshelves, grabbing books that look interesting and put it onto the trolley.
While the books of the bookstore are shelved in the same way as the library, there were set-ups that draw people's eyes towards certain section of the bookstore. Instead of just shelving books alphabetically in three categories: fiction, non-fiction, DVDs/videos and comics/graphic novels, the bookstore have sections set-up to attract a specific group of people. For example, the bookstore has sections for Manga 16+ vs. Teen Manga. Not only that, the sections is labeled with big signs that pulls people into those book sections. It also helps people that have no specific book list to follow to find books easier and faster. The patrons would have a wide variety of books to pick from on a certain subject without having to walking around the whole store.
The thing I enjoyed most is that we got to go around looking for new books for the library and were able to choose any book that we liked. The thing I enjoyed least is trying to find certain books through the indigo catalogue. While the books are set-up in basically the same way as the library, it was hard for me to find certain things, look for a specific category and so on.

Prezi.com

LEGEND OF VICTORIA REGIA

http://prezi.com/_qw-9xr8xuyl/victoria-regia/

Career - LIBRARIAN

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATION:

High School Subjects (Recommendations)

Grade 11	Grade 12
English Mathematics Science Social Studies History Business & Management Computers	English Literature Communications & Media Studies Mathematic Economics/World Issues History Business & Management Computers

University

• 3-4YRS - Bachelor's Degree
• School Librarians: Bachelor's Degree in Education
• 1-2 YRS - Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) or Master of Information Studies (MI/MIS) Degree
• PhD  - University/High level directorial or managerial positions

DUTIES

• Answer questions asked by patrons
• Help people find informations on certain subjects
• Make sure informations are found on reliable sources
• Organize programs (ex. story time, book clubs, etc.)
• Add new materials to the library catalogue
• Manage the library's computer system 
• Advertisement (ex. blogs, reading lists, readers' guides, etc.)

AVERAGE SALARY 

• Entry-Level - $30,000 to $45, 000 per year
• Years of Experience - $45,000 to $65,000 per year
• Supervisory/Managerial positions - $80,000+ per year

Private Sectors

• Entry-Level - $50, 000
• Experienced special librarians - $60,000 to $84,000
• Median salary - $70, 000 per year
• Highest level positions - up to $100,000

Benefits (Full-time librarians)

• Dental coverage
• Paid vacation
• Retirement benefits

LIKES/DISLIKES

Likes	Dislikes
Being surrounded by books Be able to chose which materials to add to the library catalogue Organizing events like book clubs Make new displays for the library	Patrons expecting you to know practically everything Find ways to get people interested in the library Have to follow new technology advancements so the library does not get 'outdated' Facing the ridicules of other people about the library

MOST CHALLENGING/MOST REWARDING

I think that the most challenging thing this job faces is the advancements in technology. Recently, I have read an article that states that public libraries should be closed down because the number of people that are visiting the library is declining. While libraries are great place to find informations, the internet is easier and quicker to use. Also, as eBooks become more and more popular, less and less people come to the library to take out books. Now, as people sits at home, playing on their computer, librarians have to come up with ways to get people to come to the library and explore its' resources.
The most rewarding thing about this job would be that I get to be surrounded by books everyday. Despite things like eBooks and so on, I still prefer a real book. While eBooks are convenient and easy to access, real books are still better. If I manage to become a librarian, this would definitely be one of the things that I like most about this job because I know that by the end of the day, I would always have a good book to read. 

Libraries in the News

LIBERAL WHINGERS ARE WRONG-WE SHOULD SHUT OUR LIBRARIES
1) I lasted visited the library on Monday (March 26,2012).
2) McTernan's debate: Reasons why he thinks we should close down libraries:
 - People rarely go to the library to find information any longer as technology began to advance.
 - Protesters are only protesting out of guilt and condescension.
 - Students no longer need to go to the library to study. They can just do that at home or at the school library.


LIBRARIES HAVE THRIVED DESPITE TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1) Proof libraries are relevant today. Wong's reasons:
 - Libraries provide information that are hard to find on the Internet
 - Libraries provide information that may only be available to individuals for a fee when they look for it on the Internet
 - Libraries provide individuals with Internet access for people who do not have Internet at home
 - Help is given to individuals by Librarians
 - Libraries provide various programs for the community (ex. Conversation Circles, Homework help, Career Counselling, Reading programs)
2) Library Services:
 - Reading Programs          - Career Counselling
 - Conversation Circles      - Homework Help
3) I think what Wong meant when she said "Libraries are one of society's great equalizers" is that libraries is a place that gives people all equal rights. It does not matter if a person is poor or rich, smart or educationally challenged, people are all treated the same way in the library. The library is a place where people are be treated the same way as everybody else and no individual is judged.


LIBRARIES SHOULD REMAIN OPEN

Public libraries should not be shut down. The library is not just "an honorable tradition" and it is most definitely not over. McTernan's argues that since people rarely go to the library anymore because most information can be found on the Internet and that students no longer need to go to the library to study and do homework, public libraries should be closed down. My response to his reasons can be summed down into two words, "absolute stupidity." He may say that "with Abebooks and Alibris, almost all the second-hand bookshops in the world are available to search" and enables people to find the books they want without having to go to the library. But why would a person want to go to websites like Abebooks and Alibris and buy books instead of just going to the library and save some money? Buying books online is practically like dumping your money into the ocean since books bought online are mostly only going to read once. And while the statement that "fast, cheap computing had spread to most homes, and to our whizzy new mobile phones" may be true but what about the people that does not have access to these things due to money problems. It seems like McTernan only cares about the people that can afford these luxuries and completely ignored the people that cannot. Besides, not all the information on the Internet can be trusted. Take Wikipedia for an example. Wikipedia is a useful site which covers several subjects but the information posted can be written by anybody with a Wikipedia account. Therefore, these information cannot always be trusted. In the end, no matter what McTernan say, public libraries should not be closed down.