First Week Learning Reflection (3-7 June)
During the first week of the International Library Associate Program at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, organized by the Mortenson Center, I embarked on a transformative journey of professional development and leadership growth.
Day 1 began with a comprehensive overview of the sessions, setting the stage for the weeks ahead. We were introduced to each participant, creating a sense of community and shared purpose. Clara and Peggy facilitated an engaging discussion on the program’s theme, “Transforming Libraries: New Roles and Impact.” Clara then led us on a fascinating walking tour of the University of Illinois campus, where we explored various departments, colleges, the quad plaza, and the historic bellhouse. This day was particularly enlightening as we completed an online DISC Assessment, a behavioral self-assessment tool that helps individuals understand themselves and others. Additionally, I gained practical skills in blogging using the WordPress tool, learning to create my profile and reflection pages.
Day 2 was equally enriching, with a session led by Shirley Stelbrink, a life coach and leadership trainer. Through a series of exercises, discussions, and presentations, Shirley provided a thorough understanding of the DISC Assessment. This tool categorizes individuals into four personality traits: Dominance (D), Influence (i), Steadiness (S), and Conscientiousness (C). She explained how the assessment is based on psychologist William Moulton Marston’s theory from 1928, designed to improve job performance by understanding behavioral styles. Although the scientific validity of the DISC assessment has been debated, with some critics labeling it as pseudoscience, the insights gained from the exercise were invaluable. The day concluded with a light physical exercise named ASAHI, providing a refreshing end to an intensive learning experience.
Day 3 continued the exploration of the DISC assessment through various team activities, deepening our understanding of the tool. In the second part of the day, we delved into AI and Libraries through a session on AI Literacy facilitated by Celenia Graves and David Ward. They discussed the basics of AI, its different features, and potential applications in the library context. This session served as a gateway into the world of AI, sparking curiosity and providing foundational knowledge.
The day also featured a “Library Buddy” lunch, where I had the pleasure of meeting Steve Witt, the Director of the Center for Global Studies. Over a delicious meal, we exchanged interests, cultures, and even touched on politics. This lunch was a wonderful opportunity to connect on a personal level and build professional relationships.
In the afternoon, we visited the Oak Street Library Facility, which houses millions of physical resources, including books, maps, reports, manuals, and other rare collections. This center plays a crucial role in preserving, conserving, and providing unique storage space for the University of Illinois’ vast collection. The tour highlighted the importance of such facilities in supporting academic and research activities.
Day 4 started with a casual feedback and discussion session on our learning process and reflections with Clara. The subsequent session on Data Management and AI tools by Laila Hussain and Amina Malik was particularly engaging. I learned about ChatGPT 4.0, its security features, prompts, and data analysis capabilities. Additionally, I discovered effective methods for organizing files and folders on computers to facilitate easy search and retrieval in the future. Clara also presented a unique session on Change Management in libraries, introducing the concept of self-service libraries, where operations like issuing, returning, reading, and reservations are managed by robots. This innovative approach allows library staff to focus on more creative tasks, preparing us for future technological advancements.
Later in the day, I visited the GELIC Library, which boasts a remarkable building and diverse spaces, including silent zones, discussion areas, an idea lab, creative corners, a food plaza, and family reading areas. Following this, I toured The Urbana Free Library, a public library catering to all age groups with dedicated spaces for adults and teens. The adult library manager assists seniors with digital literacy, technology, general queries, job searches, and book recommendations. Meanwhile, the teen librarian engages teenagers with music, games, discussions, reading, painting, and other creative activities. This library also offers a “Library of Things,” allowing users to borrow items like guitars, sewing machines, tool kits, and cameras. I found this public library unique for its personal connection with users, providing both resources and a community bond.
Day 5 featured sessions by Dr. Kristen Mattson, a library teacher and digital literacy expert. She delivered insightful presentations on Media Literacy and Digital Citizenship through various learning resources, videos, websites, and group activities. The importance of such information literacy programs resonated with me, given the pervasive use of the internet and gadgets in daily life. MJ Han, a cataloguer librarian, highlighted the significance of cataloguing, data entry processes, creating bibliographical records, and metadata linking with the OCLC catalogue. Wendy Sheburne, an acquisition librarian, explained the e-resource purchase cycle at the University of Illinois, library consortia, payment cycles, the Big10 network, and the EasySearch feature. Her interactive and discussion-based session was highly engaging. The day concluded with Guangchun Zhen, a research scholar at the iSchool, presenting her research outcomes on Digital Literacy.
Overall, the first week has been incredibly informative and engaging, laying a strong foundation for the upcoming weeks of the program. Each day brought new insights and connections, reinforcing the theme of transforming libraries and exploring new roles and impacts in the field.