Systematic Review

The most memorable session this week was “AI and Systematic Review (SR)” by Sarah Park. I knew it was becoming a hot topic with the advancement of AI, but I didn’t know much about the practical side yet, so I was really interested and looking forward to it.

Sarah explained the definition of SR and the librarian’s role in it. I totally agreed that making search strategies and evaluating information sources are really important roles. I think this is the most crucial role of a librarian, not just in the SR field, but in our current society where so much information is being created.

Sarah also introduced various SR-related tools. She explained the pros and cons of each, which was really useful because I could figure out which tool is best for my situation. I think SR might be the core area where we can use AI in libraries. It was the most appropriate topic at the perfect time. Above all, it was really helpful to learn through practical examples.

Library Assessment

The library assessment session was very practical. Conducting satisfaction surveys is something you definitely experience when running library services as a librarian. I also do satisfaction surveys for the participants after my workshop programs are over.

Last year, the hardest part of doing the survey was figuring out “what questions to ask.” And I found the direction for that answer in this session. The most important thing to consider when designing a survey is structuring it so you get the answers you want. You have to write questions thinking about what kind of data you want from the respondents and how you want them to answer (like open-ended or multiple-choice). They gave us real examples like ACRL, LibInsight, and LibQUAL, which made it really easy to understand.

They said the three things to keep in mind when designing a library assessment are: Measurable, Manageable, and Meaningful. I used to worry a lot about how to put a survey together, but keeping those three things in mind, I thought I should do a much better survey this year.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

We visited the Presidential Library of Abraham Lincoln, one of the most famous presidents in the US. In Korea, the government runs the presidential archives, managing the records of every president starting from the first one. On the other hand, it was really impressive to learn that in the US, they are built and run with donations, and each president gets their own separate building, so not every president actually has one.

I think the advantage of having separate archives for each president like the US is that you can get more space to preserve various collections and have more room for exhibitions, which means providing more information to the public.

Julian explained his job as identifying, imaging, transcribing, annotating, and publishing online the documents Lincoln wrote or received while he was alive. It was fascinating to learn about the work of researching Lincoln’s era while analyzing and managing his records. Also, the old materials were really well digitized. I could feel how much importance they place on the records here and how seriously they take their work. It was a special experience to see the actual historical documents in person.

Illinois State Library

The State Library felt new to me because there isn’t an exact match for this type of library in Korea. The scale of the building and the grand first impression of the lobby were really impressive. The services they provide felt very much like a public library, and among them, the “Talking Books” program was the most memorable.

One of the things I feel the most since coming to the US is accessibility. I’ve noticed it a lot seeing automatic doors everywhere and clear signs for ramps at most facilities, and I think this service really shows that side too. Also, when I heard that these materials are provided not just for people with disabilities, but for anyone who has a hard time visiting the library or using regular books, it made me wonder, “Why did I assume it was only for people with disabilities?” It was a meaningful time that made me think a lot about library service accessibility and how to help more users enjoy culture.

SILL

We had the SILL session led by Clara. SILL stands for Strengthening Innovative Library Leaders. Since it’s a program specifically for librarians, I was really looking forward to seeing how it’s different from DiSC.

Here, leadership styles are broadly divided into four types, and I got the “People” type. It’s a type that values relationships and communication with others. We did some role-playing for each type, and were given a situation where we had to persuade our boss. I ended up playing the boss, and Clara gave me some acting tips. It was fun, but I was a bit nervous if I could pull it off.

My team members prepared a great scenario that perfectly fit the “People” type. Thinking of handing over a coffee was brilliant! Luckily, I think my acting wasn’t too bad. The other boss roles and team members also did a fantastic job. Thanks to that, I could understand the characteristics of each type much better through role-playing and had a lot of fun learning.

Through SILL, I was able to understand myself better and learn how to come up with problem-solving strategies that fit my own traits. I thought it would be great if we could hold a SILL workshop at my own institution later to help with running our organization.

Library Construction Site

A very special experience this week was visiting a library site that’s currently under construction. This place used to be the Undergraduate Library, but it’s being remodeled into a space for rare books and preservation.

The construction manager explained the overall space and showed us each section in person, telling us exactly what it will look like in the future. I think it’s my first time seeing an unfinished library, so I felt really honored to be able to visit. It was especially impressive that the construction manager had such a high understanding of library spaces.

I also heard that they included librarians’ opinions when planning the remodel. They said that once the current construction is finished, they’ll reflect librarians’ opinions again when setting up the service areas. I think it’s wonderful that they are listening to the voices of the librarians who will actually be using the space the most. I’m so curious about how it will look when it’s totally done. If I get the chance, I really want to come back here and see it.