Understand global perspectives on effective information practices that are supportive of cultural, economic, educational, or social well-being.
The world is a big place, but it gets smaller every day. With globalization, advancement in technology and instant communication, the world really is just a touch away. Understanding just how interconnected the world is has given me a deep appreciation of other cultures. I was introduced to cultural difference at an early age. Being of Mexican descent and living in the United States, I appreciated seeing different cultures mixing together and appreciating each other's values. When I was around 7 years old, I lived in different parts of Mexico for 3 years before coming back to the United States. This allowed me to experience a culture that was different from the one I knew but was still so similar in many ways. Education was still a focal point, and the library was still such a large part of the community. After high school, I enlisted in the Marines and deployed to different areas of the world. I was able to observe, in a limited capacity, how cultures from a geographically different area interacted. After the Marines, I lived in the Balkans, and it was here that I truly gained an appreciation for different cultures and customs, as I had the opportunity to work and live in Bosnia in a truly immersive capacity, forcing myself to learn the language and interacting with communities so different from mine. What I learned from this experience was that even though we all live in geographically different regions, have different customs and values, much value is placed on similar ideas and objects.
Think Globally, Act Locally
The term, think globally, act locally, can be applied to many disciplines and contexts. The origins of the phrase are debatable, but the message is clear; be aware of what is happening around the world and consider how your local actions impact what happens globally. Applied to the context of library and information science, it means the information professional must think globally when implementing programs to assist patrons. Holmquist (2015) highlights that "a global information professional is someone who thinks about the information fields on a global scale - as a global environment to share and learn collaboratively, gain inspiration, and facilitate new knowledge that can generate new ideas" (p. 376). While the goal is to ensure that the needs of your local community are being addressed, it is also important to consider how the improvements you are implementing could be applied to a larger, global scale. For example, how could the programs at your institution that are improving adult literacy be applied to more than one language? By identifying the idea, it is possible to collaborate with others, both locally and globally, on ways to improve the services so that the impact is beneficial on a global scale to raise adult literacy. Collaborating on global scale can be extremely beneficial, primarily because of the amount of diversity involved. The individual differences in culture, knowledge, ideas and experiences can contribute to solving problems from a global perspective (Holmquist, p. 377). Ideas can be presented from a different vantage, one that you may not have considered based on your own personal experiences. Expanding the cultural pool can assist in the implementation of practices that will reach a much wider audience.
Networking
The practical benefits of networking are invaluable. In a general sense, networking is about meeting others with shared interests and developing your personal and professional contacts. The value of networking cannot be understated, as it is crucial to develop professional contacts to advance individual careers and professional development. A variance of networking is a personal learning network (PLN), which is a reciprocal learning system where a person interacts with another with the intention of pursuing self-directed and independent learning (Nussbaum-Beach, 2012, p. 26). A PLN is about more than just progressing your own career. A PLN is a way to learn from others in your professional field. It is about sharing knowledge, experiences and ideas, as well as exchanging information and resources (Holmquist, p. 377). Having these PLN's, you can build more than one, is an involved process that requires commitment, collaboration, effort and creativity, but as Holmquist states, "it is well worth the investment so that one day information professionals will have access to a 24/7/365 global network that is always available" (p. 378).
There are many ways to accomplish setting up a PLN. Using social media can have the most impact in the quickest and most efficient manner. Setting up a Twitter feed or an Instagram page are some of the more efficient ways to begin the process, as the asymmetrical nature of their respective platforms allow anyone to follow you without obligation to follow them back and vice versa. You can set up a group for an idea, and interested parties can join the group and provide their own feedback, and in the process build their own PLN. Other web tools would include LinkedIn, Facebook, blogs, RSS aggregators, Pinterest and Ning.com, which allows you to set up special interest groups. Nussbaum-Beach suggests a few basic guidelines for starting your PLN:
- Establish a consistent username across all your networks and platforms to manage and build your online reputation.
- Find a mentor to help guide you in a particular direction or to help you expand on an idea.
- When connecting with people, look at who they follow and include them in your network.
- Avoid creating a PLN that is "you". This refers to the diversity of your network. Include people from different backgrounds that have perspectives different than yours (p. 27).
As a PLN is established, it is important to also follow LIS associations and engage with international groups. Some organizations to consider are the International Librarians Network (ILN),which specifically offers peer-mentors to help librarians develop international networks, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), which provides information and networking opportunities for information professionals and information organizations via various groups, and the Special Libraries Association, which "promotes and strengthens its members through learning, networking, and community building initiatives (Special Library Association, 2020, para. 2). All these organizations support global networking and promote professional growth and collaboration for the advancement of the LIS field. They are part of the process of lifelong learning.
Supporting Evidence
To demonstrate evidence for this competency, I am submitting a group assignment from INFO 204: Information Professions, in which my group performed a visualized critique of libraries and proposed services and programs that would benefit libraries. The project called for evaluations of multiple libraries to determine if services and programs offered could be improved, or implemented for the benefit of the public. A fictitious donor (instructor) provided unlimited funds for programs, and we proposed programs and services that would drastically improve the quality of service offered. The practical benefits of the proposed programs are not limited to U.S. libraries, as the proposed services, if implemented on an international scale, would benefit any library and their respective community. We even highlight how a library abroad has implemented some of the changes we, as a group, discuss.
For this project, I proposed two recommendations: 1) upgrading the children's computer lab and implementing the use of virtual reality, and 2) creating a modern teen space in the library. For the video presentation, I created the PowerPoint presentation, provided the introduction and hosted/screen-shared the presentation (not the Zoom call). I begin the presentation at 6:24 and discuss my recommendations until the 18:30 mark
The next competency evidence is a group paper from INFO 287: Cybersecurity. Our group conducted research on and created a report on Malware, as well as a video presentation. We discuss the history of malware, ways that malware infects your systems, how to protect yourself against malware and recent news on malware. The video presentation covers much the same material as the paper, but is condensed for a more user-friendly approach. Because of the global impact that malware carries, it supports this competency by illuminating ways that malware affects systems as well as how to properly prevent infection. By educating the global public on this issue, it allows for safe sharing of infection-free resources..
For the research paper, I am responsible for the introduction and the history of malware. I highlight how malware came to be, as well as key early events that led to the modern evolution of malware. In the video presentation, I provide the presentation introduction and overview, then present an introduction to malware and the early history of malware. I present from 0:00 to 8:40.
Conclusion
Because of my diverse background and experiences, I am confident in my ability to use my global and cultural knowledge in the library and information science field. Being able to communicate in multiple languages and understanding different cultural customs will help me better assist patrons and communicate professionally for any collaborative efforts. Furthermore, my firm grasp on technology and trends learned from personal experiences and from various iSchool courses will aid me in not only providing excellent service locally, but globally as well. Learning how to make websites that are accessible and responsive, studying various trends that are working nationally and internationally in libraries and archives, creating databases with controlled vocabularies and adherence to international metadata standards has given me a firm grasp on how to ensure that libraries are modern and can thrive in the technological future. Furthermore, being savvy in web 2.0 and social media can help me expand my own PLN, which will undoubtedly assist me in advancing some topic in LIS in the future.
References
Holmquist, J. (2015). Global learning networks. In S. Hirsh (Ed.), Information services today (pp. 374-380). Rowman & Littlefield.
Nussbaum-Beach, C. (2012). Just the facts: Personal learning networks. Education horizons, 91(2), 26-27. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013175X1209100208
Special Library Association. (2020). About SLA. https://www.sla.org/about-sla/