In less than a month, I’ll have a few letters after my name. That’s right, soon I will be a master! (Muhaha… or the Doctor’s antagonist? You decide.) I’ll have a master of library and information science, that is.
In honor of those little “MLIS” letters, today’s post is about another fellow librarian, Jessamyn West. One of my favorite facts about this person is their vulnerability: West says she is “very online.” She’s all over the Internet, with different websites as evidence. As I aim to become a digital librarian, it is encouraging to find someone who is still very much herself online, not just the professional titles, awards, mentions, etc. she has gained.
Furthermore, West lives her (professional) values, reminding me to update my values page (https://kaylielongley.com/values/) I wrote many moons ago. Not only is this self-assignment about editing with librarianship in mind as I am pivoting careers, it’s finding internal and external evidence for actionable values. Sure, I still value bravery, kindness, and zeal, but I also want to name and live out the truths of social justice and equity (read more about naming here: https://kaylielongley.com/open-hearted-naming/).
But back to West. A transparent talker, thinker, and tinkerer, West is unafraid to share when systems are antiquated. In other words, she uses her platforms for good, and that’s the kind of librarian (and person!) I want to be. A key component of librarianship is equal dissemination of information, and our current political climate is not serving librarians, patrons, or educators well.
I hope I can be even a little bit like West, who has even written a book on bridging divides. As a librarian, I must embrace access for all, even to pieces or perspectives I don’t understand or agree with. Off to find a cardigan of my own!