In the last two years, I have acquired a plethora of knowledge relating to Library and Information Science (LIS). My goal upon entering this program was to not limit myself in what I could learn – I wanted to ensure that my learning path touched as many disciplines and topics as possible. Below I have divided all acquired knowledge into 5 different themes. These themes are all interconnected together and support one another.
Information Architecture & Web Development
While I only acquired this type of knowledge in one class throughout this program, I managed to acquire a basic understanding of these certain elements. The classroom used codepen.io to visualize languages such as CSS, HTML and Javascript to better understand what these languages do to help make a website be what the user is engaging with. Alongside a better understanding of how the web works, it has created a solid foundation on web applications – that foundation can be seen with a midterm exam that touched on all of the elements seen in the chart.
Knowledge Organization & Resource Management
One could consider the information relating to knowledge organization and resource management to be the bread and butter of Information and Library Studies (LIS), thus getting an understanding of these is extremely important. With the courses taken, I now have a better understanding of the theories relating to knowledge organization, the different methods of classifying information, a better understanding of digital archives, and being able to analyze different platforms, such as SharePoint, to be used for the management and archiving of documents.
Cultural Heritage & Preservation
While I entered the program with certifications that relate to cultural heritage and preservation, there was one class that allowed me to apply my previous knowledge, as well as acquire new knowledge relating to this theme. I was able to gain a better understanding of elements such as metadata creation to preserve the information acquired from preserving material goods.
Ethics, Law & Governance
Ethics, law and governance issues are underlooked in the LIS field – I can confirm that these issues were not something I thought of before I started this program. I now understand the importance of these elements in this domain, especially emerging issues like book bans, AI abuse and attempts to censor information from the public. My knowledge is proven with research and presentations on deepfake pornography, information rights and access to information, understanding reconciliation efforts with the Indigenous community in Canada, and understanding policy relating to telecommunication gaps in Canada.
Information Literacy & User Engagement
With the rising prevalence of misinformation and disinformation in our society, it is becoming more and more important to be better equipped as information professionals to promote and protect information literacy. As well, more people are seeking out information and it is our duty to ensure that these people get the best experience from us. I have been able to gain knowledge relating to this category, with the acquisition of using information retrieval and verification methods such as the SIFT method, and seeing what libraries are doing to increase information literacy and user engagement.
Research Methods & Evaluation
Understanding research methods and evaluation is essential in the LIS field because it underpins evidence-based decision-making, program assessment, and user studies. Developing skills in qualitative and quantitative research helps LIS professionals evaluate services, identify user needs, and justify resource allocation. I managed to acquire this knowledge – and showcase it – with a literature review and further research of algorithms’ impacts on the 2020 United States presidential elections.
Strategic Management & Business Analysis
Another aspect of the LIS field that I didnt expect to hold as much prevalence and importance as I thought was the business side of the field. Something I wanted to know more about, being able to say that the courses I have taken that have strengthened my knowledge in business management make me proud. My knowledge has allowed me to be able to analyse certain cases of business analysis relating to the LIS field and understanding constraints relating to different projects.