Personal Narrative
This e-portfolio features the four Learning Outcomes required by the MLIS Program at USF: Leadership and Innovation, Systems and Services, Knowledge Representation, and Theory and Praxis. Click on a button in the second row at the top of the page and the user will be transported to the stated Learning Outcome. Each of these has a varying number of goals along with artifacts demonstrating what I’ve learned throughout the Library and Information Science program along with co-curricular activities from my time working for Sarasota County Libraries.
The first of these Learning Outcomes is Leadership and Innovation. A running theme throughout this section’s artifacts is food insecurity within communities and how libraries are finding solutions to this issue. For my Community Engagement (LIS 5937) class, I visited and reported on the DeSoto Public Library’s food pantry and how it is lifeline for the surrounding community. This artifact represents my participation in community engagement in the field (Ic). For collaborative and individual problem solving (Ia), I showed how I assist my library in the fight against food insecurity through our summer lunch program. For my Intro to Library Administration (LIS 6409) class, I chose to work on a food education initiative for the public involving the Charlie Cart Project. This proposal I turned in ended up being a basis for an actual food education proposal for Sarasota County Libraries. To demonstrate effective communication skills (Ib), I chose a letter to the editor I wrote for my Seminar in Public Libraries (LIS 6445) course where I described the many services my library provides the community including summer lunches and Charlie Cart demonstrations.
The second Learning Outcome is Systems and Services, where I explored library services for people living with dementia as well as the visually impaired. To identify and analyze diverse information needs (IIa) of those living with dementia, I created a.LibGuide focusing on Dementia Friendly Libraries for my Basic Information Sources and Services Course (LIS 6603). For my Technology for Information Professionals class (LIS 5268), my final project revolved around assistive technology available at public libraries for the visually impaired. I did this in part to educate myself on the assistive technology in my own library should it be the appropriate information technology to assist a patron (IIc).
The third outcome, Knowledge Representation, requires me to understand systems and technologies that facilitate the management and use of information resources. In my Foundations of Library and Information Science course (LIS 5020), I used Canva for the first time in my life to create a poster showcasing the many roles of a Library Manager. In History of Libraries (LIS 6110), I went on a virtual tour of the library of St. Catherine’s Monastery in Mt. Sinai to learn the scope of their collection. I used what I learned to add a section to the Wikipedia page on St. Catherine’s, detailing the stainless-steel boxing project, an innovative technology used for the preservation of ancient texts (IIIb). For my Rare Book/Special Collections course (LIS 5937), I learned how to navigate the vast digital library available for the Koreshan Unity Collection at Florida Gulf Coast University before going to visit the archive in person. I wrote a report on this collection describing both the physical digital materials I discovered (IIIa). I also designed an exhibition for this course on Miniatures in Medieval Manuscripts for public libraries and locating the appropriate objects that could theoretically be acquired for such a setting (IIIa). For my Organization of Knowledge 1 class (LIS 6711 ), I wrote a paper on religion bias in the Dewey Decimal Classification System and attempts made by public libraries to address this (IIIa).
The Fourth Learning Outcome is Theory and Practice. Students are required to describe quantitative and qualitative research methods (IVa). This will be fullfilled through an upcoming assignment in my Collection Development class. I identified opportunities for research (IVb) in my Research Methods course (LIS 6271) by helping craft a research proposal for discovering how information professionals at universities and community colleges define and perceive AI technologies.
I’ve learned much in my time at USF and have applied what I’ve learned to be a better information professional at my public library by familiarizing myself with assistive technologies and developing program ideas to meet community needs. I’m hoping to one day get promoted to librarian in my organization and I know that my learning how to be a better professional won’t stop after I graduate, but that I have a solid foundation with the education I’ve received from USF’s MLIS program.
© 2026 by Jeffrey Shuster
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