Welcome to my MLS portfolio!

INTRODUCTION

My name is Jessica Miller, and I am thrilled to be completing my degree in Library Science through Kutztown University.  In the winter of 2014, I became the librarian at Twin Valley High School after teaching English for 6 years.  I recieved my undergraduate degree at Penn State University in 2006, and then in 2013, I got a Master's Degree in Education from Wilkes University.  After deciding to take on a new adventure in the library, I began my MLS coursework in 2014. During the course of this program, I have learned valuable information about how to be a great librarian.  My library is engaging, tech-savy, and welcoming to all students, and a lot of that is thanks to this program at Kutztown University.  Thank you for viewing my portfolio showcasing the Core Competences of Librarianship and how I have learned from them.

STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

Over the course of my MLS program at Kutztown University, I have learned valuable information that has led me to grow as an educator in the library of Twin Valley High School. Through the varied courses that I took, I gained experience in the areas of information literacy, research, professionalism, technology, and library administration. Each of the classes offered a wealth of topics and contemporary trends in the library.  Working with my classmates and professors through the Desire to Learn platform allowed me to collaborate and share my ideas or ask questions with other future librarians.

In 2013, I was offered the position of librarian at Twin Valley High School, and in January of 2014 I began the job and my MLS degree at Kutztown.  When I began, I was overwhelmed but excited to learn about the library and its policies. I had experience in the library because for three years, my duty during my prep period was to assist in the library. During those three years, I learned about the circulation system, TVHS databases, the organization of our materials, and how our technology worked.  It was always a pleasure to do my duty as I loved being in the library.

Once I became the librarian myself, I knew I wanted some major changes to happen in order to benefit the students. I wanted the library to be more inviting and user-friendly. The goal was to make the library the hub of the school and incorporate new technology and makerspace opportunities for the students. The library should be a place where students want to be in order to collaborate, research, create, present, and study. My vision is coming to fruition as the years go on and I am able to make some great changes.  Many of the artifacts in my portfolio reflect these changes and explain how the Twin Valley High School library went from a regular, quiet space filled with books to a library media center with Chromebook support, makerspace areas, virtual reality stations, and inviting spaces for students.