Lesson 3 Topic: Reflect on the definition of global citizenship and the policies you identified that impact the community you are researching. What moves you? How can one person impact the lives of many? What do the people you researched this week have in common? What assumptions did the activists make about the people they were helping?
Date: 9/11/19 Journal Entry (or link): The policy I identified this week is one I find particularly moving, as it directly relates to my future career as a librarian. The elimination of late fees, and the “clean slate” given to each patron of the Maricopa County Library District (MCLD) is a sweeping move that ALL libraries in the Phoenix/Metro area are adopting. Many people do not realize that there are two library districts in the area. Some fall under MCLD, while others are part of the Phoenix Public Library system. According to the Phoenix Public Library website (2019), “the Phoenix City Council voted to approve the "All Fines Forgiven" campaign. In November Phoenix Public Library will waive all existing overdue fines and discontinue the practice of applying overdue fines to items returned late.” This is moving to me because I am so passionate about the work I will be performing in my future career. This policy will open a lot of doors for patrons and eliminate stigmas that exist about having or accruing late fees at the library. In my future career, I would like to influence policy and impact the lives of my community members in this way as well. Conducting research that will influence the policies I seek to change will be necessary, as I will need to know that “the needs or problems [I] want to address are real and serious, and that the methods [I] recommend for addressing them have, in fact, been proven successful.” References: Phoenix Public Library (2019) Home Page. Retrieved from: https://www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/ Work Group for Community Health and Development. (2016). Conducting research to influence policy. Community Tool Box. (Chapter 31, Section 10). Retrieved from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/advocacy/advocacy-research/influence-policy/main Lesson 5 Topic: Find a social entrepreneur that impresses you. What is it about their work that speaks to you? What would you strive to emulate about their work? If you could offer a suggestion for growth, what would it be? Date: 9/24/19 Journal Entry (or link): A social enterprise that impresses me is an organization called Libraries Without Borders. Similar to other “without borders” organizations (such as doctors without borders) this organization works around the globe. They “work in 23 languages, in 50 countries …and have curated more than 28,000 sources of knowledge and information. [This] allow(s) [them] to address some of the most important issues of our world today : education, health, employment, citizenship, environment and sustainability, disability, and technology” (Libraries Without Borders, n.d.). Part humanitarian organization, part social enterprise, this organization brings knowledge and information where it is most needed. They work to promote entrepreneurship in the communities they work with. For example, “young professionals in large West African villages – Abidjan and Dakar in particular – are provided with the necessary capacity and support to invent and implement innovative solutions that stimulate social and economic wealth” (Libraries Without Borders, n.d.). Their work is inspiring and comforting. I love knowing that libraries are being brought into areas and communities where they would otherwise not be found at all. Access to information and the wide variety of programming a library can provide is an essential part of human development. Their work is trailblazing, and I would hope to emulate the opportunities they provide their learners in my own future career as a Children and Teen’s Librarian. The organization is sustainable, and has experienced so much growth over the years. I have no suggestions, but sincerely hope the librarians and volunteers who work with them continue their efforts and devise new solutions to meet the needs of the communities they work with! Reference: Libraries Without Borders. (n.d.) Retrieved from: https://www.librarieswithoutborders.org/activities/social-entrepreneurship/ Lesson 6 Topic: While developing and testing your prototype, you researched “how” your innovation may work. You also researched NGO’s and fundraising options. Now consider how you will present and propose your innovation to end users and funders. Where could you find funding? Who else has tried what you want to do? How can you form your proposal to “sell” your idea to others? Date: 10/2/19 Journal Entry (or link): For the idea I plan to move forward with- bringing adults aged 20-40 into the library for targeted educational opportunities such as parenting classes, information technology classes, etc- I have a very useful resource for finding funding. The American Library Association’s Public Programs Office offers librarians grants and funding for certain programs and exhibitions. According to the ALA (2012), “cultural programming, discussion series and traveling exhibitions are some of the best ways to engage with [a] library community.” By visiting their application page, I am able to browse funding opportunities and apply for them directly. To present my idea to end users and funders such as the library board of directors, I plan to present data on the demographics in the area, emphasizing how my target age range is the most represented in our community and would, therefore, have the greatest need. End users would be able to contribute program enhancement ideas at the event, online, or through social media channels. Many libraries offer classes through partnerships formed with other community resources. Very few of these libraries, however, target the age range that I am advocating for. Similar programs are offered to seniors or high school students, but adults aged 20-40 would likely benefit just as greatly from these educational opportunities. Reference: American Library Association (2012, February 27). Apply Now. Retrieved from: http://www.ala.org/tools/programming/apply Lesson 7 Topic: Your changing view. What do you know about yourself and your community that you didn’t know before? How has the new information impacted you? In what ways has the design process impacted your thinking? Date: 10/6/19 Journal Entry (or link): Throughout this course, I have learned so much more about my surrounding community. While I was aware that Surprise, Arizona was a developing suburb, I did not realize that so many necessary community resources are lacking and not available in the city. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2018), the population of Surprise has grown 17.6% in the last 8 years. Given the rapid growth and now size of the community, it is more crucial now than ever for the city to look for ways to offer these needed resources to its citizens. The design process impacted my thinking by helping me focus on how the end result of my idea would be beneficial to the participants, rather than the benefit it would bring to the library. Through the years, I have developed ideas for my future career by using the benefits to the library as justifications. Empathizing with the participants to the program I designed gave me a better understanding of what they needed (Stanford Design School). This perspective will help build better programs in the future as well! References: Stanford Design School. An introduction to design thinking: process guide. Retrieved from - https://dschool-old.stanford.edu/sandbox/groups/designresources/wiki/36873/attachments/74b3d/ModeGuideBOOTCAMP2010L.pdf United States Census Bureau (2018). Quick Facts: Surprise city, Arizona. Retrieved from: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/surprisecityarizona
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