How can you balance theory and practice in your Library Services education?

In libraries, there will be certain changes, transitioning into a library information professional from a student of library science and information. One thing that I learned which strengthened in my application of work, is flexibility. You will work in different areas, handle tasks for a community which is different as a student assistant in an academic library. Your choice of community will be your guide on how to love the profession, serve the community effectively, not only in printed materials, yet in the changing world of technology, through advances of AI. Skills and work ethic will help you to gain flexibility in librarianship.

Nothing beats a balance of theory and practical application. Theory offers aspirational goals. Being in the trenches elucidates how well the aspirational meshes with reality. Can it be adapted to different milieus? I made the transition from directing a mid sized urban library to a smaller library on an island an hour's journey by ferry from the mainland. Each provided opportunities to test what I learned in graduate school with the reality of community needs and norms. Embrace different forms of community engagement. Join local civic and social organizations. Who is providing services to your community? Where do the gaps in services exist? Find those "kindred spirits" where your academic training intersects with community needs.

One thing that came in handy for me, during my second year of undergrad was .I started working in the university library as an after-hours student library assistant and it brought me much sensible balance between theoretical work in class and the world of work outside the classroom. While this might not be an opportunity for every student, the work-integrated learning that institutions arrange with potential industry employment is imperative in balancing this too.

I recommend doing some formal learning in teaching. Library curricula don’t prepare students on how learners learn. I think it’s vital that librarians teaching information literacy skill development need this knowledge & the learning on how to plan learning activities around IL. Massey University run an excellent postgraduate course in digital education for educators working at all levels of education.

Balancing theory and practice in Library Services education is essential for effective librarianship. Here are some strategies: Internships and placements: Gain hands-on experience in libraries of different types (public, academic, school, special). Case studies and simulations: Apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. Research projects: Conduct research to explore current trends and best practices. Guest lectures: Learn from experienced librarians sharing their insights. Collaborative projects: Work with peers to develop practical solutions to library challenges.

In some cases, informal and formal learning can be done as a library information professional. Attending workshops, seminars and webinars, and skill building activities, helps you to gain knowledge in your profession, also the support from the administration is the key factor to be able to attend in these activities. Providing impact and consistency in the workplace will help you achieve in attending and you will never need to ask for it, when performing at your best.

Full time jobs are also complimentary if you aren’t in a hurry to finish your degree. If you are lucky, you can work and go to school within the same organization. This gives tuition reimbursement as well as practical experience and mentorship.

Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer. Especially signing up for a program of any type. Do the work before you're saddled with student loans just in case 1) you don't like the daily grind 2) the job market is tight, competitive, or just plain fueled by nepotism, and 3) because it's smart to work EVERY job in your chosen field.

I was am elementary school librarian and I would have firemen policemen women & men come to library to educate kids on a number of first responder issue but the best thing I did was have Q & A

In order to balance theory and practice in library services, an information professional should put in practice through hands on experience that which had been learnt in theory.

I found that the lack of awareness about online resources is a big challenge for academicians. In this context, Faculty members should use the commercial databases for their career growth instead of using open source databases.

I have found it very helpful to actively engage with Professional associations like the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) or the ISTE. These platforms offer opportunities to connect with experienced librarians, ask questions, and share best practices. Also, many organizations and universities offer free and paid webinars and online courses on various library-related topics. These can be a great way to learn new skills and stay updated on current trends.

Online I had students look up cultural issues or pick topics they wanted to write about & then the following week have them discuss what they wrote

In our day and age, this could not be more true. If you're not attending webinars, events, etc., to stay current, you're already being left behind.

Joining professional associations can help you learn more what the conversation in your field is. In the USA, most states have a state-level organization with free email listservs you can join, letting you see what's going on in that state and job listings (which can help you decide if that's where you want to work!) There's also national level organizations (e.g. American Library Association, American Association of Law Librarians) which can offer more of a comparative view of the field overall. I mention this because many focus on the "externals" of scholarships and awards, but if you're trying to balance theory with practice, it's more helpful to talk with the people in your field as they're the ones putting theory into practice.

The greatest thing I got when I joined local professional association was the phone number of the other professional. Theory is great, but when real live problem get hard, that unoficial mentoring was my safety net. Now I try to do that for others. Just being the voice on the other side of the phonecall can make all the difference for a new person.

Reflecting on my experience, when participating in a webinar or online course, I like to apply it to my real-world library setting, what I have learned, and the tools other librarians share with us, to see if it works and adapt to my school and students.

Utilizar las fuentes de información disponibles en línea o en las bibliotecas, tanto para consultar como para compartir información relevante y actualizada sobre los temas que estás estudiando. Esto te ayudará a enriquecer tu formación y a mantener una actitud crítica y reflexiva sobre la información que manejas.

I'm cautious about answering this since it depends on where people are in life. If you fail at something or need to learn something new, maybe some reflection is good to ensure that whatever it is doesn't happen as often. However, if you're an anxious person, I recommend learning coping mechanisms before engaging in reflection since it may put you in a rut.

Ambas precisam uma da outra. é óbvio que temos que aplicar a teoria aprendida na academia, mas, também é claro que precisamos agregar o contexto vivido e apreendido das experiências decorrentes dos caminhos das pedras, que foram sendo descobertos e desbravados ao longo da vida profissional. E isso é possível quando colaboramos com outras pessoas, no nosso dia a dia. S?o inúmeros os exemplos que enfrentamos na rotina bibliotecon?mica, por isso, a conclus?o de que uma a??o n?o vive sem a outra:?Prática da Biblioteconomia x Biblioteconomia na prática, pois, ao sermos muito ortodoxos na ciência, corremos o risco de nos distanciarmos da realidade e, por outro lado, se nos apegarmos apenas à prática, o erro pode ser fatal.

Collaboration is also worth doing with those who have different interests and passions- who knows, there may be a whole new area of the profession you'll discover you like, or that may impact the research you do heavily. Plus, librarianship often draws people from multiple disciplines- so the earlier you work with folks in other disciplines, the stronger your theoretical base and practical skill can grow as you avoid "tunnel vision" early on.

Para equilibrar la teoría y la práctica en tu educación en Servicios Bibliotecarios, es importante que colabores con otros, ya que esto te permitirá desarrollar competencias profesionales y personales, así como ampliar tu visión y perspectiva sobre los temas de tu interés. Algunas formas de colaborar con otros son: - Participar en proyectos o actividades conjuntas con otros estudiantes, profesores o profesionales del campo bibliotecario. Esto te dará la oportunidad de aplicar los conocimientos teóricos que has adquirido, así como de aprender de las experiencias y aportes de los demás. - Utilizar las fuentes de información disponibles en línea o en las bibliotecas. te ayudará a enriquecer tu formación y a mantener una actitud crítica.

Collaboration is an essential part of providing quality librarianship. As an MLIS student, the courses I’ve taken have been invaluable in teaching me about the profession and I’m thankful that I have a solid foundation of theoretical knowledge. However, as equally or maybe even more important have been the insights from my coworkers. To be able to sit down and bounce ideas off of someone who’s worked in the profession for over a decade is irreplaceable. My coworker doesn’t have her MLIS, but the wealth of knowledge she possesses about our community cannot be captured in a text book. Sharing what we’ve learned in our unique experiences has allowed us to grow together and strengthen the services we provide to our community.

Incorporate theoritical knowledge into practical working and make productive use of it. once Theories are used and incorporated well, there comes perfection in professional working.

Para equilibrar la teoría y la práctica en tu educación en Servicios Bibliotecarios, es importante que colabores con otros, ya que esto te permitirá desarrollar competencias profesionales y personales, así como ampliar tu visión y perspectiva sobre los temas de tu interés.

One important thing I can say is that the library field is a dynamic one, constantly adapting to new technologies and user needs. To stay relevant and thrive in this environment, lifelong learning is essential. Fortunately, a wealth of online resources can help you stay updated on the latest trends and developments. Whether you're interested in exploring digital librarianship, mastering data analysis, or honing your instructional skills, there are online courses, webinars, and professional communities readily available. Dedicate some time each week to your professional development journey, and you'll be amazed at how much you can learn and grow.

In my experience, you start with a plan but be flexible to change it depending on the day's events and customer interactions.

AI! The world is changing, and AI is the future. If you're not using AI to help do x, then you're likely already being left behind. So hurry, get out there, do something, and get involved.