Competency 9: Internet

"LLN, the Library Leadership Network, is a resource designed to help library leaders communicate, coordinate, find resources, and share information. The network includes essays, discussions, open topics and forums."(LLN, 2010)
The above quoted phrase briefly describes my selected website's purpose, information, and what users can expect to learn from this site. As one can tell from the website's title, this site is specifically created for library leaders to keep informed and up-to-date in the field of leadership and management. This website allows busy and occupied library leaders to have a glimpse and taste of what's up in their line of work, to be able to share with their peers ideas, notions, challenges, and more.
With the help of the search engine, Google, I was able to locate this wonderful and helpful website.

Competency 8: Research Visual / Multimedia

Link reference

The graph and chart are about characteristics

and attributes of leadership. The graph displays results

of global polls showing different percentages of a

leader's traits/skills upon the practice of leadership.

The graph is vertically descending from the most

chosen factor to the least chosen factor.

The chart is about leadership attributes.

There are four directive attributes:

leading yourself, leading your boss,

leading your peers, and leading subordinates.

At the bottom of this website it says

"You're visiting a Brief & Free version."

Mention of copyright restrictions is nowhere

to be found. Here are the title and the link:

Effective Leadership

http://www.1000advices.com/guru/leadership.html

Competency 7: Image

Link reference

Leadership is my chosen topic. Curious as

I become because of this competency exercise,

I checked out various books for further studying

and reading. President Abraham Lincoln is

almost the synonym of the term "leadership."

Search engine, Google, is my tool helping me

locate this image by typing in "leadership"

under the category of "images."

The posted image is from a blog whose owner

is also a student. I scrolled the whole site down

to the bottom to locate the copyright link.

None could be located. Please click either the

title, or the "Link reference" to the blog for

further information.

Competency 6: Databases - WorldCat/Citation Pearl-Growing(Cont.)

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Description/Reflection: Citation pearl growing, aka, the snowballing approach is meant to improve recall (more hits). Leadership(topic) in public library(library type) is my default search target. When I practiced this search, I had a vague idea what I would like to find through the search. Instead of using the targeted name I utilized where that person had lived. In addition to the default terms the descriptor, "dallas" was used to expand the search.

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Description/Reflection: The second hit was what I expected to find. "Lillian Bradshaw"

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Description: "Lillian Bradshaw" was the first female director in Dallas Public Library.

Competency 6: Databases - LibLit/Browsing Search(Cont.)

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Description/Reflection: Since the public library is my selected library type and leadership is my chosen topic, I exercised this snowballing approach by using "leadership in public library" to see what surprise would come out. I did get one after browsing through the listed 120 hits. In fact, there are more interesting terms showing up by browsing through the hits. Terms like "mentoring," "challenge," "education," and "collaboration" imply there are more related topics in the similar field.

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Description/Reflection: The 32th hit titled "Staff and Leadership Shortages? Grow Your Own" got my attention; actually I am currently member of Grow Your Own program in our public library.

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Description/Reflection: Here is the image of the Full Text HTML I copied from clicking the 32th hit. The title is "Staff and Leadership Shortages? Grow Your Own."

Competency 6: Databases - ERIC/Building Block Approach(Cont.)

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Description/Reflection: I know from the beginning what I would like to retrieve from doing this search. From recent recurrences of global calamities, it is evident that efficient exercise of leadership in a crisis is crucial. So, in this practice, my first approach and concept are to find out terms from leadership to public library then to crisis. I came to the following-"crisis" in exercise of leadership in public library. Through multiple-concept search combining "crisis of leadership in public library" I got 4 hits. The 3rd titled "Finding Opportunity:Darcy Cahill--Baltimore County Public Library" got my attention.


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The final result by the most specific facet first approach search--"Finding Opportunity: Darcy Cahill--Baltimore County Public Library"

Competency 6: Databases - ASC/The Most Specific facet First Approach

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Description/Reflection: Starting with the first and the most concept search, "leadership," I got 103,389 hits. Then I tried my second approach using "public library" and got 33,836 hits. My third search try "innovation" got me 123,450 hits. Combining those three using "AND" operators I narrowed the search results to 5 hits. The 5th hit, "The New Public Library Directors" is what I expected to have.

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Description: Among the 5 hits, the 5th on the list titled "The New Public Library Director," is what I have an interest in reading.

Competency 5: Tagging/Cataloging(Cont.)

1)biography,2)business,3classic,4)classics,5)economics,6)fantasy,7)fiction,8)history,9)leadership,10)literature,11)management,12)non-fiction,13)novel,14)own,15)philosophy,16)politics,17)productivity,18)psychology,19)read,20)sci-fi,21)science fiction,22)self-help,23)sociology,24)unread,25)war,

http://www.librarything.com/tag/leadership,+library

Competency 5: Tagging/Cataloging

Link to Librarything: http://www.librarything.com/work/70021

Not surprisingly, I found the book "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu through searching leadership over a tag cloud. The tactics and strategies described in the book are practical and suitable for any field in need of delicate leadership and efficient management, including libraries. This book, though written centuries ago, is what I would name a "vantage" classic title. Vantage books are those that won't vanish, or be forgotten as time flies. Their influence and impact upon human society are deep and wide.

I am an employee of a public library. The topic of leadership sneaked into my mind as I became mentee of my branch manager. His remarkable, cool equilibrium and open-minded attitude not only demonstrate what kind of person he represents himself, but also set a fabulous model for being a leader. If, one day, when situations call for the exercise of leadership I will be well equipped by learned knowledge and, fortunately, his friendly support and generous assistance. A teacher one day will be a mentor the rest of my life.

Link to Librarything: http://www.librarything.com/work/4014541

Competency 4: RSS Feed

Through powerful Google search engine, I came upon this LLN highlights. LLN stands for "Library Leadership Network." This RSS feed is very informative and up-to-date in the field of library leadership. There are features so that users and readers can tell right from the beginning what's included in this feed and what to expect. Features include: Articles in Read and Learn, Leader's Digest, Planning, innovation and more on the LLN, Technology Trends and more on the LLN, Refreshing and Expanding the LLN, Leadership, Obstacles and more at the LLN, New and Updated Articles, Engaging the Community and more at LLN and Future Catalogs and an Update on Blogging at LLN.

For whoever is working in the field of library science and aiming for higher goals, this feed will be of great help to keep the person up-to-date, well informed and properly educated.

Competency 3: Podcast

I found the Eurekaleadership podcast through a Google search. The description the speaker used attracted my attention right away. She said and indicated that it is two way street, two way relationship between a librarian and her/his patron. Mutual is the keyword she pinpointed to describe the interaction between a librarian and the patron; it also applies to a leader and her/his staff. A leader in a library has to see her/himself as a learner and be able to know what kind of person s/he wants to be. Being able to listen and to observe is a must for a library leader.

Competencey 2: Related Blog

"I hope that you are as thankful for your public library as I am. I’m thankful not only for a job that brings surprises every day, but for the opportunity to bring that service to you." Quoted from the WPLDirector, searched by the Google search engine.

Energy, enthusiasm and passion radiate from the public library director's wording. Good customer service is done at a personal level and the attitude the director expresses well defines an excellent exercise. Being a leader, she simply sets a fabulous model for her staff to follow.

Competencey 1: Blog

The primary purpose of this blog is to exercise and practice what I will learn in Information Storage and Retrieval Systems. My library type of interest is public libraries. Leadership is my topic area of interest in public libraries.
The Public library is the place in which I discover and enrich my lifelong habits and interests: reading and writing. Suffice it to say, it is natural for me to find interest in the gamut of the public library, to share and deliver learned experiences with patrons. Leadership is the topic that intrigues me ever since I stepped into the public library. It is a crucial and core element that bears a strong influence and huge impact upon how successful a business, i.e. public library will be able to be efficiently operated and effectively maintained.