There were two summer sessions. Session 1 was from May 27 to July 3. Session 2 was from July 7 to August 14.
Session 1
For session 1, I was originally planning to take a Moving Image Archive class, basically to fulfill a technology class requirement in the Library and Information Science (LIS) program. That class got cancelled due to low enrollment.
But when one door closes, another one opens.
The new door was the LIS 699 Directed Reading/ Research class which is an independent research class, on any library-related topic that isn't covered extensively in an LIS class.
Since I was once a student helper at the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH), I decided to do the research on Library Resources and Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
I was originally going to focus on disabilities in general, but it eventually got narrowed down to the blind and visually impaired.
Independent research projects take a lot of work. You have to find your resources, set up interviews with experts, do observations and look up books and databases. That is much more work than your average class where the books/articles/assignments are provided for you.
For this independent research project, I went to the LBPH to interview staff members about their operations, resources and services. LBPH provides braille and audio materials, as well as large-print books for the visually impaired.
I also interviewed staff members of organizations that serviced people with disabilities including the Assistive Technology Resource Center (ATRC), Kokua Program, and Center for Disability Studies (CDS).
From the articles, I learned about the term print-disabled. Before starting this
project, I don’t even remember if I came in contact with the term “print
disabled.” However, it is now a term commonly used in articles referring
to not just the blind and visually impaired, but also to people who are not
able to use print materials for other reasons. This includes those without
hands, whose hands can’t hold a book due to disabilities (ie paralysis,
cerebral palsy, stroke, etc.) or other disabilities that prevent the use of a
print book. Those people are also eligible to services covered by
the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (known as
NLS).
Also from the articles, I learned about the following issues related to the print-disabled
- ethics in helping the print-disabled
- services for print-disabled youth
- information literacy
- use of screen readers and other assistive technology
- copyright and production of materials for print-disabled patrons
You can learn more about such issues by checking the LIS 699 projects page at
partial screenshot of the LIS 699 projects page
Session 2
For Session 2, I took LIS 683: Services in Libraries
The class was taught by Jan Kamiya, who is a librarian at McCully-Mo'ili'ili Public Library.
Whereas other LIS classes tend to taught by former librarians, this one is being taught by someone is currently working as a librarian. So you actually get to hear about the profession from someone who is working in it now!
As the title of the class implies, we learn about the various services provided by libraries. Those services include youth programs, storytime, computer training, guest lectures, and reader's advisory.
We also learned about real life situation librarians have to deal with, including hostile patrons, sexual predators, medical emergencies, and damaged items.
The class also integrated topics we learned about in other LIS classes, including collection management (ie. making sure the library collection is updated), intellectual freedom (ie. defending your library's collection of controversial books), preparing for the job market and basic work ethics.
We had guest speakers which included the
- public library branch manager
- children's librarian from a public library
- staff member from Hawaii Literacy
- executive director of Friends of the Library of Hawaii (a fundraising organization)
- librarian from the Hawaii-Pacific section of Hawaii State Library (HSL)
And for those who think "books and libraries are passe", libraries are more than just about books. Libraries also provide technological services including internet computers (where do you think I'm typing this blog post from?), as well as databases, e-books, e-magazines, and audiobooks.
So we had Ann Fujioka as a guest speaker too. She is in charge of the Technical Services Section for Hawaii State Public Library System (HSPLS). She may be near retirement age, but she is very current on modern information technology.
We were also supposed to have another guest speaker come to talk about the job market and getting employed within the Hawaii State Public Library System. However, she had to cancel due to last week's storm :(
Anyways, this was a very fun and educational class. We had presentations and class discussions that got very interesting at times. We all wish it go on forever, but all good things have come to the end.
However, you can still check out my LIS 683 projects page at http://pwegesen.wix.com/pablowegesendlis#!lis-683-projects/c1cu
screenshot from the LIS 683 projects page
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Now that Summer Sessions are over, it's time to chill....................well, at least for a week.
Then it's time for Fall 2014 semester.
I got a scholarship and a grant to cover the Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 semesters.
I should be done by the end of the Spring semester ...................depending on what classes are offered that semester, otherwise, I might be in summer school again.
