A Reflection

It is with a heavy heart and an enormous sense of appreciation that I pen down the final reflection of my practicum experience at Fairbanks Library. Serving as a link between information seekers and providers at this library has been nothing short of extraordinary for me. As a whole, this experience was everything I could have expected and more. From directing story time for children and interacting with young readers at the children’s section to training community members on the lab computers, I had the opportunity to experience library operations firsthand. It was also comforting to know that the library staff and other library professionals would always have my back throughout my internship. In fact, this experience has only enhanced my appreciation for the library and its staff.

The most rewarding part of my experience at the Fairbanks library was helping to prepare and carry out programming for a group of autistic children at the Action Behavior Center. For a full hour and a half, I worked closely with the branch manager to plan and execute a bear-themed story time, including activities such as story readings and bear-themed songs. Both the children and the staff who attended the program had a ball, and, by all indications, the event was a massive success. Additionally, this was a valuable lesson for me in being flexible with programming and adapting it to the audience, since we had to make several changes while the session was underway. As I saw the excitement on the children's faces as they engaged with the stories, I knew in my heart that this was what I wanted to be doing in the future. It was indeed the perfect cap to my experience at the library.

One aspect of my experience at the library that I have come to know and cherish is the way the staff conduct their day-to-day operations to make patrons feel at home. As a team, the staff was helpful and worked together to provide all patrons with the best possible experience. For instance, the team would have regular meetings to share new ideas for how they could be doing things differently or for new programs they could develop. It was so encouraging to see the library staff work in unison not only to serve their patrons but also to provide them with a sense of belonging at the library. To top it all off, every staff member was eager to see patrons walk through the doors and, as such, was always ready to create an environment that was so inviting to the community.

A significant highlight for me was being part of the tech program at the library. While training a community member on the computer lab machines, I got the opportunity to see how patrons benefited from the library technology classes. It was easy to see that this individual was interested in technology and wanted to be in a position to know more, and, given the small turnout, this was an isolated event for her. Even so, it was a class well worth it, and I saw an opportunity for the library to have more and do more to connect with the community. In this regard, I would not mind brainstorming new and creative ideas for the library on how we could reach out to different groups.

One question that I ask myself as I ponder my days at the library is whether I enjoyed the work I had to do. To put it mildly, I really enjoyed everything I got to do at the library, and no moment there felt like a waste of time. From helping patrons at the information desk to tidying up around the library, every experience reminded me why libraries were such critical information hubs and community centers. In addition, speaking with members of the community and patrons about their areas of interest was a sight to behold. These are the little things I will always associate with libraries, which really fuel my desire to work in the field in the future.

As for the future, I would really like to see more outreach programs implemented to connect with the community. It is one thing for the library to serve the people, and quite another for the people to know that the library is there for them. These programs could take many forms, from technology classes and workshops to local author features.

In conclusion, I cannot begin to overstate how worthwhile and memorable the internship at Fairbanks Library was for me. The experiences, the friendships, the laughs, and even the small talks with patrons were all times that I will always cherish and reflect on as I go forward with my career. I am so grateful to have been part of such a great team, and I look back on this experience with a smile, an expanded vision, and all the more reason to serve in this field. Thank you, Fairbanks Library, for such an awesome experience!