1

April Parker

Dr Chow Final Paper

ldquoLeadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected

by itrdquo Marian Anderson

I Leadership Mission and Values

As a leader I embrace my responsibility to my community at large Through my actions and my

words I will demonstrate my commitment to our mutual daily advancement and transformation I

am my community and my community is I and because of that identity I demand social justice

for all

This mention statement speaks to the connectedness of self and our populace that I feel is

essential for effective leadership I am dedicated to contributing and creating a sustainable and

thriving community My personal history reflects a wealth of support from my formed alliances

kinships and comrades alike and my success I attribute to the village that fed me in a multitude

of ways and I devote my life to librarianship to service it is not giving back it is returning I am

rewarded when I see people of my community rise and begin their days finding new ways of

living instead of surviving It is in librarianship that I can serve lead and aid my community in

its rising

Unfortunately as a capitalistic society we often consider value as monetary worth As a

people in this nation we are overcoming centuries of enslavement where personal value has

literally meant the cost of an individualrsquos life I pay homage to my history both ancestral and

personal it is from my past that my values derive I cannot determine a compensation for those

that came before me that took part in the fight for my right to become educated Libraries were in

fact the many battlegrounds of integration and equitable access to information Historically

libraries have been cites for social change Being rooted in that knowledge and in a people that

2

were socially aware and invested in its collective advancement I find myself committed to library

work and its core leadership values of human rights social responsibility and community

building

Social responsibility and community building is the fundamental organizational are crucial to

create a positive engaging effective unit The need for libraries to tackle social exclusion and

engage in social justice becomes ever more urgent as the gap between rich and poor continues to

widen racism and homophobia and the ndashentire isms still plague our society American Library

Association (ALA) affirms ldquo librarianship can make in ameliorating or solving the critical

problems of society support for efforts to help inform and educate the people of the United

States on these problems and to encourage them to examine the many views on and the facts

regarding each problemrdquo (ALA 2006) Librarianship is activism it is radical this work can

demand and support social justice It is critical to create institutions that are based on equity and

solidarity If libraries are to develop and grow in the future and become relevant to the majority

of their local communities then they need to abandon outmoded concepts of excellence and

fully grasp the equity agenda

Realize that libraries are apart of the resources of our society We can ensure distributive

justice if we are mindful and intentional about the equal distribution of information It is not

sufficient to only bridge the digital divide or to have diverse collections We must concern

ourselves with human freedom as well as intellectual freedom There is no neutrality on a

moving bus Libraries must become strong long consistent advocates and stand for human

rights it is their social responsibility It is clear that libraries can play apart in the unequal

distribution of resources if they fail to be accessible but we have to be honest that we also can

3

contribute to oppression by remaining silent As community serving institutions we have the

profound social responsibility to present all sides of every argument and not succumb to any

political agenda that could prevent us from education our citizens effectively Hold us

accountable and see ourselves as being apart of an unjust system in order to eradicate social ills

in our society We must inform and advise knowing acceptance doesnrsquot save lives tolerance

kills and human rights advocacy is our only salvation

I am a part of the community in which library administrations speak of when referring to

underserved populations I have first handedly witnessed the effects of the inaccessibility of

information and suffered from the disparities of education in our marginalized populations

When contemplating my personal values in regards to librarianship I identify its core foundation

being collaboration as a means of community building These values were paramount to the

profession long before the profession chose me

Librariesrsquo programming and resources should reflect the needs of the communities in

which they serve One way that people connect across marginalized communities is to engage in

dialogue and supply literature that is relevant to these communities and ground them in a history

Helping to produce socially conscious people is one way of ensuring equity empowering

communities and support diversity which is mutually beneficial If people from marginalized

communities become invested in a history and in a culture there is a higher likelihood of them

returning and thriving within their communities Creating sustainable and strong community

foundation is the bare minimum requirement of great library work not the exceptional

Community building must also come in the form of collaboration We have to be

practical and move to a needs based model in order to be effective and relevant As librarians we

4

can be conduits of resources and become knowledgeable about the offerings of our cities and

sharing them with our patrons That leaves us to engage with our local organizations that are

doing comparable work and setting people up with the necessary resources it doesnrsquot end with

literature it only begins It is only through collaboration through relationship building

inclusiveness of diversity that reflects our many multitudes that we can truly began to do

meaningful work within the library realm

Talents and personalprofessional development plan

Currently I am pursuing my masterrsquos degree in Library and Information Science at the

University of North Carolina at Greensboro Throughout my course work I have conducted

research that investigated barriers to access and the accessibility of information to about and

created by sexual and gender minorities particularly individuals of color I have committed to

investigate the current repetitive practices that contribute to silencing of those communities

Currently I believe I am the only student in my program working on LGBTQ library issues

specifically I have also helped catalog and organize a small collection at the Bayard Rustin

Center for LGBTQA Activism Education and Reconciliation I have worked with a local

HBCU This library internship has created opportunities to assess the availability and quality of

gay literature in a cold cultural climate and now I have been nominated to be the newly

established student LGBTQ grouprsquos community advisor

This is my lifersquos work and very meaningful to me My anticipated date of graduation is

May 2013 but the work is just beginning Until then I will be working to design cultural

competency trainings for librarians that are LGBTQ concentrated In addition to successful

completion of my coursework which include a teaching practicum and several nontraditional

5

library courses that help me gain further understanding of our society I will be working I have

gained employment at both the UNCG Music Library and as a reference library intern at

UNCGrsquos Jackson library I am also the president of the student chapter of the Progressive

Library Guild It is the only one in North Carolina and the upcoming semesters we hope to be

recognized as a student organization on UNCGrsquos campus and look forward to affirming the

libraryrsquos role as social justice advocates

Though this journey in higher education has been fulfilling and a dream come true I have

not solidified where exactly I will find employment though I am still setting myself up to have as

many options as possible In the next three to five years I plan to begin a doctoral program in

Information Science with my research interest being equitable access to information how

information poverty leads to current social ills and maintains oppression queer theory and

gender studies how our education system which libraries are apart of can contribute to the

erasure of histories and maintain heterosexism and racism While being a lifetime student ideally

I would like to work at an academic library as a diversity librarian or multicultural librarian I

think my current work falls into alignment with much of the job descriptions of such library

work which may consist of but not limited to collaborating with other librarians faculty staff

and students to provide research and instructional services on issues regarding diversity I am

deeply interested in creating programming and trainings that support this endeavor

In San Francisco stands the first stand-alone museum dedicated to the LGBTQ

community the GLBT History Museum and in fifteen years I see myself as an administrator of a

similar museum on the east coast that I will help establish and curate I want to be apart of the

restoration of the history I think it is important that every LGBTQ person and ally travel to any

location and is able to obtain archives about their culture I want gay heroes to be commonly

6

known Library work can counteract the erasure of a peoplersquos histories and that is exactly what I

intend to do both personally and professionally

Personally I never had any interest being in a manager role To supervise others never

seemed like a role I would be good at after reading First Break All The Rules I understand ldquoThe

difference between a manager and a leader is much more profound than most people

thinkhellipGreat managers look inward hellipGreat leaders by contrast look outwardrdquo (Burmingham

and Coffman) I feel like am more of a visionary not a supervisor My interest is to develop

inclusive programming at any institution I am employed by I have an interest in developing

policy that speaks to the interest and protection of minority populations especially sexual and

gender minorities That would fall into the responsibility of a leader Management would be

handle the daily enforcement engagement and structure and while that is necessary work I feel

like I have more aspirations and qualities of a leader

Cover Letter and Resume

Mrs Boss Lady

Library Director

Smarty Pants University

This letter is to express my interest in discussing the position of the position The

opportunity presented in this listing is very appealing and I believe that my experience and

education will make me a competitive candidate for this position

Currently I am a graduate student in Library and Information Studies at university of North

Carolina at Greensboro I have completed all but one of my core classes and I have earned a 38

GPA Outside of my course work I have been dedicated to working directly with my community

in the forms of internships and volunteer work With my passion for librarianship my wealth of

experience I believe I will make an excellent choice for this position

The key strengths that I possess for success in this position include but are not limited to the

following

7

Ability to work with diverse populations

Experience with OCLC MARC and LCSH cataloging standards

Strive for continued excellence

Strong communication skills

I am a self-starter

Eager to learn new things

You will find me to be well spoken energetic confident and personable the type of person on

whom your customers will rely I also have a wide breadth of experience of the type that gives

you the versatility to place me in a number of contexts with confidence that the level of

excellence you expect will be met Please see my resume for additional information on my

experience

I hope that youll find my experience and interests intriguing enough to warrant a face-to-face

meeting I can be reached anytime via my cell phone 862-588-1521 Thank you for your time

and consideration I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity

Sincerely

April Parker

April Parker

1507 Elwood Avenue Greensboro NC 27403

(862) 588-1521 Aprilparker83gmailcom

Objective

Business professional with an ever-growing interest in library science seeks to contribute a

strong work ethic and superb teaching interpersonal and management skills within a diverse

learning environment Committed to community building and fostering safe spaces that are

conducive to self-actualization

Experience

Guilford College Bayard Rustin Center Greensboro NC

Collection Manager Intern February 2012- Present

Automated organized and classified collection Managed collection Promoted collection through outreach and improved circulation

2

were socially aware and invested in its collective advancement I find myself committed to library

work and its core leadership values of human rights social responsibility and community

building

Social responsibility and community building is the fundamental organizational are crucial to

create a positive engaging effective unit The need for libraries to tackle social exclusion and

engage in social justice becomes ever more urgent as the gap between rich and poor continues to

widen racism and homophobia and the ndashentire isms still plague our society American Library

Association (ALA) affirms ldquo librarianship can make in ameliorating or solving the critical

problems of society support for efforts to help inform and educate the people of the United

States on these problems and to encourage them to examine the many views on and the facts

regarding each problemrdquo (ALA 2006) Librarianship is activism it is radical this work can

demand and support social justice It is critical to create institutions that are based on equity and

solidarity If libraries are to develop and grow in the future and become relevant to the majority

of their local communities then they need to abandon outmoded concepts of excellence and

fully grasp the equity agenda

Realize that libraries are apart of the resources of our society We can ensure distributive

justice if we are mindful and intentional about the equal distribution of information It is not

sufficient to only bridge the digital divide or to have diverse collections We must concern

ourselves with human freedom as well as intellectual freedom There is no neutrality on a

moving bus Libraries must become strong long consistent advocates and stand for human

rights it is their social responsibility It is clear that libraries can play apart in the unequal

distribution of resources if they fail to be accessible but we have to be honest that we also can

3

contribute to oppression by remaining silent As community serving institutions we have the

profound social responsibility to present all sides of every argument and not succumb to any

political agenda that could prevent us from education our citizens effectively Hold us

accountable and see ourselves as being apart of an unjust system in order to eradicate social ills

in our society We must inform and advise knowing acceptance doesnrsquot save lives tolerance

kills and human rights advocacy is our only salvation

I am a part of the community in which library administrations speak of when referring to

underserved populations I have first handedly witnessed the effects of the inaccessibility of

information and suffered from the disparities of education in our marginalized populations

When contemplating my personal values in regards to librarianship I identify its core foundation

being collaboration as a means of community building These values were paramount to the

profession long before the profession chose me

Librariesrsquo programming and resources should reflect the needs of the communities in

which they serve One way that people connect across marginalized communities is to engage in

dialogue and supply literature that is relevant to these communities and ground them in a history

Helping to produce socially conscious people is one way of ensuring equity empowering

communities and support diversity which is mutually beneficial If people from marginalized

communities become invested in a history and in a culture there is a higher likelihood of them

returning and thriving within their communities Creating sustainable and strong community

foundation is the bare minimum requirement of great library work not the exceptional

Community building must also come in the form of collaboration We have to be

practical and move to a needs based model in order to be effective and relevant As librarians we

4

can be conduits of resources and become knowledgeable about the offerings of our cities and

sharing them with our patrons That leaves us to engage with our local organizations that are

doing comparable work and setting people up with the necessary resources it doesnrsquot end with

literature it only begins It is only through collaboration through relationship building

inclusiveness of diversity that reflects our many multitudes that we can truly began to do

meaningful work within the library realm

Talents and personalprofessional development plan

Currently I am pursuing my masterrsquos degree in Library and Information Science at the

University of North Carolina at Greensboro Throughout my course work I have conducted

research that investigated barriers to access and the accessibility of information to about and

created by sexual and gender minorities particularly individuals of color I have committed to

investigate the current repetitive practices that contribute to silencing of those communities

Currently I believe I am the only student in my program working on LGBTQ library issues

specifically I have also helped catalog and organize a small collection at the Bayard Rustin

Center for LGBTQA Activism Education and Reconciliation I have worked with a local

HBCU This library internship has created opportunities to assess the availability and quality of

gay literature in a cold cultural climate and now I have been nominated to be the newly

established student LGBTQ grouprsquos community advisor

This is my lifersquos work and very meaningful to me My anticipated date of graduation is

May 2013 but the work is just beginning Until then I will be working to design cultural

competency trainings for librarians that are LGBTQ concentrated In addition to successful

completion of my coursework which include a teaching practicum and several nontraditional

5

library courses that help me gain further understanding of our society I will be working I have

gained employment at both the UNCG Music Library and as a reference library intern at

UNCGrsquos Jackson library I am also the president of the student chapter of the Progressive

Library Guild It is the only one in North Carolina and the upcoming semesters we hope to be

recognized as a student organization on UNCGrsquos campus and look forward to affirming the

libraryrsquos role as social justice advocates

Though this journey in higher education has been fulfilling and a dream come true I have

not solidified where exactly I will find employment though I am still setting myself up to have as

many options as possible In the next three to five years I plan to begin a doctoral program in

Information Science with my research interest being equitable access to information how

information poverty leads to current social ills and maintains oppression queer theory and

gender studies how our education system which libraries are apart of can contribute to the

erasure of histories and maintain heterosexism and racism While being a lifetime student ideally

I would like to work at an academic library as a diversity librarian or multicultural librarian I

think my current work falls into alignment with much of the job descriptions of such library

work which may consist of but not limited to collaborating with other librarians faculty staff

and students to provide research and instructional services on issues regarding diversity I am

deeply interested in creating programming and trainings that support this endeavor

In San Francisco stands the first stand-alone museum dedicated to the LGBTQ

community the GLBT History Museum and in fifteen years I see myself as an administrator of a

similar museum on the east coast that I will help establish and curate I want to be apart of the

restoration of the history I think it is important that every LGBTQ person and ally travel to any

location and is able to obtain archives about their culture I want gay heroes to be commonly

6

known Library work can counteract the erasure of a peoplersquos histories and that is exactly what I

intend to do both personally and professionally

Personally I never had any interest being in a manager role To supervise others never

seemed like a role I would be good at after reading First Break All The Rules I understand ldquoThe

difference between a manager and a leader is much more profound than most people

thinkhellipGreat managers look inward hellipGreat leaders by contrast look outwardrdquo (Burmingham

and Coffman) I feel like am more of a visionary not a supervisor My interest is to develop

inclusive programming at any institution I am employed by I have an interest in developing

policy that speaks to the interest and protection of minority populations especially sexual and

gender minorities That would fall into the responsibility of a leader Management would be

handle the daily enforcement engagement and structure and while that is necessary work I feel

like I have more aspirations and qualities of a leader

Cover Letter and Resume

Mrs Boss Lady

Library Director

Smarty Pants University

This letter is to express my interest in discussing the position of the position The

opportunity presented in this listing is very appealing and I believe that my experience and

education will make me a competitive candidate for this position

Currently I am a graduate student in Library and Information Studies at university of North

Carolina at Greensboro I have completed all but one of my core classes and I have earned a 38

GPA Outside of my course work I have been dedicated to working directly with my community

in the forms of internships and volunteer work With my passion for librarianship my wealth of

experience I believe I will make an excellent choice for this position

The key strengths that I possess for success in this position include but are not limited to the

following

7

Ability to work with diverse populations

Experience with OCLC MARC and LCSH cataloging standards

Strive for continued excellence

Strong communication skills

I am a self-starter

Eager to learn new things

You will find me to be well spoken energetic confident and personable the type of person on

whom your customers will rely I also have a wide breadth of experience of the type that gives

you the versatility to place me in a number of contexts with confidence that the level of

excellence you expect will be met Please see my resume for additional information on my

experience

I hope that youll find my experience and interests intriguing enough to warrant a face-to-face

meeting I can be reached anytime via my cell phone 862-588-1521 Thank you for your time

and consideration I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity

Sincerely

April Parker

April Parker

1507 Elwood Avenue Greensboro NC 27403

(862) 588-1521 Aprilparker83gmailcom

Objective

Business professional with an ever-growing interest in library science seeks to contribute a

strong work ethic and superb teaching interpersonal and management skills within a diverse

learning environment Committed to community building and fostering safe spaces that are

conducive to self-actualization

Experience

Guilford College Bayard Rustin Center Greensboro NC

Collection Manager Intern February 2012- Present

Automated organized and classified collection Managed collection Promoted collection through outreach and improved circulation

3

contribute to oppression by remaining silent As community serving institutions we have the

profound social responsibility to present all sides of every argument and not succumb to any

political agenda that could prevent us from education our citizens effectively Hold us

accountable and see ourselves as being apart of an unjust system in order to eradicate social ills

in our society We must inform and advise knowing acceptance doesnrsquot save lives tolerance

kills and human rights advocacy is our only salvation

I am a part of the community in which library administrations speak of when referring to

underserved populations I have first handedly witnessed the effects of the inaccessibility of

information and suffered from the disparities of education in our marginalized populations

When contemplating my personal values in regards to librarianship I identify its core foundation

being collaboration as a means of community building These values were paramount to the

profession long before the profession chose me

Librariesrsquo programming and resources should reflect the needs of the communities in

which they serve One way that people connect across marginalized communities is to engage in

dialogue and supply literature that is relevant to these communities and ground them in a history

Helping to produce socially conscious people is one way of ensuring equity empowering

communities and support diversity which is mutually beneficial If people from marginalized

communities become invested in a history and in a culture there is a higher likelihood of them

returning and thriving within their communities Creating sustainable and strong community

foundation is the bare minimum requirement of great library work not the exceptional

Community building must also come in the form of collaboration We have to be

practical and move to a needs based model in order to be effective and relevant As librarians we

4

can be conduits of resources and become knowledgeable about the offerings of our cities and

sharing them with our patrons That leaves us to engage with our local organizations that are

doing comparable work and setting people up with the necessary resources it doesnrsquot end with

literature it only begins It is only through collaboration through relationship building

inclusiveness of diversity that reflects our many multitudes that we can truly began to do

meaningful work within the library realm

Talents and personalprofessional development plan

Currently I am pursuing my masterrsquos degree in Library and Information Science at the

University of North Carolina at Greensboro Throughout my course work I have conducted

research that investigated barriers to access and the accessibility of information to about and

created by sexual and gender minorities particularly individuals of color I have committed to

investigate the current repetitive practices that contribute to silencing of those communities

Currently I believe I am the only student in my program working on LGBTQ library issues

specifically I have also helped catalog and organize a small collection at the Bayard Rustin

Center for LGBTQA Activism Education and Reconciliation I have worked with a local

HBCU This library internship has created opportunities to assess the availability and quality of

gay literature in a cold cultural climate and now I have been nominated to be the newly

established student LGBTQ grouprsquos community advisor

This is my lifersquos work and very meaningful to me My anticipated date of graduation is

May 2013 but the work is just beginning Until then I will be working to design cultural

competency trainings for librarians that are LGBTQ concentrated In addition to successful

completion of my coursework which include a teaching practicum and several nontraditional

5

library courses that help me gain further understanding of our society I will be working I have

gained employment at both the UNCG Music Library and as a reference library intern at

UNCGrsquos Jackson library I am also the president of the student chapter of the Progressive

Library Guild It is the only one in North Carolina and the upcoming semesters we hope to be

recognized as a student organization on UNCGrsquos campus and look forward to affirming the

libraryrsquos role as social justice advocates

Though this journey in higher education has been fulfilling and a dream come true I have

not solidified where exactly I will find employment though I am still setting myself up to have as

many options as possible In the next three to five years I plan to begin a doctoral program in

Information Science with my research interest being equitable access to information how

information poverty leads to current social ills and maintains oppression queer theory and

gender studies how our education system which libraries are apart of can contribute to the

erasure of histories and maintain heterosexism and racism While being a lifetime student ideally

I would like to work at an academic library as a diversity librarian or multicultural librarian I

think my current work falls into alignment with much of the job descriptions of such library

work which may consist of but not limited to collaborating with other librarians faculty staff

and students to provide research and instructional services on issues regarding diversity I am

deeply interested in creating programming and trainings that support this endeavor

In San Francisco stands the first stand-alone museum dedicated to the LGBTQ

community the GLBT History Museum and in fifteen years I see myself as an administrator of a

similar museum on the east coast that I will help establish and curate I want to be apart of the

restoration of the history I think it is important that every LGBTQ person and ally travel to any

location and is able to obtain archives about their culture I want gay heroes to be commonly

6

known Library work can counteract the erasure of a peoplersquos histories and that is exactly what I

intend to do both personally and professionally

Personally I never had any interest being in a manager role To supervise others never

seemed like a role I would be good at after reading First Break All The Rules I understand ldquoThe

difference between a manager and a leader is much more profound than most people

thinkhellipGreat managers look inward hellipGreat leaders by contrast look outwardrdquo (Burmingham

and Coffman) I feel like am more of a visionary not a supervisor My interest is to develop

inclusive programming at any institution I am employed by I have an interest in developing

policy that speaks to the interest and protection of minority populations especially sexual and

gender minorities That would fall into the responsibility of a leader Management would be

handle the daily enforcement engagement and structure and while that is necessary work I feel

like I have more aspirations and qualities of a leader

Cover Letter and Resume

Mrs Boss Lady

Library Director

Smarty Pants University

This letter is to express my interest in discussing the position of the position The

opportunity presented in this listing is very appealing and I believe that my experience and

education will make me a competitive candidate for this position

Currently I am a graduate student in Library and Information Studies at university of North

Carolina at Greensboro I have completed all but one of my core classes and I have earned a 38

GPA Outside of my course work I have been dedicated to working directly with my community

in the forms of internships and volunteer work With my passion for librarianship my wealth of

experience I believe I will make an excellent choice for this position

The key strengths that I possess for success in this position include but are not limited to the

following

7

Ability to work with diverse populations

Experience with OCLC MARC and LCSH cataloging standards

Strive for continued excellence

Strong communication skills

I am a self-starter

Eager to learn new things

You will find me to be well spoken energetic confident and personable the type of person on

whom your customers will rely I also have a wide breadth of experience of the type that gives

you the versatility to place me in a number of contexts with confidence that the level of

excellence you expect will be met Please see my resume for additional information on my

experience

I hope that youll find my experience and interests intriguing enough to warrant a face-to-face

meeting I can be reached anytime via my cell phone 862-588-1521 Thank you for your time

and consideration I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity

Sincerely

April Parker

April Parker

1507 Elwood Avenue Greensboro NC 27403

(862) 588-1521 Aprilparker83gmailcom

Objective

Business professional with an ever-growing interest in library science seeks to contribute a

strong work ethic and superb teaching interpersonal and management skills within a diverse

learning environment Committed to community building and fostering safe spaces that are

conducive to self-actualization

Experience

Guilford College Bayard Rustin Center Greensboro NC

Collection Manager Intern February 2012- Present

Automated organized and classified collection Managed collection Promoted collection through outreach and improved circulation

4

can be conduits of resources and become knowledgeable about the offerings of our cities and

sharing them with our patrons That leaves us to engage with our local organizations that are

doing comparable work and setting people up with the necessary resources it doesnrsquot end with

literature it only begins It is only through collaboration through relationship building

inclusiveness of diversity that reflects our many multitudes that we can truly began to do

meaningful work within the library realm

Talents and personalprofessional development plan

Currently I am pursuing my masterrsquos degree in Library and Information Science at the

University of North Carolina at Greensboro Throughout my course work I have conducted

research that investigated barriers to access and the accessibility of information to about and

created by sexual and gender minorities particularly individuals of color I have committed to

investigate the current repetitive practices that contribute to silencing of those communities

Currently I believe I am the only student in my program working on LGBTQ library issues

specifically I have also helped catalog and organize a small collection at the Bayard Rustin

Center for LGBTQA Activism Education and Reconciliation I have worked with a local

HBCU This library internship has created opportunities to assess the availability and quality of

gay literature in a cold cultural climate and now I have been nominated to be the newly

established student LGBTQ grouprsquos community advisor

This is my lifersquos work and very meaningful to me My anticipated date of graduation is

May 2013 but the work is just beginning Until then I will be working to design cultural

competency trainings for librarians that are LGBTQ concentrated In addition to successful

completion of my coursework which include a teaching practicum and several nontraditional

5

library courses that help me gain further understanding of our society I will be working I have

gained employment at both the UNCG Music Library and as a reference library intern at

UNCGrsquos Jackson library I am also the president of the student chapter of the Progressive

Library Guild It is the only one in North Carolina and the upcoming semesters we hope to be

recognized as a student organization on UNCGrsquos campus and look forward to affirming the

libraryrsquos role as social justice advocates

Though this journey in higher education has been fulfilling and a dream come true I have

not solidified where exactly I will find employment though I am still setting myself up to have as

many options as possible In the next three to five years I plan to begin a doctoral program in

Information Science with my research interest being equitable access to information how

information poverty leads to current social ills and maintains oppression queer theory and

gender studies how our education system which libraries are apart of can contribute to the

erasure of histories and maintain heterosexism and racism While being a lifetime student ideally

I would like to work at an academic library as a diversity librarian or multicultural librarian I

think my current work falls into alignment with much of the job descriptions of such library

work which may consist of but not limited to collaborating with other librarians faculty staff

and students to provide research and instructional services on issues regarding diversity I am

deeply interested in creating programming and trainings that support this endeavor

In San Francisco stands the first stand-alone museum dedicated to the LGBTQ

community the GLBT History Museum and in fifteen years I see myself as an administrator of a

similar museum on the east coast that I will help establish and curate I want to be apart of the

restoration of the history I think it is important that every LGBTQ person and ally travel to any

location and is able to obtain archives about their culture I want gay heroes to be commonly

6

known Library work can counteract the erasure of a peoplersquos histories and that is exactly what I

intend to do both personally and professionally

Personally I never had any interest being in a manager role To supervise others never

seemed like a role I would be good at after reading First Break All The Rules I understand ldquoThe

difference between a manager and a leader is much more profound than most people

thinkhellipGreat managers look inward hellipGreat leaders by contrast look outwardrdquo (Burmingham

and Coffman) I feel like am more of a visionary not a supervisor My interest is to develop

inclusive programming at any institution I am employed by I have an interest in developing

policy that speaks to the interest and protection of minority populations especially sexual and

gender minorities That would fall into the responsibility of a leader Management would be

handle the daily enforcement engagement and structure and while that is necessary work I feel

like I have more aspirations and qualities of a leader

Cover Letter and Resume

Mrs Boss Lady

Library Director

Smarty Pants University

This letter is to express my interest in discussing the position of the position The

opportunity presented in this listing is very appealing and I believe that my experience and

education will make me a competitive candidate for this position

Currently I am a graduate student in Library and Information Studies at university of North

Carolina at Greensboro I have completed all but one of my core classes and I have earned a 38

GPA Outside of my course work I have been dedicated to working directly with my community

in the forms of internships and volunteer work With my passion for librarianship my wealth of

experience I believe I will make an excellent choice for this position

The key strengths that I possess for success in this position include but are not limited to the

following

7

Ability to work with diverse populations

Experience with OCLC MARC and LCSH cataloging standards

Strive for continued excellence

Strong communication skills

I am a self-starter

Eager to learn new things

You will find me to be well spoken energetic confident and personable the type of person on

whom your customers will rely I also have a wide breadth of experience of the type that gives

you the versatility to place me in a number of contexts with confidence that the level of

excellence you expect will be met Please see my resume for additional information on my

experience

I hope that youll find my experience and interests intriguing enough to warrant a face-to-face

meeting I can be reached anytime via my cell phone 862-588-1521 Thank you for your time

and consideration I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity

Sincerely

April Parker

April Parker

1507 Elwood Avenue Greensboro NC 27403

(862) 588-1521 Aprilparker83gmailcom

Objective

Business professional with an ever-growing interest in library science seeks to contribute a

strong work ethic and superb teaching interpersonal and management skills within a diverse

learning environment Committed to community building and fostering safe spaces that are

conducive to self-actualization

Experience

Guilford College Bayard Rustin Center Greensboro NC

Collection Manager Intern February 2012- Present

Automated organized and classified collection Managed collection Promoted collection through outreach and improved circulation

5

library courses that help me gain further understanding of our society I will be working I have

gained employment at both the UNCG Music Library and as a reference library intern at

UNCGrsquos Jackson library I am also the president of the student chapter of the Progressive

Library Guild It is the only one in North Carolina and the upcoming semesters we hope to be

recognized as a student organization on UNCGrsquos campus and look forward to affirming the

libraryrsquos role as social justice advocates

Though this journey in higher education has been fulfilling and a dream come true I have

not solidified where exactly I will find employment though I am still setting myself up to have as

many options as possible In the next three to five years I plan to begin a doctoral program in

Information Science with my research interest being equitable access to information how

information poverty leads to current social ills and maintains oppression queer theory and

gender studies how our education system which libraries are apart of can contribute to the

erasure of histories and maintain heterosexism and racism While being a lifetime student ideally

I would like to work at an academic library as a diversity librarian or multicultural librarian I

think my current work falls into alignment with much of the job descriptions of such library

work which may consist of but not limited to collaborating with other librarians faculty staff

and students to provide research and instructional services on issues regarding diversity I am

deeply interested in creating programming and trainings that support this endeavor

In San Francisco stands the first stand-alone museum dedicated to the LGBTQ

community the GLBT History Museum and in fifteen years I see myself as an administrator of a

similar museum on the east coast that I will help establish and curate I want to be apart of the

restoration of the history I think it is important that every LGBTQ person and ally travel to any

location and is able to obtain archives about their culture I want gay heroes to be commonly

6

known Library work can counteract the erasure of a peoplersquos histories and that is exactly what I

intend to do both personally and professionally

Personally I never had any interest being in a manager role To supervise others never

seemed like a role I would be good at after reading First Break All The Rules I understand ldquoThe

difference between a manager and a leader is much more profound than most people

thinkhellipGreat managers look inward hellipGreat leaders by contrast look outwardrdquo (Burmingham

and Coffman) I feel like am more of a visionary not a supervisor My interest is to develop

inclusive programming at any institution I am employed by I have an interest in developing

policy that speaks to the interest and protection of minority populations especially sexual and

gender minorities That would fall into the responsibility of a leader Management would be

handle the daily enforcement engagement and structure and while that is necessary work I feel

like I have more aspirations and qualities of a leader

Cover Letter and Resume

Mrs Boss Lady

Library Director

Smarty Pants University

This letter is to express my interest in discussing the position of the position The

opportunity presented in this listing is very appealing and I believe that my experience and

education will make me a competitive candidate for this position

Currently I am a graduate student in Library and Information Studies at university of North

Carolina at Greensboro I have completed all but one of my core classes and I have earned a 38

GPA Outside of my course work I have been dedicated to working directly with my community

in the forms of internships and volunteer work With my passion for librarianship my wealth of

experience I believe I will make an excellent choice for this position

The key strengths that I possess for success in this position include but are not limited to the

following

7

Ability to work with diverse populations

Experience with OCLC MARC and LCSH cataloging standards

Strive for continued excellence

Strong communication skills

I am a self-starter

Eager to learn new things

You will find me to be well spoken energetic confident and personable the type of person on

whom your customers will rely I also have a wide breadth of experience of the type that gives

you the versatility to place me in a number of contexts with confidence that the level of

excellence you expect will be met Please see my resume for additional information on my

experience

I hope that youll find my experience and interests intriguing enough to warrant a face-to-face

meeting I can be reached anytime via my cell phone 862-588-1521 Thank you for your time

and consideration I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity

Sincerely

April Parker

April Parker

1507 Elwood Avenue Greensboro NC 27403

(862) 588-1521 Aprilparker83gmailcom

Objective

Business professional with an ever-growing interest in library science seeks to contribute a

strong work ethic and superb teaching interpersonal and management skills within a diverse

learning environment Committed to community building and fostering safe spaces that are

conducive to self-actualization

Experience

Guilford College Bayard Rustin Center Greensboro NC

Collection Manager Intern February 2012- Present

Automated organized and classified collection Managed collection Promoted collection through outreach and improved circulation

6

known Library work can counteract the erasure of a peoplersquos histories and that is exactly what I

intend to do both personally and professionally

Personally I never had any interest being in a manager role To supervise others never

seemed like a role I would be good at after reading First Break All The Rules I understand ldquoThe

difference between a manager and a leader is much more profound than most people

thinkhellipGreat managers look inward hellipGreat leaders by contrast look outwardrdquo (Burmingham

and Coffman) I feel like am more of a visionary not a supervisor My interest is to develop

inclusive programming at any institution I am employed by I have an interest in developing

policy that speaks to the interest and protection of minority populations especially sexual and

gender minorities That would fall into the responsibility of a leader Management would be

handle the daily enforcement engagement and structure and while that is necessary work I feel

like I have more aspirations and qualities of a leader

Cover Letter and Resume

Mrs Boss Lady

Library Director

Smarty Pants University

This letter is to express my interest in discussing the position of the position The

opportunity presented in this listing is very appealing and I believe that my experience and

education will make me a competitive candidate for this position

Currently I am a graduate student in Library and Information Studies at university of North

Carolina at Greensboro I have completed all but one of my core classes and I have earned a 38

GPA Outside of my course work I have been dedicated to working directly with my community

in the forms of internships and volunteer work With my passion for librarianship my wealth of

experience I believe I will make an excellent choice for this position

The key strengths that I possess for success in this position include but are not limited to the

following

7

Ability to work with diverse populations

Experience with OCLC MARC and LCSH cataloging standards

Strive for continued excellence

Strong communication skills

I am a self-starter

Eager to learn new things

You will find me to be well spoken energetic confident and personable the type of person on

whom your customers will rely I also have a wide breadth of experience of the type that gives

you the versatility to place me in a number of contexts with confidence that the level of

excellence you expect will be met Please see my resume for additional information on my

experience

I hope that youll find my experience and interests intriguing enough to warrant a face-to-face

meeting I can be reached anytime via my cell phone 862-588-1521 Thank you for your time

and consideration I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity

Sincerely

April Parker

April Parker

1507 Elwood Avenue Greensboro NC 27403

(862) 588-1521 Aprilparker83gmailcom

Objective

Business professional with an ever-growing interest in library science seeks to contribute a

strong work ethic and superb teaching interpersonal and management skills within a diverse

learning environment Committed to community building and fostering safe spaces that are

conducive to self-actualization

Experience

Guilford College Bayard Rustin Center Greensboro NC

Collection Manager Intern February 2012- Present

Automated organized and classified collection Managed collection Promoted collection through outreach and improved circulation

7

Ability to work with diverse populations

Experience with OCLC MARC and LCSH cataloging standards

Strive for continued excellence

Strong communication skills

I am a self-starter

Eager to learn new things

You will find me to be well spoken energetic confident and personable the type of person on

whom your customers will rely I also have a wide breadth of experience of the type that gives

you the versatility to place me in a number of contexts with confidence that the level of

excellence you expect will be met Please see my resume for additional information on my

experience

I hope that youll find my experience and interests intriguing enough to warrant a face-to-face

meeting I can be reached anytime via my cell phone 862-588-1521 Thank you for your time

and consideration I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity

Sincerely

April Parker

April Parker

1507 Elwood Avenue Greensboro NC 27403

(862) 588-1521 Aprilparker83gmailcom

Objective

Business professional with an ever-growing interest in library science seeks to contribute a

strong work ethic and superb teaching interpersonal and management skills within a diverse

learning environment Committed to community building and fostering safe spaces that are

conducive to self-actualization

Experience

Guilford College Bayard Rustin Center Greensboro NC

Collection Manager Intern February 2012- Present

Automated organized and classified collection Managed collection Promoted collection through outreach and improved circulation

8

Elsewhere Museum Greensboro NC

OutreachProgram Coordinator (Independent Study) January 2012-Present

Assisted with outreach via social media emailphone correspondence setting up meeting with local organizations

Partnered with local organizations and develop programs that extended our library collections and services to underrepresented populations with an emphasis on multiculturalism

Conducted local research neighborhoods around Greensboro to identify and address public service needs

Assisted with public events and helped staff the library

North Carolina Agricultural amp Technical State University Greensboro NC

Library Intern October 2011-Present

Handled and digitized historic archival material

Created bibliographic MARC records abstracts subject headings for original

works

Cataloging records into an Integrated Library System (ILS) Familiar with Minerva and OCLC Created libguides Created exhibits conducted internal and external needs assessment Applied for grants

Greensboro Public Library-Glenwood Branch Greensboro NC

Volunteer November 2010- June 2011

Organized collection and shelved books Provided customer service Assisted patrons with technology and other administrative duties

Reading Connections Greensboro NC

ESOL amp Adult Literacy Teacher August 2010- June 2011

To help adults improve their literacy skills so they can achieve their personal goals

Instructed and assisted in curriculum development incorporating off site trips to local libraries and museums

Disseminated useful information about local resources

Education

University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro North Carolina Masters of Library and Information Studies Expected May 2013 Student ID 883047675 GPA 385 Credits Earned 60 Currently Enrolled 90 Credits

9

Kean University Union New Jersey Bachelor of Art in Sociology 2010 Virginia Western Community College Salem Virginia Associate of Science 2006 Graduated with honors cum laude

Awards

Academic and Cultural Enrichment (ACE) Scholars 2011-2013 UNC Greensboro

Memberships

American Library Association Member

North Carolina Library Association Member

UNC Greensboro Student Library Advisory Committee Secretary

Black Caucus of the American Library Association Member

Employment

May 2010 ndash October 2006 Short-term Disability Claims Manager Prudential

Roseland New Jersey

Managed national accounts Processed disability claims and oversaw distribution

of funds Maintained ongoing contact via email andor telephone for both clients

and customers Resolved customer service issues

October 2006 ndash July 2004 Customer Service Representative Home Shopping Network

Roanoke Virginia

Received inbound calls and obtained order information Provided Product

Information Troubleshot shipping arrangements Negotiated payment

arrangements

July 2004 ndash June 2003 Lead Teacher Honey Tree Learning Center Roanoke Virginia

Provided daily academic and social enrichment to a classroom of 15 toddlers

Acted as a liaison between parents and administration Ensured maintenance of

property and classroom Supervised assistant teachers

June 2003 ndash March 2000 Teacher Discovery Childcare South Orange New Jersey

Began as Assistant Teacher later promoted to Lead Teacher of preschoolers

Constructed components of curriculum Created semi-annual choreographed

performances for youth

10

II My Ideal Library

Libraries are staples to every culture and evoke a sense of belonging Every person

usually has a library story a memory I would like to evoke that sense of home and comfort

level in my library Firstly my ideal library would be universal or as close to it as possible The

population would be reflected in the programming collection and services Also the populations

that are absent would be represented to ensure the community is multidimensional and not

ignorant of diversity Upon my entry to the library there would be free accessible convenient

parking QUOTE Throughout the library there would be comfortable seating that was close to

electricity outlets for my personal use There would be designated quiet areas but collaboration

and meeting places would be plentiful My ideal library would have local artist works displayed

as well as local students works There would be gender-neutral bathrooms Exhibits would be

changed on a monthly basis QUOTE Computers and other technologies would be tucked away

in separate rooms from the collection for nostalgic and aesthetic purposes The library would

have exciting easily marked twists and turns but I would still be able to locate information

because computer based catalogs would be strategically positioned and librarians would be

placed where they are visible and not behind huge desks Long worktables would be placed

throughout the reference area and personal study desk would line the walls beneath the many

windows of the library The perfect library would make sure they are present during community

events perhaps bringing information to support the event Perhaps have cookbooks and

gardening literature at the farmers markets Each portion of the library would be set up with user

friendly devices and specially made desk for those with disabilities my ideal library would have

multiple ramps and elevators for this very purpose As a single parent and student I feel like it

would useful to have quite children activities and a small collection of childrenrsquos books within

11

the other sections of the library for parents who need to work beside their children

A strategic plan is an organizational design that consists of a ldquovision for the future

mission (organizational action statement) values (cultural underpinnings and ethical foundation)

competencies (core products and services) and goals and objectivesrdquo (Chow) Without a strategic

plan a company cannot effectively serve nor grow Evaluation of the performance of the

organization and how they are fulfilling their strategic plan is a needs assessment A needs

assessment should be conducted on a regular basis A needs assessment is identifying the gaps

between what currently exists at an organization and what the optimal existence could be Both

internal and external customers should be asked their opinions Once the organization is aware of

what is lacking then it is their responsibility to fulfill and address those needs

III Tope Five Questions

1 How can I create safer spaces and empower minorities to be engaged as leaders

and managers

Self-actualization and helping an individual excel in their role is great management and it

is essential to employee retention FBR speaks to minority engagement ldquoOf course cultural

influences will shape some of your perspectives giving you something in common with those

who shared those influences An affluent white female living in Greenwhich Connecticut might

have a more benign view of the world than say a young Hispanic make growing up in Compton

California But these kinds of differences are too broad and too bland to be of much help It

would be more powerful to understand the striving talents of this particular while female or the

relating talents of that particular Hispanic male Only then could you know how to help each of

them turn his talents into performancerdquo I do not feel like we can forget a personrsquos history and

12

culture while working with them let alone in a leadership capacity As a leader I feel it is

necessary to first undergo cultural competency trainings and be intentional about creating

inclusive safe spaces then move forward Instead of isolating qualities of an individual physical

or cultural we should know the individual and treat them as such Focusing on ldquoSelect a person

set expectations motivate the person and develop the person these are the four core activities of

the ldquocatalystrdquo rolerdquo A good leader will help an employee realize their role and help them to

become self-actualized which in turn will promote engagement A great leader creates more

leaders

2 How can I overcome my feelings of ldquonot enoughrdquo to fulfill my leadership obligations

Honestly it was my reading of black feminist theory that has helped me name the name

of oppression that once caused me to be plagued by lack of worth Throughout the semester

familiarizing myself with the pedagogy of Audre Lorde who said ldquoWhen I dare to be

powerful to use my strength in the service of my vision then it becomes less and less

important whether I am afraidrdquo I have concluded that my feelings of lack came from the

lack of inclusion that many institutions and organizations operate with It is not sufficient to

throw diversity into a mission statement or offer a few scholarships To be inclusive and to

provide comfort to all people that we work with is to speak to disparity and what makes us

uncomfortable It is not okay to tokenize minorities fill a quota of employees without

ensuring there is policy of protection in place I have concluded that my feelings are valid

and I have begun to work through the negativity that I have internalized as a result of

discrimination and oppression I now realize that I have a mission ahead of me and as I keep

moving forward the stakes are just as high and it matters very little how afraid I am because

the work is upon me

13

3 How can I as a manager validate others opinions and suggestions without

becoming defensive

Being emotionally intelligent will help me manage successfully and be able to validate

othersrsquo opinions and suggestions without becoming defensive ldquoSelf-Awareness is key to

leadership development and is a skill to handling stress The more accurately we can identify

and monitor our emotional upsets the faster we can recover Self- awareness can be

developed through the practice of seeking on-going feedbackrdquo(Leadership skills and

Emotional Intelligence) Knowing my shortcomings and myself is apart of the process In

order for me to grow as a leader I have to know where my areas of opportunity to improve

lie People who work closely with me should be poised and prompted for their feedback on a

regular basis because how I preform affects them directly This should be understood now

after completing this course and identifying the power in emotional intelligence it is

completely understood as a necessary component of work life Defensiveness is a lack of

self-awareness

4 How can I foster a positive working environment that includes worklife

balance

Flexibility is key to fostering a positive working environment that

includes worklife balance People have lives outside of their work hours that do

impact how they show up A good manager instead of immediately condemning

and punishing should always ask ldquowhyrdquo If a leader is highly emotionally

intelligent they will be able to identify an employees need and help them to

perform better by being understanding and reasonably accommodating Work life

balance ldquomeasures the degree to which work and personal life activities are

14

prioritized so that neither is neglected High ratings from bosses on these

behaviors were associated with the emotional intelligence measures of social

responsibility impulse control and empathy Giving your bosses the impression

that you are balanced is connected with your feelings of being able to contribute

to a group controlling your impulses and unders tanding the emotions of othersrdquo

(Leadership Skills and Emotional Intelligence)

5 How can I challenge a staff to be continuously engaged and invested After Reading Raving Fans it is clear regular positive feedback and merit based

promotions are essential to keep employees engaged and invested Additionally

a happy employee was fulfilled at their job because their employer ldquoencourages

us to use our own initiativerdquo (Raving Fans) We hire people and should allow

them to do their job micromanaging is insult and stunts creativity When an

employee is providing Raving Fan service and is innovative they should be

promoted like Debbie who created a new service and was subsequently

promoted

9

Kean University Union New Jersey Bachelor of Art in Sociology 2010 Virginia Western Community College Salem Virginia Associate of Science 2006 Graduated with honors cum laude

Awards

Academic and Cultural Enrichment (ACE) Scholars 2011-2013 UNC Greensboro

Memberships

American Library Association Member

North Carolina Library Association Member

UNC Greensboro Student Library Advisory Committee Secretary

Black Caucus of the American Library Association Member

Employment

May 2010 ndash October 2006 Short-term Disability Claims Manager Prudential

Roseland New Jersey

Managed national accounts Processed disability claims and oversaw distribution

of funds Maintained ongoing contact via email andor telephone for both clients

and customers Resolved customer service issues

October 2006 ndash July 2004 Customer Service Representative Home Shopping Network

Roanoke Virginia

Received inbound calls and obtained order information Provided Product

Information Troubleshot shipping arrangements Negotiated payment

arrangements

July 2004 ndash June 2003 Lead Teacher Honey Tree Learning Center Roanoke Virginia

Provided daily academic and social enrichment to a classroom of 15 toddlers

Acted as a liaison between parents and administration Ensured maintenance of

property and classroom Supervised assistant teachers

June 2003 ndash March 2000 Teacher Discovery Childcare South Orange New Jersey

Began as Assistant Teacher later promoted to Lead Teacher of preschoolers

Constructed components of curriculum Created semi-annual choreographed

performances for youth

10

II My Ideal Library

Libraries are staples to every culture and evoke a sense of belonging Every person

usually has a library story a memory I would like to evoke that sense of home and comfort

level in my library Firstly my ideal library would be universal or as close to it as possible The

population would be reflected in the programming collection and services Also the populations

that are absent would be represented to ensure the community is multidimensional and not

ignorant of diversity Upon my entry to the library there would be free accessible convenient

parking QUOTE Throughout the library there would be comfortable seating that was close to

electricity outlets for my personal use There would be designated quiet areas but collaboration

and meeting places would be plentiful My ideal library would have local artist works displayed

as well as local students works There would be gender-neutral bathrooms Exhibits would be

changed on a monthly basis QUOTE Computers and other technologies would be tucked away

in separate rooms from the collection for nostalgic and aesthetic purposes The library would

have exciting easily marked twists and turns but I would still be able to locate information

because computer based catalogs would be strategically positioned and librarians would be

placed where they are visible and not behind huge desks Long worktables would be placed

throughout the reference area and personal study desk would line the walls beneath the many

windows of the library The perfect library would make sure they are present during community

events perhaps bringing information to support the event Perhaps have cookbooks and

gardening literature at the farmers markets Each portion of the library would be set up with user

friendly devices and specially made desk for those with disabilities my ideal library would have

multiple ramps and elevators for this very purpose As a single parent and student I feel like it

would useful to have quite children activities and a small collection of childrenrsquos books within

11

the other sections of the library for parents who need to work beside their children

A strategic plan is an organizational design that consists of a ldquovision for the future

mission (organizational action statement) values (cultural underpinnings and ethical foundation)

competencies (core products and services) and goals and objectivesrdquo (Chow) Without a strategic

plan a company cannot effectively serve nor grow Evaluation of the performance of the

organization and how they are fulfilling their strategic plan is a needs assessment A needs

assessment should be conducted on a regular basis A needs assessment is identifying the gaps

between what currently exists at an organization and what the optimal existence could be Both

internal and external customers should be asked their opinions Once the organization is aware of

what is lacking then it is their responsibility to fulfill and address those needs

III Tope Five Questions

1 How can I create safer spaces and empower minorities to be engaged as leaders

and managers

Self-actualization and helping an individual excel in their role is great management and it

is essential to employee retention FBR speaks to minority engagement ldquoOf course cultural

influences will shape some of your perspectives giving you something in common with those

who shared those influences An affluent white female living in Greenwhich Connecticut might

have a more benign view of the world than say a young Hispanic make growing up in Compton

California But these kinds of differences are too broad and too bland to be of much help It

would be more powerful to understand the striving talents of this particular while female or the

relating talents of that particular Hispanic male Only then could you know how to help each of

them turn his talents into performancerdquo I do not feel like we can forget a personrsquos history and

12

culture while working with them let alone in a leadership capacity As a leader I feel it is

necessary to first undergo cultural competency trainings and be intentional about creating

inclusive safe spaces then move forward Instead of isolating qualities of an individual physical

or cultural we should know the individual and treat them as such Focusing on ldquoSelect a person

set expectations motivate the person and develop the person these are the four core activities of

the ldquocatalystrdquo rolerdquo A good leader will help an employee realize their role and help them to

become self-actualized which in turn will promote engagement A great leader creates more

leaders

2 How can I overcome my feelings of ldquonot enoughrdquo to fulfill my leadership obligations

Honestly it was my reading of black feminist theory that has helped me name the name

of oppression that once caused me to be plagued by lack of worth Throughout the semester

familiarizing myself with the pedagogy of Audre Lorde who said ldquoWhen I dare to be

powerful to use my strength in the service of my vision then it becomes less and less

important whether I am afraidrdquo I have concluded that my feelings of lack came from the

lack of inclusion that many institutions and organizations operate with It is not sufficient to

throw diversity into a mission statement or offer a few scholarships To be inclusive and to

provide comfort to all people that we work with is to speak to disparity and what makes us

uncomfortable It is not okay to tokenize minorities fill a quota of employees without

ensuring there is policy of protection in place I have concluded that my feelings are valid

and I have begun to work through the negativity that I have internalized as a result of

discrimination and oppression I now realize that I have a mission ahead of me and as I keep

moving forward the stakes are just as high and it matters very little how afraid I am because

the work is upon me

13

3 How can I as a manager validate others opinions and suggestions without

becoming defensive

Being emotionally intelligent will help me manage successfully and be able to validate

othersrsquo opinions and suggestions without becoming defensive ldquoSelf-Awareness is key to

leadership development and is a skill to handling stress The more accurately we can identify

and monitor our emotional upsets the faster we can recover Self- awareness can be

developed through the practice of seeking on-going feedbackrdquo(Leadership skills and

Emotional Intelligence) Knowing my shortcomings and myself is apart of the process In

order for me to grow as a leader I have to know where my areas of opportunity to improve

lie People who work closely with me should be poised and prompted for their feedback on a

regular basis because how I preform affects them directly This should be understood now

after completing this course and identifying the power in emotional intelligence it is

completely understood as a necessary component of work life Defensiveness is a lack of

self-awareness

4 How can I foster a positive working environment that includes worklife

balance

Flexibility is key to fostering a positive working environment that

includes worklife balance People have lives outside of their work hours that do

impact how they show up A good manager instead of immediately condemning

and punishing should always ask ldquowhyrdquo If a leader is highly emotionally

intelligent they will be able to identify an employees need and help them to

perform better by being understanding and reasonably accommodating Work life

balance ldquomeasures the degree to which work and personal life activities are

14

prioritized so that neither is neglected High ratings from bosses on these

behaviors were associated with the emotional intelligence measures of social

responsibility impulse control and empathy Giving your bosses the impression

that you are balanced is connected with your feelings of being able to contribute

to a group controlling your impulses and unders tanding the emotions of othersrdquo

(Leadership Skills and Emotional Intelligence)

5 How can I challenge a staff to be continuously engaged and invested After Reading Raving Fans it is clear regular positive feedback and merit based

promotions are essential to keep employees engaged and invested Additionally

a happy employee was fulfilled at their job because their employer ldquoencourages

us to use our own initiativerdquo (Raving Fans) We hire people and should allow

them to do their job micromanaging is insult and stunts creativity When an

employee is providing Raving Fan service and is innovative they should be

promoted like Debbie who created a new service and was subsequently

promoted

10

II My Ideal Library

Libraries are staples to every culture and evoke a sense of belonging Every person

usually has a library story a memory I would like to evoke that sense of home and comfort

level in my library Firstly my ideal library would be universal or as close to it as possible The

population would be reflected in the programming collection and services Also the populations

that are absent would be represented to ensure the community is multidimensional and not

ignorant of diversity Upon my entry to the library there would be free accessible convenient

parking QUOTE Throughout the library there would be comfortable seating that was close to

electricity outlets for my personal use There would be designated quiet areas but collaboration

and meeting places would be plentiful My ideal library would have local artist works displayed

as well as local students works There would be gender-neutral bathrooms Exhibits would be

changed on a monthly basis QUOTE Computers and other technologies would be tucked away

in separate rooms from the collection for nostalgic and aesthetic purposes The library would

have exciting easily marked twists and turns but I would still be able to locate information

because computer based catalogs would be strategically positioned and librarians would be

placed where they are visible and not behind huge desks Long worktables would be placed

throughout the reference area and personal study desk would line the walls beneath the many

windows of the library The perfect library would make sure they are present during community

events perhaps bringing information to support the event Perhaps have cookbooks and

gardening literature at the farmers markets Each portion of the library would be set up with user

friendly devices and specially made desk for those with disabilities my ideal library would have

multiple ramps and elevators for this very purpose As a single parent and student I feel like it

would useful to have quite children activities and a small collection of childrenrsquos books within

11

the other sections of the library for parents who need to work beside their children

A strategic plan is an organizational design that consists of a ldquovision for the future

mission (organizational action statement) values (cultural underpinnings and ethical foundation)

competencies (core products and services) and goals and objectivesrdquo (Chow) Without a strategic

plan a company cannot effectively serve nor grow Evaluation of the performance of the

organization and how they are fulfilling their strategic plan is a needs assessment A needs

assessment should be conducted on a regular basis A needs assessment is identifying the gaps

between what currently exists at an organization and what the optimal existence could be Both

internal and external customers should be asked their opinions Once the organization is aware of

what is lacking then it is their responsibility to fulfill and address those needs

III Tope Five Questions

1 How can I create safer spaces and empower minorities to be engaged as leaders

and managers

Self-actualization and helping an individual excel in their role is great management and it

is essential to employee retention FBR speaks to minority engagement ldquoOf course cultural

influences will shape some of your perspectives giving you something in common with those

who shared those influences An affluent white female living in Greenwhich Connecticut might

have a more benign view of the world than say a young Hispanic make growing up in Compton

California But these kinds of differences are too broad and too bland to be of much help It

would be more powerful to understand the striving talents of this particular while female or the

relating talents of that particular Hispanic male Only then could you know how to help each of

them turn his talents into performancerdquo I do not feel like we can forget a personrsquos history and

12

culture while working with them let alone in a leadership capacity As a leader I feel it is

necessary to first undergo cultural competency trainings and be intentional about creating

inclusive safe spaces then move forward Instead of isolating qualities of an individual physical

or cultural we should know the individual and treat them as such Focusing on ldquoSelect a person

set expectations motivate the person and develop the person these are the four core activities of

the ldquocatalystrdquo rolerdquo A good leader will help an employee realize their role and help them to

become self-actualized which in turn will promote engagement A great leader creates more

leaders

2 How can I overcome my feelings of ldquonot enoughrdquo to fulfill my leadership obligations

Honestly it was my reading of black feminist theory that has helped me name the name

of oppression that once caused me to be plagued by lack of worth Throughout the semester

familiarizing myself with the pedagogy of Audre Lorde who said ldquoWhen I dare to be

powerful to use my strength in the service of my vision then it becomes less and less

important whether I am afraidrdquo I have concluded that my feelings of lack came from the

lack of inclusion that many institutions and organizations operate with It is not sufficient to

throw diversity into a mission statement or offer a few scholarships To be inclusive and to

provide comfort to all people that we work with is to speak to disparity and what makes us

uncomfortable It is not okay to tokenize minorities fill a quota of employees without

ensuring there is policy of protection in place I have concluded that my feelings are valid

and I have begun to work through the negativity that I have internalized as a result of

discrimination and oppression I now realize that I have a mission ahead of me and as I keep

moving forward the stakes are just as high and it matters very little how afraid I am because

the work is upon me

13

3 How can I as a manager validate others opinions and suggestions without

becoming defensive

Being emotionally intelligent will help me manage successfully and be able to validate

othersrsquo opinions and suggestions without becoming defensive ldquoSelf-Awareness is key to

leadership development and is a skill to handling stress The more accurately we can identify

and monitor our emotional upsets the faster we can recover Self- awareness can be

developed through the practice of seeking on-going feedbackrdquo(Leadership skills and

Emotional Intelligence) Knowing my shortcomings and myself is apart of the process In

order for me to grow as a leader I have to know where my areas of opportunity to improve

lie People who work closely with me should be poised and prompted for their feedback on a

regular basis because how I preform affects them directly This should be understood now

after completing this course and identifying the power in emotional intelligence it is

completely understood as a necessary component of work life Defensiveness is a lack of

self-awareness

4 How can I foster a positive working environment that includes worklife

balance

Flexibility is key to fostering a positive working environment that

includes worklife balance People have lives outside of their work hours that do

impact how they show up A good manager instead of immediately condemning

and punishing should always ask ldquowhyrdquo If a leader is highly emotionally

intelligent they will be able to identify an employees need and help them to

perform better by being understanding and reasonably accommodating Work life

balance ldquomeasures the degree to which work and personal life activities are

14

prioritized so that neither is neglected High ratings from bosses on these

behaviors were associated with the emotional intelligence measures of social

responsibility impulse control and empathy Giving your bosses the impression

that you are balanced is connected with your feelings of being able to contribute

to a group controlling your impulses and unders tanding the emotions of othersrdquo

(Leadership Skills and Emotional Intelligence)

5 How can I challenge a staff to be continuously engaged and invested After Reading Raving Fans it is clear regular positive feedback and merit based

promotions are essential to keep employees engaged and invested Additionally

a happy employee was fulfilled at their job because their employer ldquoencourages

us to use our own initiativerdquo (Raving Fans) We hire people and should allow

them to do their job micromanaging is insult and stunts creativity When an

employee is providing Raving Fan service and is innovative they should be

promoted like Debbie who created a new service and was subsequently

promoted

11

the other sections of the library for parents who need to work beside their children

A strategic plan is an organizational design that consists of a ldquovision for the future

mission (organizational action statement) values (cultural underpinnings and ethical foundation)

competencies (core products and services) and goals and objectivesrdquo (Chow) Without a strategic

plan a company cannot effectively serve nor grow Evaluation of the performance of the

organization and how they are fulfilling their strategic plan is a needs assessment A needs

assessment should be conducted on a regular basis A needs assessment is identifying the gaps

between what currently exists at an organization and what the optimal existence could be Both

internal and external customers should be asked their opinions Once the organization is aware of

what is lacking then it is their responsibility to fulfill and address those needs

III Tope Five Questions

1 How can I create safer spaces and empower minorities to be engaged as leaders

and managers

Self-actualization and helping an individual excel in their role is great management and it

is essential to employee retention FBR speaks to minority engagement ldquoOf course cultural

influences will shape some of your perspectives giving you something in common with those

who shared those influences An affluent white female living in Greenwhich Connecticut might

have a more benign view of the world than say a young Hispanic make growing up in Compton

California But these kinds of differences are too broad and too bland to be of much help It

would be more powerful to understand the striving talents of this particular while female or the

relating talents of that particular Hispanic male Only then could you know how to help each of

them turn his talents into performancerdquo I do not feel like we can forget a personrsquos history and

12

culture while working with them let alone in a leadership capacity As a leader I feel it is

necessary to first undergo cultural competency trainings and be intentional about creating

inclusive safe spaces then move forward Instead of isolating qualities of an individual physical

or cultural we should know the individual and treat them as such Focusing on ldquoSelect a person

set expectations motivate the person and develop the person these are the four core activities of

the ldquocatalystrdquo rolerdquo A good leader will help an employee realize their role and help them to

become self-actualized which in turn will promote engagement A great leader creates more

leaders

2 How can I overcome my feelings of ldquonot enoughrdquo to fulfill my leadership obligations

Honestly it was my reading of black feminist theory that has helped me name the name

of oppression that once caused me to be plagued by lack of worth Throughout the semester

familiarizing myself with the pedagogy of Audre Lorde who said ldquoWhen I dare to be

powerful to use my strength in the service of my vision then it becomes less and less

important whether I am afraidrdquo I have concluded that my feelings of lack came from the

lack of inclusion that many institutions and organizations operate with It is not sufficient to

throw diversity into a mission statement or offer a few scholarships To be inclusive and to

provide comfort to all people that we work with is to speak to disparity and what makes us

uncomfortable It is not okay to tokenize minorities fill a quota of employees without

ensuring there is policy of protection in place I have concluded that my feelings are valid

and I have begun to work through the negativity that I have internalized as a result of

discrimination and oppression I now realize that I have a mission ahead of me and as I keep

moving forward the stakes are just as high and it matters very little how afraid I am because

the work is upon me

13

3 How can I as a manager validate others opinions and suggestions without

becoming defensive

Being emotionally intelligent will help me manage successfully and be able to validate

othersrsquo opinions and suggestions without becoming defensive ldquoSelf-Awareness is key to

leadership development and is a skill to handling stress The more accurately we can identify

and monitor our emotional upsets the faster we can recover Self- awareness can be

developed through the practice of seeking on-going feedbackrdquo(Leadership skills and

Emotional Intelligence) Knowing my shortcomings and myself is apart of the process In

order for me to grow as a leader I have to know where my areas of opportunity to improve

lie People who work closely with me should be poised and prompted for their feedback on a

regular basis because how I preform affects them directly This should be understood now

after completing this course and identifying the power in emotional intelligence it is

completely understood as a necessary component of work life Defensiveness is a lack of

self-awareness

4 How can I foster a positive working environment that includes worklife

balance

Flexibility is key to fostering a positive working environment that

includes worklife balance People have lives outside of their work hours that do

impact how they show up A good manager instead of immediately condemning

and punishing should always ask ldquowhyrdquo If a leader is highly emotionally

intelligent they will be able to identify an employees need and help them to

perform better by being understanding and reasonably accommodating Work life

balance ldquomeasures the degree to which work and personal life activities are

14

prioritized so that neither is neglected High ratings from bosses on these

behaviors were associated with the emotional intelligence measures of social

responsibility impulse control and empathy Giving your bosses the impression

that you are balanced is connected with your feelings of being able to contribute

to a group controlling your impulses and unders tanding the emotions of othersrdquo

(Leadership Skills and Emotional Intelligence)

5 How can I challenge a staff to be continuously engaged and invested After Reading Raving Fans it is clear regular positive feedback and merit based

promotions are essential to keep employees engaged and invested Additionally

a happy employee was fulfilled at their job because their employer ldquoencourages

us to use our own initiativerdquo (Raving Fans) We hire people and should allow

them to do their job micromanaging is insult and stunts creativity When an

employee is providing Raving Fan service and is innovative they should be

promoted like Debbie who created a new service and was subsequently

promoted

12

culture while working with them let alone in a leadership capacity As a leader I feel it is

necessary to first undergo cultural competency trainings and be intentional about creating

inclusive safe spaces then move forward Instead of isolating qualities of an individual physical

or cultural we should know the individual and treat them as such Focusing on ldquoSelect a person

set expectations motivate the person and develop the person these are the four core activities of

the ldquocatalystrdquo rolerdquo A good leader will help an employee realize their role and help them to

become self-actualized which in turn will promote engagement A great leader creates more

leaders

2 How can I overcome my feelings of ldquonot enoughrdquo to fulfill my leadership obligations

Honestly it was my reading of black feminist theory that has helped me name the name

of oppression that once caused me to be plagued by lack of worth Throughout the semester

familiarizing myself with the pedagogy of Audre Lorde who said ldquoWhen I dare to be

powerful to use my strength in the service of my vision then it becomes less and less

important whether I am afraidrdquo I have concluded that my feelings of lack came from the

lack of inclusion that many institutions and organizations operate with It is not sufficient to

throw diversity into a mission statement or offer a few scholarships To be inclusive and to

provide comfort to all people that we work with is to speak to disparity and what makes us

uncomfortable It is not okay to tokenize minorities fill a quota of employees without

ensuring there is policy of protection in place I have concluded that my feelings are valid

and I have begun to work through the negativity that I have internalized as a result of

discrimination and oppression I now realize that I have a mission ahead of me and as I keep

moving forward the stakes are just as high and it matters very little how afraid I am because

the work is upon me

13

3 How can I as a manager validate others opinions and suggestions without

becoming defensive

Being emotionally intelligent will help me manage successfully and be able to validate

othersrsquo opinions and suggestions without becoming defensive ldquoSelf-Awareness is key to

leadership development and is a skill to handling stress The more accurately we can identify

and monitor our emotional upsets the faster we can recover Self- awareness can be

developed through the practice of seeking on-going feedbackrdquo(Leadership skills and

Emotional Intelligence) Knowing my shortcomings and myself is apart of the process In

order for me to grow as a leader I have to know where my areas of opportunity to improve

lie People who work closely with me should be poised and prompted for their feedback on a

regular basis because how I preform affects them directly This should be understood now

after completing this course and identifying the power in emotional intelligence it is

completely understood as a necessary component of work life Defensiveness is a lack of

self-awareness

4 How can I foster a positive working environment that includes worklife

balance

Flexibility is key to fostering a positive working environment that

includes worklife balance People have lives outside of their work hours that do

impact how they show up A good manager instead of immediately condemning

and punishing should always ask ldquowhyrdquo If a leader is highly emotionally

intelligent they will be able to identify an employees need and help them to

perform better by being understanding and reasonably accommodating Work life

balance ldquomeasures the degree to which work and personal life activities are

14

prioritized so that neither is neglected High ratings from bosses on these

behaviors were associated with the emotional intelligence measures of social

responsibility impulse control and empathy Giving your bosses the impression

that you are balanced is connected with your feelings of being able to contribute

to a group controlling your impulses and unders tanding the emotions of othersrdquo

(Leadership Skills and Emotional Intelligence)

5 How can I challenge a staff to be continuously engaged and invested After Reading Raving Fans it is clear regular positive feedback and merit based

promotions are essential to keep employees engaged and invested Additionally

a happy employee was fulfilled at their job because their employer ldquoencourages

us to use our own initiativerdquo (Raving Fans) We hire people and should allow

them to do their job micromanaging is insult and stunts creativity When an

employee is providing Raving Fan service and is innovative they should be

promoted like Debbie who created a new service and was subsequently

promoted

13

3 How can I as a manager validate others opinions and suggestions without

becoming defensive

Being emotionally intelligent will help me manage successfully and be able to validate

othersrsquo opinions and suggestions without becoming defensive ldquoSelf-Awareness is key to

leadership development and is a skill to handling stress The more accurately we can identify

and monitor our emotional upsets the faster we can recover Self- awareness can be

developed through the practice of seeking on-going feedbackrdquo(Leadership skills and

Emotional Intelligence) Knowing my shortcomings and myself is apart of the process In

order for me to grow as a leader I have to know where my areas of opportunity to improve

lie People who work closely with me should be poised and prompted for their feedback on a

regular basis because how I preform affects them directly This should be understood now

after completing this course and identifying the power in emotional intelligence it is

completely understood as a necessary component of work life Defensiveness is a lack of

self-awareness

4 How can I foster a positive working environment that includes worklife

balance

Flexibility is key to fostering a positive working environment that

includes worklife balance People have lives outside of their work hours that do

impact how they show up A good manager instead of immediately condemning

and punishing should always ask ldquowhyrdquo If a leader is highly emotionally

intelligent they will be able to identify an employees need and help them to

perform better by being understanding and reasonably accommodating Work life

balance ldquomeasures the degree to which work and personal life activities are

14

prioritized so that neither is neglected High ratings from bosses on these

behaviors were associated with the emotional intelligence measures of social

responsibility impulse control and empathy Giving your bosses the impression

that you are balanced is connected with your feelings of being able to contribute

to a group controlling your impulses and unders tanding the emotions of othersrdquo

(Leadership Skills and Emotional Intelligence)

5 How can I challenge a staff to be continuously engaged and invested After Reading Raving Fans it is clear regular positive feedback and merit based

promotions are essential to keep employees engaged and invested Additionally

a happy employee was fulfilled at their job because their employer ldquoencourages

us to use our own initiativerdquo (Raving Fans) We hire people and should allow

them to do their job micromanaging is insult and stunts creativity When an

employee is providing Raving Fan service and is innovative they should be

promoted like Debbie who created a new service and was subsequently

promoted

14

prioritized so that neither is neglected High ratings from bosses on these

behaviors were associated with the emotional intelligence measures of social

responsibility impulse control and empathy Giving your bosses the impression

that you are balanced is connected with your feelings of being able to contribute

to a group controlling your impulses and unders tanding the emotions of othersrdquo

(Leadership Skills and Emotional Intelligence)

5 How can I challenge a staff to be continuously engaged and invested After Reading Raving Fans it is clear regular positive feedback and merit based

promotions are essential to keep employees engaged and invested Additionally

a happy employee was fulfilled at their job because their employer ldquoencourages

us to use our own initiativerdquo (Raving Fans) We hire people and should allow

them to do their job micromanaging is insult and stunts creativity When an

employee is providing Raving Fan service and is innovative they should be

promoted like Debbie who created a new service and was subsequently

promoted