In December of 2015 I will have completed the Masters of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) graduate program at the

University of North Carolina in Greensboro (UNCG). I am currently a library associate 1 at the Rowan Public Librarys (RPL)
Childrens department at the East Branch (Rockwell, NC). I have acquired skills and knowledge through my seven years of experience
at RPL as well as in my studies throughout my MLIS program of study at UNCG. I plan to continue to exercise the ability to develop
these skills and gain new abilities and knowledge over the course of my career as a public librarian.
Between October-December of 2015, I will attend the NCLA conference and continue to gain knowledge as I finish my
graduate studies. My professional growth plan for the next five years (2016-2020) will include some of the following but, as a lifelong learner, I will undertake other opportunities to further my knowledge and capabilities as they arise.

Professional Goals
Year

Goal

Strategy

Plan and implement art

programs for adult/young
adult Patrons

2016

Modify the stairwell of the

Library in which I currently
work.

Develop a final draft of

RPLs first social media
plan/policy

Join the Ro & Mo Theater

Group

Be a back-up Story-teller at
Millstream

2017
(Stories by the Millstream is a
yearly story-telling event in

With the reinforcement of management at the

RPL, plan, promote and implement art programs
at all three branches of the RPL to educate
adult/young adult patrons on the topic of art
history, tools, techniques and increase overall
appreciation for the arts
This stairwell is currently dreary and plain with
cement block walls and a slanted wood plank
between the wall and one staircase.
I will take before and after pictures
I will do this process as cost effectively as
possible
I have begun the process of creating RPLs first
ever social media policy and plan.
The director is very pleased with this draft but
modifications and addendums are necessary
I will see this process through to its final draft
Practice and perform for the school-age children
during the Summer Reading Programs
I will mentor (pre-approved by childrens
department manager) with the RPL
entertainment duo Ro & Mo (Robert Jones and
Marianne McCubbins)
Study and rehearse 3-4 stories I can tell from
memory in an entertaining way for children in
the 2nd grade

Outcome
Gain experience in educating
adult patrons. Learn more
about art, education,
implementing programs at
branches different from my
own.
The display I plan to create
will serve a dual purpose of
providing an interesting piece
of artwork as well as keeping
children away from a
potentially dangerous area by
blocking off the wood plank
Its important in this modern
age of social media and
technology that libraries have
policies and plans in place to
aid them in moving forward
with their social media goals.
Gain skills as a childrens
entertainer while educating
them in a way that coincides
with this years Summer
Reading theme
Gain public speaking practice
and experience, demonstrate
skills as a storyteller/childrens entertainer.

which all Rowan County 2nd

grade classes attend to hear
stories. Funded by RPL and
Friends group)

Volunteer at Millstream as a back-up story teller

in case a professional story-teller is unable to
attend

Complete exercises on a variety of topics using

various technology to become more familiar
with the way in which RPL (and likely most
other libraries) conduct an assortment of tasks.
For example: be comfortable with publisher,
sending/receiving faxes, memorizing user
functions/shortcuts, using Mac computers with
ease, etc
Complete all remaining Core Competency
exercises to fill in all known gaps

I will gain valuable

information and skills to help
me do my job more quickly
and effectively as well as
demonstrate to upper
management my motivation to
complete all exercises
available

Attend training for the Rowan County Literacy

Council
Pay association fees
Tutor community members to increase their
ability to read and comprehend the written word
Review articles to educate myself on techniques,
data/research, case studies and the most recent
information on the topic of literacy needs
Become a member of ALA (if not beforehand)
Become a member of YALSA
Become a member of NCLA
Fill out forms and pay fees
Volunteer to assist as opportunities arise
Read and review articles from technology
related publications
Perform hands-on practice and utilize resources
for RPL goals

Gain empathy for and

understanding of the
surrounding community who
require literacy assistance

Complete all Remaining

Core Competency exercises
(RPL encourages employees to know
certain core competencies (100-200)
and if certain skills are not known to
complete exercises to learn at least
three new skills per year)

Become a Literacy Tutor

2018
Become an active member of
several Library
organizations

Keep current on technology

trends and advances

Gain knowledge of up-incoming technology resources

to better assist RPL with their
goals


Be a featured story-teller at
Millstream

2019

Create and follow through

with my own research

Keep current on
Childrens/Young Adult
trends and literature

Gain Management
Experience

2020
Present at a conference: such
as at the annual NCLA
conference

With approval of management, be a featured

story-teller and save the library and friends
group the cost of paying for an outside
professional story teller to attend.
Study and rehearse 3-4 stories I can tell from
memory in an entertaining way for children in
the 2nd grade
Using the skills gained from my undergraduate
education in psychology as well as my graduate
education in Library and Information Studies,
conduct research in a non-biased way to
understand current trends in the library field as
well as predict future trends.
Organize and share findings in a visually
pleasing and easily comprehendible format
Subscribe to publications such as YALSA,
Bookbites, YARN, etc.
Listen to children and young adults opinions
about and desire for literature
Review websites, memes, shows, videos, etc for
a variety of age groups to identify trends
Study management articles to educate myself on
techniques, data/research, case studies and the
most recent information on the topic of library
management
Make my ambitions and value known to my
employers/assistant library directors/director
Volunteer to aid in presenting, planning,
implementing programs, seminars, publications

Gain more comfort when

public speaking and gain
experience as well as
demonstrate skills as a storyteller/childrens entertainer.
Save the Library and Friends
money with an in-house
employee performer
Assist fellow librarians by
coming to conclusions about
library trends, past, present and
future to aid in information
acquisition and reaching future
goals, avoiding detrimental
outcomes for libraries.
Have a better understanding of
what children/young adult
patrons desire to see
represented at the library
(resources, literature, popular
culture, etc.)
Gain the experience and ability
to manage and oversee fellow
library staff members and
library operations such as
programming, collection
management, circulation, etc.
Gain experience in public
speaking, educating peers.
Network with peers and gain
recognition by representing my

Publish article in prominent

publication, include personal
subjective research findings

for a library-related conference such as the

annual NCLA conference
Review other presenters
Review resources for presenting (PowerPoint,
Prezi, etc.) to aid with aesthetics
Use research data gathered from personal
findings, as well as documented and reliable
research conducted by others in the field of
library information development to write and
publish an article in a prominent publication
Get article peer-reviewed and submitted in
compliance with the publications requirements

skills, knowledge in a given

subject

Gain experience in writing

professionally, educating
peers. Network with peers
through the article and gain
recognition by representing my
skills, knowledge, research
findings in a given subject

I have always been somewhat of a jack-of-all-trades and love to learn new skills, educate myself, socialize and broaden my
horizons in my spare time. I have always had a passion for volunteer work/service learning and have been fortunate enough to
volunteer with the Habitat for Humanity, Rowan Helping Ministries, Saving Grace Farm and other great organizations. I will continue
these trends in the future in the following ways and will take other opportunities to become a more well-rounded individual as they
arise. Aside from the following goals, I would also like to volunteer with the Faithful Friends Animal Sanctuary, become a guardian
ad lid em, drive those in need of medical care to and from their medical appointments, procedures and write reviews for books,
audiobooks for companies.

Personal Goals
Year

Goal

Strategy

Become a well-versed and

comfortable public speaker

2016

Be a more involved member

of the art community

Volunteer with the Lee st. Theater group to gain

knowledge from live performers
Take opportunities in any clubs and
organizations that I am involved in to give
presentations, performances, network with the
public

Create art to express myself, relax me,

entertain/please others
Attend openings and exhibits
Keep in touch with art previous art professors
Take on collaborations, group art projects
Read and research trends in the art world
Learn new techniques, mediums

Outcome
I will be a more effective
public speaker with minimum
discomfort during
presentations, performances. I
will be more comfortable with
improvisational situations and
be able to stay cool in any
situation
Be able to educate others
better on the topics of design,
tools, techniques, artists, etc.
Better my own personal skills
and knowledge of art
practices.
Gain another source of
income by selling artwork.

Learn 5 new skills to make

me a more interesting
performer for childrens
programs

2017
Create and update a website
for the NC Artist and Art
Enthusiast Community

Gain the ability to keep the

attention of children and
young adults, to entertain and
educate them for programs
such as those throughout
Summer Reading
Network with fellow artists,
Create a website using weebly or wordpress (or
other applicable web design software as it arises) art enthusiasts, art collectors,
etc.
Give information on tools, techniques
Add a calendar of events to inform community of Gain information from other
up-coming craft fairs, shows, exhibits featured in artists to improve my own
work
NC
Promote my work to improve
Feature certain artists, galleries to build
awareness and increase sales
awareness for them
Juggling
Unicycling
Puppeteering
Impressions/Silly voices
Projecting my voice clearly and loudly

Help bring artists together to create collaborative

pieces
Give information about my experience and
artwork

Budget and plan wisely for the undertaking

Research and review the latest trends in social

media/social networking (Facebook, Pinterest,
Instagram, Linked-In, Twitter: these are current
popular SNS but may be obsolete and others may
have taken their place by 2018)
Keep personal sites private and secure to keep a
safe online presence
Keep online portfolio current for potential
employers, publishers, etc.

Travel across the Country

2018
Keep current with social
media trends

Gain experience and a better

understanding of other
cultures and subcultures
within the United States
Avoid scams and/or personal
information hacking. Keep
private information and
photographs for close friends
and family members but have
professional accomplishments
readily accessible for
interested parties (employers,
publishers, art collectors, etc)

Travel outside of the

Country

2019
Publish childrens literature

Budget and plan wisely for the undertaking

Make sure to have met all requirements;
physical, medical and documentation wise.

Go to writers conferences/conventions
Network with writers/publishers
Write childrens stories
Illustrate childrens stories
Become published
Promote books/series

Get a tutor
Utilize software such as Pronunciator and/or
Rosetta Stone
Submerge myself in the Spanish culture to give
me context and understanding of the language

Be Fluent in Spanish

2020

Publish Young Adult/Adult

Fiction novels/series

Go to more writers conferences/conventions

More networking with writers/publishers
Write young adult/adult fiction
Design promotional material, covers, format
personally by utilizing artistic skills
Become published
Promote books/series

Gain experience and a better

understanding of other
cultures and subcultures
outside of the United States as
well as study various
languages outside of English
Be a published childrens
author and become
recognized for my interesting
and memorable illustrations
as well as my captivating and
educational story-telling
techniques
Be able to communicate with
more members of the
community, educate myself
on another culture, be a more
desirable candidate for
employers, exercise healthy
mental processes involved in
the acquisition of another
language
Be a published NC author and
become recognized for my
compelling stories and
interesting techniques.