Professional Growth Plan for Hope D.

Alwine
Main Goal: I would like to get a reference librarian position for the subject of History, at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. All minor goals are to
reflect the main goal as the result. Eventually, I would like to be able to run a special collections department, continuing to do research and interact with the
community, faculty, staff, and students within an academic library.

2017-2018
Goal for the Year: Finish up MLIS at UNC-Greensboro.
GOALS PRIORITY STEPS/STRATEGIES RESOURCES DEADLINE
FINISH MLIS AT HIGH (1ST) Summer 2017 UNCG MLIS Plan of Study Graduate December 2017
UNCG LIS 604 History of Libraries Course Material
and Librarianship Capstone rubric
Fall Semester 2017
LIS 636 (Media Production)
LIS 688 (Special Collections
seminar)
LIS 699 (Capstone)

FINISH BREVARD HIGH (2ND )

Steps to creating BC Archive Utilize resources from SAA: Container list to be completed by May
COLLEGE ARCHIVE inventory: Books 2017
INVENTORY Container list E-Courses
Start basic description with Journal articles Develop description skills over
George Utilize resources from ALA summer 2017 while unemployed
Translate description into Webinars
DACS Books Start description process and entry in
Input data into new Journals August (dependent upon purchase of
ArchiveSpace Round tables ArchiveSpace)
PROFESSIONAL MODERATE Membership currently in as student: Use the resources offered by each Ongoing process
ORGANIZATION American Library Association organization to maintain solid
MEMBERSHIP North Carolina Library foundation in librarianship, historical
AND Association research, and archival management.
PROFESSIONAL Society of American Archivists Resources offered:
DEVELOPMENT Memberships to add: Webinars
American Historical Books
Association Blogs

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 Professional Development
opportunities through Appalachian
College Association
Workshops
Webinars
OBTAIN A JOB IN HIGH (3RD ) Join Ohio Library Association
CINCINNATI, Check employment opportunities
OHIO on websites every two weeks
Refine current resume
Find more recommendations for
more recent positions
Create a curriculum vitae for
academic library positions
Visit various potential places of
employment (University of
Cincinnati, Mercantile Library,
Cincinnati Public libraries)
Conduct research on potential
employers to ensure good fit for
myself and for them
Newsletters/Bulletins
Email lists
Grant applications for ACA
professional development due in May
2017
Use resources and guidelines from LIS Be employed by the end of January
650 for resume and curriculum vitae 2018
Websites of potential employers for
research and employment
opportunities
Phone or email with past employers
seeking recommendations for the
future and confirm contact details
Word Document with current contact
information
Use networking through family
connections in Cincinnati to gain new
relationships with potential future
employers
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 2018-2019
Main Goal for the Year: Gain a position in University of Cincinnati library system and start making a network.
GOALS PRIORITY STEPS/STRATEGIES
GET A JOB AT THE HIGH (1ST) Desired job: reference
UNIVERSITY OF librarian for history.
CINCINNATI Any job in the library system
would be acceptable, plan to
make unilateral movements
within UC libraries to gain
desired position.
Pad resume with more
professional development
NETWORKING MODERATE- Once accepted in a job at UC,
THROUGH HIGH start developing relationships
PROFESSIONAL across departments, make
ORGANIZATIONS connections with students,
AND UC faculty, and staff
Create a niche within the
library system for myself
(make myself indispensable)
Explore employment
opportunities within the
library if desired position is not
obtained first
Learn the UC libraries
collections and UC, itself.
RESOURCES DEADLINE
Resume building exercises and Be employed by the end of January
feedback from LIS 650 and 2018
from contacts at Wake Forest
University
Use UC website to keep in
touch with employment
opportunities and to learn
about the university as a
whole
Visit the libraries and talk with
staff and faculty before
applying
Research the position before
making final decisions, have
questions going into the
interview through email and
phone calls
Volunteer for campus activities Ongoing process
and clubs (as faculty or staff
advisor)
Hold social gatherings for
coworkers to develop
relationships outside of work
Explore and research the UC
libraries system, using in house
guides from faculty and staff
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PROFESSIONAL MODERATE - Create guidebook per Refer to Learning Collection Ongoing process
DEVELOPMENT IN HIGH Wrays article about collection Development and Management
ARCHIVES, management on the Job by Christina Wray
REFERENCE, AND Gain more experience learning for guidelines on developing
LIS RESEARCH how to supervise (with student guidebooks for subjects
workers or volunteers) (specialized vocabulary, key
Utilize professional thinkers, current research
organizations resources to aid trends, and broad timeline of
in professional development the field)
pertaining to reference and Start to delegate small tasks,
archives and flesh out what kind of
management style is desired
(refer to LIS 650 readings
Gordon, Goleman, Fells, etc.)
Initiate taking project leaders to
practice supervision and
management skills
Use ALA, OLA, SAA, and AHA
resources:
o Webinars
o Books
o Journals
o Newsletters/Bulletins
o List Servers

APPLY TO HIGH (2ND ) Retake the GRE GRE test prep (GRE has Take GRE three-four months before
GRADUATE Determine which writing changed since 2012, when last submitting application
SCHOOL FOR M.A. sample to use for application taken so review is essential)
FOR HISTORY Apply to more than one school Talk with HR about potential Application deadlines will be
as a precaution, including benefits concerning tuition determined by the schools
online degrees and other
help
nearby programs desired
program is at UC
Determine is employment at
UC could help with tuition
such as discount or use it as
professional development

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 2019-2020
Main Goal for the Year: Start M.A. in History
GOALS PRIORITY STEPS/STRATEGIES RESOURCES DEADLINE
START M.A. IN HIGH (1ST) 3 classes are permitted per semester, Advisor will help with course Have dissertation topic determined
HISTORY AT THE so six classes per year decisions by the end of first semester (Fall
UNIVERSITY OF Declare American History 2019)
CINCINNATI concentration UC libraries can be used for research
Begin fleshing out but also revitalize old contacts in Begin research and planning of
dissertation ideas with thesis State Library (in NC) and other dissertation by Spring 2020
advisor contacts at WCU and WFU (thesis
Start conducting preliminary potentially going to be the studying
research for thesis of desertion rates in Western North
Carolina in comparison to the rest of
the state, resulting in higher rates
due to economic and cultural reasons
in conjunction with a different home
front situation than the rest of NC)
WRITE MODERATE Start submitting reviews and short Use ALA, SAA, and AHA journals Ongoing process
PROFESSIONALLY articles to professional journals
BEGIN THE HIGH (2ND ) Acquire funding to complete the SAA website in continuing education The certificate must be completed
ARRANGEMENT certificate program (travel, within two years of enrollment,
AND DESCRIPTION lodging, and registration costs) completion of program by 2020
(A&D) CERTIFICATE Register for coursework and plan
PROGRAM accordingly
THROUGH SAA
PROFESSIONAL MODERATE Keep up with web design trends W3schools Ongoing process
DEVELOPMENT TO HIGH and coding changes Adobe Creative community
(TECHNOLOGY, Learn JavaScript Major databases (EBSCO, ProQuest,
REFERENCE) Continue to add to guidebook JSTOR, Gale/Cengage)
Add search alerts to major
databases and subscribe to
relevant news feeds

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 2020-2021
Main Goal of the Year: Finish up A&D certificate and start writing dissertation in Spring 2021
GOALS PRIORITY STEPS/STRATEGIES RESOURCES DEADLINE
CONTINUE M.A. IN HIGH (1ST) Six classes per academic year Advisor will help with course Historiography and research will be
HISTORY AT UC Continue working on decisions the focus for dissertation in Fall
dissertation Thesis adviser will assist with 2020, writing will begin in Spring
dissertation 2021
COMPLETE THE A&D HIGH (2ND ) Continue check schedule for SAA website Completion required by 2021
CERTIFICATE course availability
PROGRAM Continue applying for grants Professional Organization assistance
or reimbursement for (ALA, OLA, etc.)
professional development

CREATE ORIGINAL MODERATE To gain a professional presence in Professional organization Ongoing process
RESEARCH/CONTINUE journals, start expanding from publications (ALA, SAA, AHA, OLA)
TO PUBLISH reviews, going into original research
PROFESSIONALLY with other faculty members or
performing own research and then
publishing within major publications

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 2021-2022
Main Goal for the Year: Finish M.A. in History
GOALS PRIORITY STEPS/STRATEGIES RESOURCES DEADLINE
FINISH UP M.A. IN HIGH (1ST) Six courses per academic year Academic and thesis advisors The dissertation should be completed
HISTORY AT UC Finish up dissertation by the end of Fall 2021 (including
Use other faculty members to review revisions and preliminary review from
dissertation and offer feedback for faculty members) and then prepare
revisions for the defense in the Spring 2022

Graduation date: Spring 2022

ADVANCEMENT IN HIGH Keep track of performance LIS 650 resources (class notes, Dependent upon when performance
POSITION WITHIN evaluations from beginning of readings, etc.) evaluations occur during the
LIBRARY employment and construct a solid academic school year
foundation in which to negotiate
an advancement in position or Ongoing process for resume and CV
increasing the number of Use resources for graduate students
responsibilities for current
position.
Keep an updated resume, include Professional organizations
professional development and publications on resumes, CVs,
coursework promotion, trends in hiring and
advancement, etc.
JOIN LOCAL LOW Use history contacts within the Historical society publications (if Ongoing process
HISTORICAL university to help gain community any) or displays
SOCIETY contacts Historical society website (if
Volunteer at some functions available)
Research projects and completed University contacts and
work within the past 5-10 years networking system
PROFESSIONAL MODERATE Continue to review technological Professional organizations Ongoing process
DEVELOPMENT advances in the library field as
(ARCHIVES, well as archives W3schools
REFERENCE, Maintain good standing in all
TECHNOLOGY) professional organizations Libraries 2.0
through publications and reviews
Continue to add to guidebook
on subjects for reference
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Resources:
Professional Development Opportunities Grant for ACA

Society of American Archivists

Arrangement and Description Certificate

American Library Association

Reference and User Services Association

The Library and Information Technology Association
Archived webinars

Ohio Library Associations and Job listings

Academic Library Association of Ohio
OhioNet
State Library of Ohio (list of Ohio Library Associations and other resources)

American Historical Association

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