The Value of Service Learning Projects in Preparing LIS Students for Public Services Careers in Public Libraries

Abstract

Public libraries are uniquely positioned as ideal places for library and information science students to provide service learning experiences due to the nature of public library services and their diverse clientele. As the education and library and information science literature indicate, experiential education of all kinds, including service learning and fieldwork, can be a beneficial component of any educational experience. A case for service learning will be made through a review of experiential education literature and a case study of a service learning experience at a public library in Austin, Texas. Suggestions for best practices in designing service learning projects are provided.

"I Didn't Learn That in Library School"—Experiential Learning in Consumer Health for Future Public Librarians

“…Field experiences produce LIS students who are highly competitive in the job market. Obtaining hands-on skills offers more than knowledge building; it provides practice that allows students to become adept at various skills, which evolve into professionalism and leadership (Brzozowski, Homenda, and Roy 2012;Ferrer-Minent and Sobel 2011). Practice-based learning offers students an opportunity to interact with professionals, build networks, and apply classroom information to real-world settings (Bird, Chu, and Oguz 2016;Hoffmann and Berg 2014).…”

“…Practice-based learning offers students an opportunity to interact with professionals, build networks, and apply classroom information to real-world settings (Bird, Chu, and Oguz 2016;Hoffmann and Berg 2014). Further, experiential learning generally includes student reflections on their participation, giving them the opportunity to recount and examine how such experiences have enhanced their understanding of the field (Bird, Chu, and Oguz 2015;Brzozowski, Homenda, and Roy 2012).…”

Reflective course construction: An analysis of student feedback and its role in curricular design

“…There are a number of pedagogical approaches employed in creating a positive learning environment for core classes. For example, service learning has been used in courses that focus on professional ethics, diverse populations [5] and active learning techniques have been employed to teach research methods [1] and digital curation [26]. Assessing the impact of these instructional techniques can be difficult and requires some form of reflective or assessment process.…”