This class has taught me to be proficient in HTML, CSS, and Java Script. I feel confident that I could further my knowledge on my own using the tools that are available on w3schools.com and other tools accessible on the internet. What has helped me in this course is looking at the page source for a website to see how their codes were written. It has been fun to explore websites and see the details of their coding and even understand some of it! I think that web development will be a great asset to me in my future plans for librarianship.
We spent the semester reading about information architecture and the role of an information architect in the library. I do not see myself pursuing library work as an information architect. Ding et al (2018) writes that IAs are strategic and pay attention to detail, are independent thinkers with flexibility, are leaders and team players, and are passionate about user experience design. I don’t feel like I have a passion for information architecture, however I can see these skills being highly useful in my future as a professional librarian. I hav e already used some skills I have learned through this class in my current professional position. I work as a reference librarian at Newburyport Public Library and we hold a “tech time” drop in twice a week where patrons can come to the reference desk with their personal technology devices and technology questions. A reference librarian can sit down with them and work through a problem together. I recently helped a patron post to a blog which required some basic HTML coding. It felt great to be able to apply something I learned in school to my current job. I hope to maintain my current skills and continue to learn more about web development as time goes on and I grow as a librarian.