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I was apprehensive at the start of the semester. I had a specific image in my mind of what a coder looked like, which was similar to Penelope Garcia on Criminal Minds. Just a person who was alone in a room sitting in a chair with multiple screens in front of them. A person who has immense knowledge on coding and knows it like the back of their hand. I then realized that coding is its own language, that at times I may find it difficult but that I do not need to master it all at once. However, I do think it is essential to know how to navigate through it. Maceli (2015) writes, "The need to understand common technology job requirements is relevant to current students positioning themselves to begin a career within LIS, those currently in the field that wish to enhance their technology skills, and LIS educators" (p. 8). And this course has allowed for that to be possible.
I learned a lot in this class; it brought back memories of computer classes I took during middle school, where I learned elementary computer skills such as how to move a mouse and type without looking at the keyboard. In LSC 548, I learned how to design my own website using HTML and CSS codes while being able to add JavaScript elements. Additionally, I learned how to break down the content of a website and identify what functions and what could use updating. Not just from the perspective of a user but also from the perspective of an information architect. I was able to take this lesson even further by compiling the data and creating a visualization of it by producing a treemap. I also learned the importance of obtaining feedback for web users and how to conduct a usability test, which allows for users to evaluate and provide input on how a website is designed. All the assignments for this course were thought-provoking and informative to do, but my favorite one was creating an app on AppLab. It took me some time to complete, but I felt a real sense of accomplishment when I finished it.
This course has forever altered the way I view websites now. It has also allowed me to understand my information-seeking behavior as well as learn that not everyone views and searches for information the same way that I do. In the same manner that everyone who comes into a library has a different backstory and different needs, the same goes for how one seeks information.
This course has allowed me to become more comfortable in my tech-related abilities. Because of this class, going forward, I will keep the user/patron in mind when it comes to user experience, information seeking, and especially user privacy. Mainly since using the library's public computers is not as secure as one would think. Pekala (2017) writes, "... today's internet economy is a data economy, where personal data flows freely on the web, ready to be compiled and sold to the highest bidder. Continuous online tracking and surveillance has become the new normal" (p. 48). I think it is important to keep user information private and for them not to have to worry about the possibility of being hacked or surveilled.
Pekala (2017) also writes, "As technology continues to evolve, librarians should be required to engage in continued learning in these areas" (p. 54), which is an important thing to highlight. I think this should apply to all aspects of librarianship. Being a part of the LIS field means consistently learning and adapting to how things are evolving, which is essential, so one may provide excellent customer service to library users and give them valid and valuable information. "Librarians must learn new skills not merely to wedge themselves back into the supply chain, but they must do so in order to continue to serve information seekers" (Adams, 2018. p. 182).
Adams, R. M., Jr. (2018). Overcoming disintermediation: A call for librarians to learn to use web service APIs. Library Hi Tech, 36(1), 180-190. doi:10.1108/LHT-03-2017-0056
Maceli, M. (2015). What technology skills do developers need? A text analysis of job listings in library and information science (LIS) from jobs.code4lib.org. Information Technology and Libraries, 34(3), 8-21. doi:10.6017/ital.v34i3.5893
Pekayla, S. (2017). Privacy and user experience in 21st century library discovery. Information Technology and Libraries, 36(2), 48-58. doi:10.6017/ital.v36i2.9817