SLO 2. The Student identifies, evaluates, conducts, and applies current research and thought in library and information studies and in other fields.

     During my time at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, I have had the opportunity to explore this standard through many different research opportunities. Early in the program, I completed an Action Research project for my LIS 600 class, in which in which I researched effective marketing tools and outreach for the Hispanic population. I then utilized the information I had gathered from this assignment in an internship I did at the Mary Duncan Public Library. One of my duties in this internship was to attend the weekly lunch in the Park event where I put this research into action. During the internship, I also researched the connection between summer reading programs and reading achievement as part of an LIS 690 independent study. This research drove the activities I planned as I completed the internship as their summer reading program assistant coordinator. I have also created an Evidence-Based Goal Project for LIS 693, in which I have researched independent reading time, personalized learning, and a reference strategy called “Your Next 5” that has been adopted from the Seattle Public Library.

Through all of the courses, there have been various assigned readings that have presented research in the field and on several occasions, discussion board post or class discussions have been completed to further expand upon how these best practices can be applied. Many of the lesson plans I have had to create through the coursework of the program feature researched methods such as flipped instruction (LIS 635), book talks (LIS 617), Makerspace, and inquiry-based (LIS 654) lessons. In each of these lesson plans research of the practice was a key component.  All of the lessons plans also helped me gain a better understanding of best practices in the school library field and have helped me implement the research into the school library.

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     In LIS 653 I also had to discuss with my group the reading we did that relates to Equal access and the Dewey Debate as well as School libraries work. In both instances we had to read what the research says about each topic and make a conclusion on how we felt this should be carried out in the school library. These discussions highlight every component of SOL 2. It is always important to continually evaluate what one is doing in the field and continue to make changes and grow. It isn’t just enough to know the information, one has to put it into practice. This SOL makes it clear that one has to continually be at every stage. Identify the needs, evaluate your current resources or practice, then see what the research says about it, and implement the new strategy. Sometimes it is also important to conduct your own research in areas that are not clearly defined by other research. Based on the artifacts presented I feel confident that I can continue to achieve in this area of the library field in the future.