Assumptions/Assertions/Beliefs of the Library and Information Science Profession

So what can someone assume about the Library and Information Sciences (LIS) profession?

What do I assume about the LIS profession?

In my 27 years, I have spent many hours in libraries and subsequently around people in the LIS profession.  Because of this, it has led me to the below assumptions/beliefs or assertions about the profession.

• The LIS profession is made up of people who care about others. - In both my past experience, as well as, my recent beginning of this program, I have learned that the people who work in this profession truly do care about other people.  Librarians dedicate their profession lives to helping and bettering others in the community.  This is done through reference help when people are researching topics, through computer concepts help when teaching basic computer skills to those who don't know how, through teaching in youth services to help our younger generations learn various skills, and even through literacy training for those (of all ages) who don't have those skills.

• The LIS profession is made up of people who know how to find information. -  When I was a college student in my undergraduate years, it was extremely difficult to research a topic and sort through the plethora of sources that the school library had available.  Finding resources was never actually the problem.  It was finding "good and usable" sources relevant to the topic I was researching. Those who work in the LIS field are experts on finding this kind of information. They know how to research a topic and not only find the resources within the stacks of books, periodicals, databases, etc. of their own library, but also how to get it from other libraries if they do not! They are able to help sort through what is relevant towards the topic being researched and what is not.

I took this picture of the periodical stacks using my MAC computer at the Halle Library of  Eastern Michigan University.

• The LIS profession is made up of people who strive to make a better future. - This particular assumption is twofold for myself.  
• Because of my belief in the first two bullet points listed above, it leads me to assume that those who work in the LIS field believe in and work to make the future better through the community. While this may start within the confines of the four walls that make up the library building, it extends to outside in the community. Librarians arm people of the community with knowledge when they come into a library.  They provide them with assistance and help them to find what they are looking for.  People can then learn about all sorts of topics such as science, technology, war, travel, history, current events, etc. The information they learn becomes knowledge that taken with them and used to help to make educated decisions when met with challenges.  In this way, the librarian is arming the community with the knowledge today to allow for a brighter and better future tomorrow.
• The second aspect of this assumption (that the LIS profession is made up of people who strive to make a better future) is through the preservation of resources and history, today.  A very specific aspect of  LIS is preservation and archiving. I want to specialize in this field, myself. This encompasses the continuation of archiving the resources being research from the past, as well as, preserving the things that are happening at present.  Performing this function will allow communities of future generations to do the very things we are doing today in the library.  Without this pivotal role, libraries would be filled with the resources and technology of today but in 50 years that may all be outdated! Working in this field and performing this role, helps to make the future better and brighter!

It is here that I would like to note that this isn't a researched topic, but one of personal reflection.  These are my specific assumptions/ beliefs and assertions.  I hope this post allows you, the reader, to reflect on this topic and come to your own conclusions!  It really helps to remind me of why I believe the library and those who work in the LIS profession as so important not only today, but also in the future.