Intellectual Freedom in an Information Environment by Heidi Kidon

 National Library Week 2021 is April 4-10. The initial theme was “Wake Up and Read,” but this year it is “Welcome to Your Library,” endorsing the awareness that libraries stretch far beyond a physical location. Especially during the pandemic, libraries have expanded their resources. Whether people visit in person or virtually, libraries offer opportunities for everyone to explore new domains and become their greatest selves through access to technology, multimedia content, and instructive curriculums.

The San Bernardino Valley College library offers professional service with 4 full-time and 3 part-time librarians. SBVC librarian and assistant professor, Maria L. Notarangelo, holds a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree from San José State University and has been working with the library for 2-years. She is also currently teaching Public Services (3-credit)—an introduction to the public services departments and their functions in the modern library, one of the seven undergraduate library technology classes in session this spring.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, librarians need a master’s degree. Notarangelo articulated, “If you aspire to become a librarian, you do need a master’s degree but may have one of numerous undergraduate degrees-whatever subject interests you most.” She also suggests following ilovelibraries.org, an initiative of the American Library Association. Notarangelo will also be instructing Introduction to Library Services (3-credit) for the summer 2021 term: 07/06/2021 to 08/05/2021. There is a continuing need for liaisons who can organize information and teach the necessary skills to locate, retrieve, evaluate, and apply evidence in a timely fashion.

Proficient library support staff play a decisive role in aiding students, for example, in discovering and unravelling the resources available in libraries. To do so requires the comprehension and practice of library operations and roles in different types of bibliothecas and the distribution of that material to progressively diverse patrons. The excess of resources available today entails that support staff understand and employ the basic principles of intelligence services as well as the accountability and rapports among library branches. Library skills are essential to student success, especially in today’s information-loaded society.

SBVC librarian Notarangelo expresses, “We have approximately 70,000 physical books in our collection, and now, the library is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10 am to 7 pm. During the pandemic, students have been able to use the library computer lab, check out Chromebooks and hot spots, use the printers, and so on.” The SBVC library uses EBSCO Information Services, EBSCOhost, which supplies an online research service with full-text databases and a collection of ebooks. Notarangelo, for instance, is patient and will even forward credible and beneficial sources to students as they are studying and writing essays.  

The Library of Congress in Washington D.C. was founded in 1800 and is the largest library in the world. There are approximately 116,867 libraries available in the United States. Visit your SBVC library: library.valleycollege.edu (Links to an external site.). Read one of the most challenged books of 2020. Cherish the contributions made by all library workers. Celebrate dedicated librarians, literacy, intellectual freedom, and equitable access to information.