Moradeke Abosede AYOKANMBI

Many people are of the school of thought that library science is all about arranging books on
shelves, some also think that library is only about books, while others think libraries and librarians
are not needed since everything is available for free online. Well, I belonged to this school of
thought until desperation for undergraduate admissions drew my attention to the discipline in 2015.

As an undergraduate I learnt that library science offers much more than I thought. I came to learn
that modern librarianship rests on an essential set of core values that define and guide our
professionalism. I came to the realization that even with tremendous growth in technology,
libraries are essential and indispensable, hence, the discipline trains individuals to be effective
information architects, information officers, knowledge management specialists etc. to mention
but a few. While observing my internship at an academic library, I saw first-hand all what
librarianship entailed as I was opportuned to assist during accreditation of some specific courses
in the institution and I am glad I was able to be part of that activity because I learnt how to properly
source information materials on particular fields of study. The Brainstorming Session was
especially helpful because I learnt a lot about different fields of study and I also learnt that
librarians are seemingly “Jack of all trades”. This came to play when each person was given a
subject for research and presentations were made during the brainstorming session. It was a
beautiful experience and it further assured me that this is the right profession I want.

During my quest of seeking for an institution to further pursue my dreams, the University of
Alabama’s MLIS caught my eye due to its academic prestige, ranking, support for international
student, its variety of courses offered that will ensure I have a well-rounded knowledge in all
aspects of librarianship and most especially, the opportunity for funding/scholarship which I am
very much interested in. It promises an enriching and collaborative learning environment that will
further deepen my knowledge of information technologies and innovative ideas that are helpful in
providing the opportunity to create lifelong partnerships between the academic and information
realms. The communal proponent of UA’s MLIS program will push me to better understand the
users of the information systems as well as their background. By working diverse disciplines, I
will learn skills essential to helping researchers in many fields as I want to be known for my ability
to guide others through all types of media in their search for information. Completing an MLIS at
the University of Alabama will give me the opportunity to enter into the world of librarianship
with the necessary skills, knowledge and abilities to excel in the field.
Given the changing nature of written word and libraries everywhere, I believe that the MLIS
program offers the abilities, information and open doors for me to refine and explore my
knowledge and skills in library services, my major goal is to make a difference in the lives of
others and communities through literacy and access to information through ICT tools. Moreover,
the structure of the MLIS programme is appealing to me and fits with my learning styles as it
incorporates numerous ways of learning. The extensive range of classes offered throughout the
programme excites me and will further enlighten me on many different aspects of the information
field that I haven’t been engaged in previously, such as archival studies, school libraries and social
justice. Most especially the vigorous discussions which promises to create a very realistic, very
fair learning environment that will provide endless opportunities for me to succeed. Such an
environment will help train me to be self-reliant, self-confident and a resourceful professional. It
also fits with my goal of developing employable skills within the library settings.

Upon graduation, I aim to foster a new thought process to the library and information science field.
Once I have established myself as an effective librarian, I will seek leadership opportunities so I
can pass on to others what I have learned. To achieve the earlier mentioned, I understand that it is
imperative to grow to the point of having the opportunity to supervise a team of library
professionals that will work together to positively impact the society. I strongly believe in linking
the society and the schools with the library as a contribution to the profession. This link will help
in educating people of all ages, showing them that there are variety of vast sources for information.

Finally, while I currently plan on applying the skills to be acquired in the MSLS programme to an
academic or professional library setting, I understand that UA’s MLIS programme will as well
enlighten me about the many different opportunities available in Librarianship. Regardless of
where my place of employment ends up being, my major goal is to make a difference in the lives
of others and communities through literacy and access to information through ICT. I certainly
believe that University of Alabama’s MLIS program is the perfect environment where I can
cultivate a deeper knowledge and understanding of the complexity of information access and
library services. UA’s program is unique because it will help me covet my love for Library Science
as a discipline into a career that will make a difference and develop me to be a resource person in
diversified fields.

I eagerly look forward to a positive response from the University.