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| The author seen in his natural state. |
My name is Jose Cruz and I am a recent graduate of the University of South Florida's master's program in Library and Information Sciences. It is my hope that this portfolio will showcase my mastery of the academic courses outlined herein and demonstrate the trajectory of my professional interests.
I have been an employee of Sarasota County Libraries for the past four years, beginning as a part-time generalist at the North Port branch before moving on to a full-time position as a youth services assistant at the Shannon Staub branch, a location that shares property with the south county campus of the Suncoast Technical College.
My experiences within these past few years have exposed me to people from all walks of life that I might not have met otherwise, and having the opportunity to work closely with children and teens has reinvigorated my desire to serve and inspire this audience. It became apparent in my third year of employment that the most effective way to continue doing this would be to return to school and acquire my master's degree in library science. I knew that I owed it to my kids and teens to maximize my knowledge and resources as best as I could. As a population that is frequently misunderstood and ignored, they deserved a librarian who would do anything in their power to make their lives more fulfilling and fun.
It is my hope that this drive and passion is made evident in the artifacts I have made available in this e-portfolio. They span the breadth of my coursework at USF's School of Information as well as multiple representations of the work that I have produced and innovated within the last four years of my professional tenure with Sarasota County. All artifacts are accompanied by the respective learning outcomes outlined by the SI as well as explanations behind the artifacts' placement in this portfolio and their role within the greater context of my profession.
While the content provided here represents all the highlights that have come so far in this story, it is far from being the end. This is merely the beginning of a great adventure. I hope that you will stay and consider taking it with me.
--JC
