{"id":207035,"date":"2024-11-26T12:29:47","date_gmt":"2024-11-26T17:29:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sis.utk.edu\/?p=207035"},"modified":"2024-11-26T12:29:47","modified_gmt":"2024-11-26T17:29:47","slug":"jeremiah-kings-making-the-world-into-his-classroom-through-practicum-at-the-lenior-city-library","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cci.utk.edu\/sis\/2024\/11\/26\/jeremiah-kings-making-the-world-into-his-classroom-through-practicum-at-the-lenior-city-library\/","title":{"rendered":"Jeremiah King\u2019s Making the World into His Classroom Through Practicum at the Lenior City Library"},"content":{"rendered":"
Jeremiah King is a dedicated student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, who recently completed a practicum experience at the Lenoir City Public Library. He has made significant contributions to the library and its community, particularly by focusing on expanding services for Spanish-speaking residents.<\/p>\n
King is in his second year of the Master of Science in Information Sciences program but did not initially consider becoming a librarian.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\u201cI\u2019ve taught ballroom dance for twenty years. I\u2019m an alumnus of UT, where I earned a degree in classics with a concentration in Latin. I was looking to try something different, and many options I was considering required a degree in information sciences or library sciences. After researching, I found that UT has a great program,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
King resides in Loudoun County, Tennessee, which has a population of around fifty to sixty thousand people, including a large Spanish-speaking community. The Lenoir City Public Library, located in the heart of the city, is one of only five libraries in the county, making it a popular destination.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the most foot traffic due to our location. Last year, we circulated around 82,000 items, so we\u2019re fairly busy,\u201d said Susan Dorsey, director of Lenoir City Public Library.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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King and his wife are two of those regular patrons, which is how King discovered the need for a more diverse collection of books.\u00a0<\/p>\n
King noted, \u201cMy wife loves the library and is always there. I had gone a few times and noticed that there weren\u2019t many Spanish books available, despite a large number of Spanish speakers in our city.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Although King does not speak fluent Spanish himself, he thinks it\u2019s important that all community members have the resources they need to succeed. After discussions with the library\u2019s director, King realized he wanted to address this gap.<\/p>\n
Dorsey said, \u201cHe approached me and asked if he could be considered for a practicum here. He talked about the needs he had observed in the community and expressed his willingness to help us.\u201d<\/p>\n
King said the last class he took before the practicum was focused on collections and development. He designed his class project based on the needs of Lenoir City Public Library.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI decided to make it a reality. Susan was very supportive of that and we proceeded with it. I was assisted in the design of the class project by two [distance education] classmates, Savannah Burden and Angela Rice. I know that if they had lived locally, they would have enthusiastically been involved in implementing it, as well,\u201d King stated.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been here for six and a half years, and a couple of years ago, we started developing a Spanish-language section in response to the increasing requests for Spanish-language books. Loudon County has a significant Spanish-speaking population, and since we are downtown, we are within walking distance of many businesses and homes. We had a few Spanish books, but if no one knows they are available, they won\u2019t be of any use,\u201d Dorsey added.\u00a0<\/p>\n
King\u2019s first goal was to conduct a thorough community analysis. Building on previous coursework, he used data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Statista to understand the demographics of Lenoir City. He noted that direct interactions with community members revealed that the official data likely underestimated the Spanish-speaking population, which might exceed fifty percent in some areas.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The second goal was to immerse himself in Spanish literature, identifying notable authors and publishers to create a comprehensive wishlist of books. King even spoke with librarians in Puerto Rico to better understand the kinds of books that would suit the library and its patrons\u2019 needs.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe biggest challenge was learning about Spanish literature\u2014not just English books translated into Spanish but also works by Spanish authors and other international authors who are popular in Spanish-speaking countries. I also had to learn about the diverse cultures in different regions, much like the varying cultures across the United States,\u201d King explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With a small budget, both King and Dorsey had to be resourceful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a budget of a thousand dollars. We worked together, and he was able to order, I want to say, close to a hundred books,\u201d Dorsey said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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King also initiated the \u201c1000 Libros\u201d campaign to encourage book donations to build a robust Spanish-language collection.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully people can donate books because books are expensive. If people have books their kids no longer use or they would like to pass on, then the library would love to have them as long as they\u2019re well-loved,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The third goal involved marketing the new initiative to the community. His marketing efforts aimed to increase the visibility of the new collection within the library and the surrounding areas. He updated the library\u2019s Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) and website to include Spanish-language content and linked them to the library\u2019s Facebook page.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a great chance to practice my cataloging skills because that wasn\u2019t something I had done outside of an academic setting,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Additionally, he plans to publicize the \u201c1000 Libros\u201d campaign through local newspapers and radio stations, ensuring that community members are aware of the new resources available to them.<\/p>\n
Collaboration was the fourth goal, and to King, was the most important. Without the help and support from Dorsey, he said this project would not have been possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSusan was so positive. I think if anyone ever gets the chance to do an internship, practicum, or volunteer at the Lenoir City Public Library, she sets such a positive tone. She\u2019s a can-do person. One thing I learned is that public librarians are underpaid and overworked, and they need volunteers to help. She was always willing to make things happen. Meeting can-do people like her is a blessing.\u201d<\/p>\n
King also worked closely with assistant directors and retired school librarians for cataloging and processing books.\u00a0<\/p>\n
King\u2019s fifth and final goal was to help create programs to engage the community. King volunteered to conduct bilingual story times and mini dance lessons during the summer. These events combined cultural education with fun activities, such as teaching mambo and salsa alongside reading bilingual books like Tito Puente, Mambo King\/Tito Puente, Rey del Mambo<\/em>,<\/em> and <\/em>My Name is Celia\/Me llamo Celia:The life of Celia Cruz\/la vida de Celia Cruz.<\/em> These programs helped publicize the new collection while fostering a sense of community among participants.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love English, I love Latin, and I enjoy interacting with people. I believe literacy is important, and if people can learn to read in their language first, and get used to hearing and speaking other languages, it creates empathy between cultures,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
Dorsey says King\u2019s work has made a lasting impression on the library and the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re getting busier and busier and that section is getting very well used,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite facing many challenges during this project, King\u2019s experience reinforced the importance of public libraries in serving diverse populations and shaped his future work as an information professional.<\/p>\n
King\u2019s practicum at Lenoir City Public Library was not just an academic requirement, but a fulfilling endeavor that addressed real community needs. He was able to apply his classroom knowledge to create practical experiences that made a tangible difference in the local community. King looks forward to continuing his work as a volunteer and encourages other students to pursue practicums in fields they are passionate about.<\/p>\n
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