Cox PDP

Joanna R. Cox
Five Year Professional Development Plan (2014-2019)

Cox PDP 1
Five Year Goal Statement: My focus for the next year is to take advantage of opportunities available to me as an MLIS student
and as a public library employee, including internships, practicums, workshops and professional affiliations. Following the
completion of my degree, I plan to achieve my first full-time position in an academic library and become involved in library
service committees and opportunities; I also plan to build up my CV with publications, presentations and conferences. By the
end of 2019 I plan to be proficient in Spanish and experienced enough in genealogy resources and practices to begin work on
certification. By the end of this development plan period I would also like to begin considering the possibility of applying for
my Master’s.

Completed tasks: GREEN, in-progress and ongoing tasks: ORANGE, not started: RED
Ongoing tasks evaluated annually.
Target Task Timeline Resources/Costs Impact Evaluation/Notes
1. Complete
M.L.I.S.
1.1 Complete core
requirements.
By Summer 2014 Tuition (12 hrs);
books and
supplies; internet
access.
Training needs are
met and I am more
highly skilled.
Completed all of
UNCG’s core
courses with an A
average.
1.2 Complete
electives.
By Summer 2014 Tuition (17 hrs);
books and
supplies; internet
access.
“ ” Completed
electives courses
in a wide variety of
specialties
including literacy,
cataloging, web
design, etc.
1.3 Complete
practicum
By Summer 2014 Tuition (3 hrs);
internet access;
transportation
Training, skills and
collaboration are
applied in an
established prof.
environment
Working on web
usability studies
with the State
Library of North
Carolina.
1.4 Complete
Capstone
Experience

Spring 2014 Tuition (3 hrs);
books and
supplies; internet.
Training needs are
met and I am more
highly skilled.
In the process of
completing
capstone materials
Joanna R. Cox
Five Year Professional Development Plan (2014-2019)

Cox PDP 2

2. Work part-time
in a professional
library
environment
alongside
completion of
degree
2.1 Become
experienced in
working with
library
professionals.
Spring 2014 –
ongoing
Transportation Gain experience
and knowledge
from hand-on
library
employment.
Am currently
employed part-
time in circulation
with the Davie
County Public
Library.
2.2 Become
experienced in
library customer
services, including
reference, readers’
advisory, etc.
Spring 2014 –
ongoing
Transportation Gain experience
working with
library patrons
“ “
3. Join
professional
associations
3.1 Join ALA 2013 – ongoing Membership fee
($35 combined
with NCLA).
Become connected
to the ALA network
and resources.

3.1.1 Join ALA
subgroups.
2014 – ongoing Membership fee
($37 while
student).
Become connected
to the broader ALA
network and
resources.

3.1.1.1 Join ALA
subgroup
committees
(potentially ANSS,
ULS, WGSS, LES)
2014 – ongoing Membership fees
(3 free with ACRL
membership, $5
for each
additional).
Become connected
to area-specific
librarians and
resources. Become
involved in specific
projects and
initiatives.

3.1.2 Join ALA
Round Table
Groups
2014 – ongoing Membership fees
(free – ~$10).
“ “ (Joined NMRT
Spring 2013)
Joanna R. Cox
Five Year Professional Development Plan (2014-2019)

Cox PDP 3
3.2 Join NCLA 2013 – ongoing Membership fee
($35 with ALA
membership).
Become connected
to the NCLA
network and
resources.

4. Mentoring 4.1 Gain a mentor
through UNCG
educators and
connections.
2014 – ongoing Internet access;
transportation
Become connected
to a library
professional that
can guide me and
answer questions.
Working with Dr.
Anthony Chow and
Michelle Underhill
on web production
and evaluation for
usability with the
State Library
(Spring-Summer
’14).
4.2 Work with and
observe an
academic librarian.
By 2014 Flexibility and
time.
Witness and learn
from hands-on
work with a library
professional.
Gained valuable
insight into
collection
management
policies and
procedures in an
academic library
(ASU). Effectively
weeded the QB
section under the
supervision of the
astronomy and
physics librarian.
4.3 Work with and
observe a public
librarian.
By 2014 Flexibility and
time.
Witness and learn
from hands-on
work with a public
library
professional.
Gained valuable
insight into digital
collections in a
public library
setting by working
Joanna R. Cox
Five Year Professional Development Plan (2014-2019)

Cox PDP 4
with the
Photography
Collections Library
(Molly Rawls) at
the Forsyth Public
Library
5. Internship
and/or Practicum
5.2 Apply for/gain
a practicum
experience.
Summer 2014 Phone/internet
access, time (at
least 120 hrs.) and
flexibility, tuition.
“ “ Receive LIS 691
credit.
Working with Dr.
Anthony Chow on
web production
and evaluation for
usability with the
State Library
(Spring-Summer
’14).
6. Webinars 6.1 Attend ALA and
UNCG sponsored
webinars and
workshops.
2013-2014 Internet access. Learn about LIS
issues and
methods in a
variety of subjects.

7. Go Abroad 7.1 Participate in
library programs
abroad.
2014 – ongoing

Time, travel
expenses, tuition.
Gain LIS
experience and
knowledge in a
foreign context.
Receive school
credit.

8. Languages 8.1 Become ILR
Level 3 in Spanish
By the end of 2015 Time, language
resources.
Gain higher work
proficiency in a
foreign language.

8.2 Become ILR
Level 4 in Spanish
By the end of 2017 Time, language
resources.
“ “
8.3 Become ILR
level 5 in Spanish
By the end of 2019 Time, language
resources.
“ “
Joanna R. Cox
Five Year Professional Development Plan (2014-2019)

Cox PDP 5
9. Post M.L.I.S.
full time position
9.1 Apply for/gain
a full time position
at an academic or
public institution.

Post MLIS Job lists, MLIS,
resume, and cover
letter.
Gain full time work
experience;
interact with
colleagues; learn
from hands-on
experiences in an
academic or public
setting.

10. Library service
committees
10.1 Become
involved in service
opportunities and
committees for my
library.
Post MLIS –
ongoing
Library position,
communications.
Interact with and
learn from
colleagues. Provide
vital services for
my library.

11. Publications 11.1 Submit
poetry to local and
national review
journals.
Summer 2013 –
ongoing
Final drafts, review
journal submission
information.
Become a
published creative
writer. Get
critiqued.

11.2 Pursue
opportunities to
write for academic
journals, reviews
and online sources.
Post MLIS –
ongoing
Research
opportunities and
publishers.
Become a
published
academic.
Working on case
study with State
Library web
usability with the
intention to
publish in 2015.
12. Conferences 12.1 Register for
and attend work
and professional
interest
conferences and
workshops.
Post MLIS –
ongoing
Time,
transportation,
registration fees.
Gain LIS
connections and
knowledge in a
professional
setting.

13. Presentations 13.1 Present
research and
Post MLIS –
ongoing
Research, time,
transportation,
Communicate
research and
Working on case
study with State
Joanna R. Cox
Five Year Professional Development Plan (2014-2019)

Cox PDP 6
writings at national
and local
conferences and
workshops.
fees. interests in an
academic setting.
Make professional
connections.
Library web
usability with the
intention to
present in 2015.

14. Further
Education:
M.A. in English,
M.S./M.Ed. in
Instructional
Technology
14.1 Consider
applying for a
Master’s program
in English
Literature or
Instructional
Technology.
~ 2019 Time, application
fees, tuition; at
least half of
undergraduate and
MLIS loans paid.
Potentially gain
knowledge and
credentials in
literature and
instructional
technology on a
professional level.