Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) October 11, 2007
Yadira Payne, Interim Government Documents Librarian at Augusta State University, is using her Master's in Library and Information Science from Drexel University Online to advance the mission of technology and education within the Hispanic culture.
Originally from Puerto Rico, Yadira was raised in Europe and Japan. She received her B.A. in Spanish from Augusta State University with a minor in Cultural Diversity, which she created through her chosen electives. It took Yadira one year to complete her MLIS degree online, and she says Drexel University will always hold a special place in her heart. "Through Drexel University Online, I was able to accomplish my lifelong dream of becoming a librarian. While there were programs a few hours away, they did not offer the intellectual challenges or freedom from classroom time constraints that Drexel's program does," says Yadira.
Payne finished her degree online while raising a family, caring for her injured husband, and working full-time. "This would have been nearly impossible in a traditional program. With Drexel's online program, I was a 24 hour a day student," she says. Initially, Yadira feared that the technology would be too advanced for her to understand. However, she quickly grasped the methods, and found her professors and classmates eager to help.
Because of her degree, Yadira has the opportunity to help Spanish speaking patrons who may be intimated by the library system and its technology, feel more comfortable when seeking information. Yadira's vision for libraries in the future paints a bright picture. "My hope is that libraries become fully functional as multicultural places of learning. I hope libraries will become better versions of themselves. A library is a welcoming place of knowledge, technology, and the promise for a better future, all while providing a comfortable environment." She adds, "Drexel's technologically advanced program has given me the advantage where other programs do not stress the latest technologies at all. I am bridging the cultural gap…I am always looking for ways to be of service to my local community, the student body, and patrons."
A published author, Yadira is currently working on her fifth book, a non-fiction publication about a librarian who earned her MLIS degree online and bridging the cultural gap between academic library staff and faculty. She will also offer advice to online students and first year librarians in the book. She has also written a series of bilingual short stories and children's books. Being bilingual has helped Yadira serve her students and community more effectively. "In everything I do, I try to look at it globally and act locally. Every little thing we can do to include rather than exclude makes a difference to our patrons," says Yadira.
About Drexel University Online:
Drexel University Online, winner of the 21st Century Best Practice Award for Distance Learning from the United States Distance Learning Association, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Drexel University, specializing in innovative, Internet-based distance education programs for working professionals and corporations in the United States and abroad. Drexel University is continually ranked one of the best national doctoral universities by U.S. News & World Report and enjoys regional accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges & Secondary Schools. A pioneer in online education, Drexel has offered programs online since 1996.
Media Contact:
Shawnee Brown
215-895-0513
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