Jeanette C. Mills
MLIS Portfolio
Writing
Writing is something I enjoy doing, and I had done quite a
bit of research and writing prior to my beginning the MLIS program. For example, I have written two master’s
theses. My thesis for the anthropology/museology degree is titled
“Changing Fashion: the Adoption of
Euro-American Clothing by Northwest Coast Indians,” and it is a near
dissertation length ethno-historical study.
The thesis for my art history degree is titled “Land
Claim Art: Joe David and His Support of Meares Island Tribal Park,” which is a
focused study of the work of one contemporary First Nations artist. Prior to finishing my second thesis, I had
an article published based on that research in American Indian Art Magazine. My two theses and the article are available
for viewing in the University of Washington Libraries.
When I began the
MLIS program in 1995, I had been away from doing graduate level writing for
five years. I had written several book
reviews during those five years, but writing papers for classes helped me get
back into the mode of undertaking more carefully thought out and well supported
arguments. This is something I have
since put to use in my professional work as well.
In addition to my
own leadership experiences, I have been interested in the concept of leadership
in general for some time. My husband,
who is very active in the Mountaineers (a largely volunteer-run local club for outdoor
activities), and I have had lengthy discussions about this subject over the
eight years we have been together, particularly as it applies to mountaineering
and exploration. Not surprisingly, we
have read every book possible about the 1996 tragedies on Mount Everest and we
both find Ernest Shackleton fascinating.
My interest in leadership also has played a role in some of my
educational choices. For example, when
I took Library Administration Skills from Professor Marty Hale in July
1999, I chose to email interview nine women involved in library leadership
throughout the country and write a short paper titled “Women and Leadership in
Libraries.”
During the spring
of 2001, a call went out on VRA-L, the listserv for the Visual Resources
Association, requesting article proposals for a special issue of VRA
Bulletin that would focus on professional issues. I submitted a proposal to write an expository essay on
leadership, and it was accepted. For me
this was an excellent opportunity to finally pull together many of my ideas
about leadership and put them on paper.
I worked on at least two drafts of the article during the summer of 2001
and submitted my final version in August.
In the article, titled “Leadership:
What Is It and How Can We Practice It?”, I define the term “leadership” and
discuss how all people can practice leadership in their personal lives, their
everyday work lives, and in their professional lives. I also write about how to become a better leader, and I provide a
list of resources for further study, both in print and on the web. This resource list brings together materials
I have read, suggestions from the women library leaders I had interviewed in
1999, and books discussed in the University of Washington Strategic Leadership
Program.
I plan to continue
practicing my writing in a variety of ways.
It brings me pleasure and allows me to focus my thoughts on an
issue. The MLIS program has helped me
continue to grow in this area.
Please note that
some linked files are in PDF format and require Acrobat Reader.
