hrm, is FoxBoston the only source? Because they suck and are Fox.

That link and video is the only place I've seen this (it first was posted yesterday).

OK I found some blog stuff and finally someone cited another news source from a different local network. Nothing in the Globe though.

http://wbztv.com/topstories/local_story_059122735.html

I have to get my application for the MLS in today (eek!), and I'm nervous about my personal essay. The website says:

Personal Statement: Please submit, in 1-2 pages (300-500 words), a personal statement concerning your interest in pursuing a degree in this field. While you may highlight aspects of your academic and professional experiences, use this space to describe your interests beyond what you include in your resume.

And this is what I came up with. Can anyone look this over and see if it fulfills the requirements?

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always wanted to be a librarian. When I was young, I was sure it would be wonderful to be surrounded by books all day long. As I grew up and started working in libraries, first as a volunteer, and than in college as an employee, I became aware that there was a lot more to the profession than just reading and recommending books all day long.

There is dealing with the paperwork, the patrons who don’t want to be there, the students who want you to do all of their work for them, the vendors who are always looking to make a sale, and the board who wants maximum return for minimum budgets. But, there is also the fulfillment of teaching patrons how to find information and seeing them explore the sources on their own initiative, the fun of tracking down answers on subjects you didn’t know existed that morning, and, always, the joy of introducing your favorite titles to patrons who come back and thank you for the recommendation.

Working in a variety of libraries, from academic to public to corporate, I’ve been exposed to both the highs and the lows of the profession. One thing has remained constant, though—the information. The media used to deliver it, the range of subjects, and the availability of it to the general public have changed, but the information is always there.

As a self-professed information geek, research and information dissemination has become the central part of my professional life. When I worked in business publishing as an editor, I massaged information into pleasing page layouts and edited it into readable text. Now, as an information specialist in state legislative issues, I get questions on tax and corporate law from my company’s editors, and contact the state employees for the answers. I update databases full of legislative information, from session length to ballot issues to bill status.

But, I want to learn more. How to gather information from sources other than the ones I’m familiar with. How to organize it so that people can find it without being taught the intricacies of esoteric databases. How to work with patrons so I can get the actual questions that they need answers to, instead of the ones they think they answers to. Education is the key, and a masters in library science is the way to get those skills.

Cindy, I ended up paging her after nine, and her first words were "I was about to call you."

Whatev.

I'm glad I kept up the hate, then. Was she helpful in any way?

I'm crossing my fingers now, but it makes it hard to type.

They do treat Pertussis with antibiotics! I had a round this past fall, when my cough wouldn't go away, because it was possibly that was what I had. It was a, what, I think a six-pill, three-day course, something like that.

I've heard of quite a few adults having it over the past few years. I guess the immunization wears off. It's mostly a threat to infants and toddlers. I suspect Ben may have had it in with all his other ick, but he's 11. He was on azithromycin anyhow, which the pedi said would take care of it, if it was Pertussis.

There is dealing with the paperwork, the patrons who don’t want to be there, the students who want you to do all of their work for them, the vendors who are always looking to make a sale, and the board who wants maximum return for minimum budgets. But, there is also the fulfillment of teaching patrons how to find information and seeing them explore the sources on their own initiative, the fun of tracking down answers on subjects you didn’t know existed that morning, and, always, the joy of introducing your favorite titles to patrons who come back and thank you for the recommendation.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

That looks really good, Kathy. The only thing I might change is the intro:

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always wanted to be a librarian. When I was young, I was sure it would be wonderful to be surrounded by books all day long.

When I was putting my statement together, this is something that across the board people said not to do. The reason was that almost everyone does it. You have a lot of interesting, engaging info in your piece and you don't want to lose them because they've seen this intro in so many other statements, you know?

Good point. I guess it is a bit cliched, even if it is the truth.

Thanks, Vortex! Every word in that paragraph is the complete truth.

I'm glad I posted it here--I found I missed a word in the last paragraph. So much for my proofreading abilities...

Good point. I guess it is a bit cliched, even if it is the truth.

You should make up some story about how a mysterious stranger introduced you to a love of libraries....

Kathy, I second Vortex's LOVE for that paragraph, and in general, I think your statement hits just the right note. What I always hear from lib school types is that they really dread the sort of starry-eyed "I want to be a librarian because I just LUV books and want to play with them all day!!!1!1" essays that a lot of people write; they're looking for applicants who have some clue about what librarianship really entails. Yours has the genuine enthusiasm of the scary essays, but with a nice transition to "I really do know what I'm getting into -- and I'm even more into this thing because I do". Plus, better punctuation.

You should make up some story about how a mysterious stranger introduced you to a love of libraries....

Or how Party Girl is your favorite movie?