I know it's just the circles I run in, but I'm always surprised when an Episcopal priest isn't gay.

I wouldn't mind, Kathy.

Good! I just want to make sure I covered all the points and didn't cut it off at the end too abruptly (I was just tired of writing it and it's already about 100 words over the minimum).

Here it is:

In my childhood, libraries were a refuge, and I idealized the people who worked there. But as I grew up and started working in libraries, first as a volunteer, and then 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 on 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 getting lost in 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 need answers to. Education is the key, and a master’s degree in library science is the way to get those skills.

An MLS is a degree I’ve always wanted to pursue, but life, and finances, got in the way. After twenty years of accumulating work experiences in various related fields, I’ve reached a point where I need to expand my knowledge of research tools, and I feel that the library science program is the best way to do so.

The fields of both legal publishing and library science are changing as rapidly as most professions are in this constantly shifting world, in both economical and technological ways. To keep up, one needs to broaden one’s skill set to remain a viable asset to the profession. However, certain things remain central to anyone in the business of providing information—being able to ascertain what information is needed, knowing how to get it, being able to convey that information efficiently, and, if one is lucky, passing on some researching skills to the person asking for the information.

In my opinion, teaching a person how to do their own research is an important part of providing information. People might have problems when it comes to asking for the information (shyness, lack of interest in tracking through the layers of bureaucracy to talk to just the right person), but giving them the option of knowing how to find the answers themselves is empowering and something I enjoy passing on to those I help.

Some quick initial thoughts:

In my childhood, libraries were a refuge, and I idealized the people who worked there. But as I grew up and started working in libraries, first as a volunteer, and then 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.

Maybe add a sentence about why you idealized the people or thought that they had a great job.

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 on minimum budgets.

I think that this needs an introductory sentence.

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

this could be a good introductory sentence.

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.

Instead of "contact", maybe something like "communicate with"?

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 getting lost in 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 need answers to.

these are fragments, they need different punctuation

An MLS is a degree I’ve always wanted to pursue,

a little too passive, I think.

After twenty years of accumulating work experiences in various related fields, I’ve reached a point where I need to expand my knowledge of research tools,

why? you should expand on this.

However, certain things remain central to anyone in the business of providing information—being able to ascertain what information is needed, knowing how to get it, being able to convey that information efficiently, and, if one is lucky, passing on some researching skills to the person asking for the information.

this is awesome.

I'm not getting the contribution part, unless you mean by teaching others to do research?

That's really nice, Kathy.

Yes, that's the only "contribution" I can think of that will be different than most other applicants. I like the idea of using teaching as a way to stand out. To be quite blunt, if I can just be a regular librarian, albeit a good one, I'll be happy. For me, contribution means passing stuff on to the people you help, not being some innovator in the field.

I’ve reached a point where I need to expand my knowledge of research tools,

why? you should expand on this.

How about if I say "need to add to my knowledge of research tools so I can expand my job prospects in the future"?

How about if I say "need to add to my knowledge of research tools so I can expand my job prospects in the future"?

I think you'd want to play up the helping-people angle there, at least in addition.

I've decided that Halloween is going to be our Great Big Holiday. We're entertaining a dozen 3-6 year olds tomorrow night with games and goodies. I've got a carved, seedless watermelon brain in the fridge, 4 dozen Halloween cut out cookies to be decorated by the kids and pre-made no-sew fleece hats in black, orange and white to be decorated into pumpkins, skeletons and ghosts for a craft.

Oh, and five carved pumpkins with assorted hanging skeletons, witches and ghosts.

Timelies all!

My folks are coming through town this weekend on their way to Florida. Hopefully the house is clean enough...