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...

Good points, everyone!! I think I've tightened it up considerably. I added on ", as well as pass on that new knowledge to co-workers and others" to expand on the teaching part, and incorporated most of Vortex's suggestions, as well. Thanks!!!

I wanna go to Cashmere's party.

Kathy, it looks really great. The only thing I'd caution you on is that most MLS essays start with growing up loving the library. Is there another aspect of libraries/librarians that you could emphasize that might make you stand out from the crowd?