On the bus, I started skimming through the introductory chapter of an introductory textbook to one of my introductory library science classes.
I was immediately bored.
Well, not bored exactly, but asking myself “why is this important?” This opening chapter explained that the book would use the term “information package” to refer to all could-be-cataloged materials, be it book, CD, or website, because there were just too many variables to simply call these things “items.”
And deep down I had the slightest little twinge of… panic. I thought, “Oh no. Is this what every library science class will be like? The meta of metadata? The splitting of hairs?”
Well, sure, some of it might be like that. Every field has examples of analysis that goes too far (too far for some people… like me). In English studies, one could debate the finer points of using a dash (-) instead of an ellipsis (which I almost exclusively use according to the Rainwater definition of “a unit of three small dots that signifies a trailing off in thought”). In Linguistics there might be colleagues not speaking to each other over disagreements on the amorphous schwa. This kind of thing is bound to happen wherever you have an abundance of over-educated people.
So I decided that I needed to give myself something to keep nearby for those moments when I ask “Is this all there is?” which will probably happen quite often before this whole graduate school adventure is over. I need to write out my own personal reasons for studying library science, my own personal ideas of what I want to do when I’m done. Then, whenever I start to wonder if I’m in the right profession, I’ll look over my little manifesto and ask myself if it still applies and remind myself that libraries come in many, many different manifestations. Thus I will maintain some optimism.
10 comments
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August 15, 2006 9:59 am at 9:59 am
fallenposters
I’m not sure if you’re already aware of this website. If not, it might give you a comical insight on life after library school.
August 15, 2006 10:27 am at 10:27 am
Devon
Michelle says many of her classes have nothing to do with what she’ll actually be doing as a librarian. I’d say the same about my experience in grad school. A lot of it is just jumping through hoops. I think having your own list of reasons, your own goals etc. is a great idea to remind yourself what’s important to you.
August 16, 2006 7:47 am at 7:47 am
Jennifer
Good luck with library school! As one who is currently engaged in studying for an MLS, I can say that the classes are generally better than the textbooks. I venture to guess that you will ask yourself “Is this all there is?” quite a few times. But, hopefully, you’ll have some moments where it all makes sense too.
August 16, 2006 9:37 am at 9:37 am
Andrew
Thank you for this post — truly serendipitous for me, because I am currently working on my essay for application to library school, and so I’m struggling with writing my own personal reasons for wanting to go.
I’ve also borrowed one of the first texts for the program, and it’s the driest textbook I’ve ever cracked open! (It’s also from ‘99, so its suitability for learning current “Online Retrieval” practice is questionable.)
Thank you for your insights, and best wishes in your program.
August 16, 2006 10:49 am at 10:49 am
Emily
My thoughts exactly a couple of years ago when I started. For me, Library School courses were little more than a complete waste of time, and very little of what was covered has helped me at all in the real world. The courses for the most part were outdated, boring, and geared towards, shall we say, some of the students with very little to contribute to the field in the long run. I did get something out of a marketing class I took, taught by a non-librarian, and one class in information literacy teaching techniques. Too bad these were both short summer courses!
August 17, 2006 8:31 am at 8:31 am
epist
Thank you for the comments! It’s good to hear that I’m not the only one. Over the past couple days, as I’ve been going to workshops in our graduate assistant orientation process, I’ve been drafting the manifesto in my head. So far one of the things I like best about library sciences (this might sound cheesy) is the people. Library folks are just so cool in their own off-kilter nerdy way. Even the shy quiet ones can be funny once they start talking. Finding all these funky people surprises me… if librarians can be so funky, why are the classes & books so… not. ?
August 17, 2006 6:12 pm at 6:12 pm
bp
I agree with you abotu the people. It’s the absolute best thing. I’ve always been the eccentric one in any group, and now everyone’s eccentric. It’s awesome!
August 21, 2006 2:03 pm at 2:03 pm
Jesse
To be honest, you go to library school so you can get the rubber-stamp that allows library directors to hire you as a librarian. That’s all you can really expect to get out of it.
With a few exceptions, library school classes are not where you learn to be a librarian. When it comes to my real-life library job, I learned 99% of the skills I use as a Borders bookseller (long ago – customer service skills and ready reference) and as a programmer (a decade of full-time tech work).
To be frank, a Masters in Library Science is not difficult to get. It really should be an undergraduate degree, with graduate programs on specialized topics (archive development, management, etc.).
Just jump through the hoops for 2 years – after that, things will be much more interesting.
- Jesse
August 23, 2006 9:04 pm at 9:04 pm
epist
Well, I disagree with Jesse. I’ve heard this same perspective from several people, and even held it myself for a while. Now that I’m starting school, meeting the faculty, talking to people, and getting a glimpse of the research happening here, I am thrilled to dig in.
Basically, it’s about attitude. If you go into library school with the mantra “this is just for the job, this is just for the job” then you’ll be bored/miserable the whole time. But if you go into it with open goals – say, leave the possibility of a phd open – then you’ll find all sorts of things to get involved with. This is exactly why it was so important to me to do an on-campus degree rather than online. I’ve already worked with three different libraries on campus, I’m learning all sorts of things from these experiences, which will supplement what I learn in class. In my manifesto, I’m brainstorming paper topics so I can keep a consistent body of research going throughout my classes, which can be developed into a thesis / dissertation or possibly a published piece.
So to all you library science students – why would you pay this much for a union card? If you’re going to put time and effort into your degree, make it worthwhile and seek out any and every opportunity you can.
August 24, 2006 11:12 pm at 11:12 pm
Blackthorpe
Very well put! Two years of jumping through hoops is not going to get you anywhere. Why waste the time? No, go in and get as much out of it as you can; you can learn a lot if you want to and give it your attention. It made all the difference with my Master’s program, which is why I got so much more out of it than my undergrad.