The Background Story

So I had to write a lot of essays this winter about why I wanted to be a librarian while I was applying to schools. I will not subject you to those essays. I imagine, however, if you’ve managed to find this blog and you aren’t my roommate or my boyfriend (the ever patient editors of those countless essays), you might wonder why I’d want to be a librarian.

First, I’m a nerd. I like nerdy and academic things. I love school and I love finding, learning and retaining even the most useless bits of information. This is evidenced by my near-obsessive love for Trivial Pursuit. The idea of going to school and learning how to help people learn and find facts just sounds so up my alley.

Secondly, I really believe, having worked in the computing and academic environments so long, in freedom of information, freedom of expression and freedom of learning. These are all things that librarians hold dear. Again, right up my alley.

Thirdly, it’s time for a career update/change. I’ve realized, nearly 10 years after graduating from college, that I really do like working in academia. Yes, the politics and, yes, the students can be really annoying, but I like working in an environment where learning and research are the primary goals at the end of the day. What I don’t like is that in my current job, I’m not very closely attached to that learning and research. I want to be closer to them, more supportive of them and even participate in them. Librarianship would let me do that.

Fourthly, I would become a Classicist, but I enjoy eating (I left this part out of all my grad school apps).

Lastly, I really dig it. I know librarians and work with them. While I don’t like all the librarians I’ve met personally, I do like what they do.

So there. I hope that answers your questions.