When I decided to pursue a Master's degree in Library and Information Science, most people were surprised. After all, I had already earned an MA and PhD in English. My previous work involved either editing, writing, or teaching, and I had never worked a single day in a library. So, to many people, my enrollment at the iSchool appeared to be a fairly sharp turn in my career path, especially since they had only a vague sense of what library and information science might entail. Thus, my choice was met with skepticism and uncertainty rather than with wholehearted approval.
When I started, however, most people immediately recognized that I had embarked upon a career that excited me. It was fairly obvious that I was enjoying my work as I could not stop talking about my classes. And, unlike my previous graduate career, my move toward library and information science gave me cause for optimism rather than self-doubt. I discovered that I was fascinated by a wide variety of subjects. On reflection, this fascination makes sense; indeed, library science fits well with many of my interests.
For instance, my background in teaching allowed me to think deeply about information literacy. My love of books gave me the enthusiasm needed for book talks. My experience with research fed my interest in reference services, user needs, and collection development. My study of language was furthered when I had to consider the concrete ramifications of subject analysis. My work as a copyeditor made me develop the sharp eye for detail that is needed when cataloging or writing HTML code. My employment in web publishing suggested that I would be intrigued by designing web pages. I found myself fascinated by nearly every class I took, and I was reluctant to confine my study to a specialized aspect of the field because I developed strong interests in many areas in library science.
The Library of Alencon
As much as I enjoyed my courses, however, I could not be sure that I would have equal passion for my work; I did not have any practical experience with library and information science. At the beginning of my second year, though, I found my first job in a library when I started to work for the University of Washington Libraries. My work at the UW Libraries only reaffirmed my sense that I was on the right path. Again, I could not stop talking about my job, and I found myself smiling on the way to work each day. I became involved in projects that ranged from reference services to digital initiatives to information literacy to collection development. Like I had with my classes, I found myself interested in all of them and eager to learn from a variety of people and departments. This breadth of experience has been one of the most significant parts of my graduate career, and I was fascinated to see how the ideas that had intrigued me during my coursework came to life in practical contexts.
What was most interesting about my experience in a library is that it parallels my experience in my classes: I felt almost instantly at home in this field. Even when I was inexperienced, I never felt lost; even when I was faced with challenges, I never felt unsure of my ability to rise to the occasion. I felt like I had found the right place for me with almost frightening certainty. With that observation in mind and when considering that library science fits neatly with my previous experience, I cannot help but come to this conclusion: my decision to pursue a career in library and information services was not really a career change at all; rather, it was the logical step in the path on which I had been traveling ever since I fell in love with words.
Under the rubric of library and information science, I found a way to bring together my passion for books, my fascination with knowledge, my attraction to words, and my need to provide valuable service to people. I learned how to apply my knowledge in real-life situations, and I recognized that the analytical skills I developed in my first round with graduate school will indeed make me a stronger and more efficient librarian. When I look back on the previous two years, I can see that my decision to pursue a career in library and information services should, actually, have come as no surprise at all.