When I was a little girl, before I started school, my mom
took me to my local public library’s children’s programs. They were free, gave
me a change of scenery and since I already loved to read, it didn’t take much
to get me excited about going to the library. To prepare me for going to
kindergarten in the upcoming years, she called it “library school.” For the longest time, I assumed this was a
normal stage in a kid’s life. If someone asked me if I went to preschool, I
would always say, no I went to library school, as if it was a perfectly logical
substitution. (Of course, in my mind, it was. It wasn’t until much later in
life I realized library programs didn’t technically
qualify as a formal preschool education.) So it’s with no small sense of irony
that I’ve reached a stage in my adult life where I’m applying to MLIS programs,
only to find out that it’s called “library school.” I’ve since managed to
reconcile it in my head: Well, future doctors go to medical school,
veterinarians to veterinary school, lawyers to law school, so of course librarians would go to library school. Still,
I can’t tell you how much my mom and I chuckle over how my life seems to be
bookended (pun most definitely intended) by “library school.”
Except for sharing with my immediate family, I’d kept my decision
to change careers and go to library school to myself. From previous grad school
experience, I’ve learned that the waiting is bad enough without people asking
how the applications are coming and if I’ve heard anything from the schools
yet. I just got my first acceptance letter last week, so I’m relieved to know
that I will definitely be going “back” to library school this fall. Now that I
know I’m going somewhere, I’ve begun to let more people in on my decision. The
feedback thus far has been supportive, for which I’m extremely grateful, but
it’s funny (though maybe not particularly surprising) that when offering
support, people are saying they can definitely see me in a career with
books.
I have to admit I get a certain amount of satisfaction by
that. Books are a major part of my life. I’ve always been known as the girl who
never goes anywhere without a book. I use my 2nd bedroom as a
library (although the books spill over into every room in the house). I am
categorized by my love of reading. As far as I’m concerned, these are all good
things. At the same time, though, I want to shake these people by the shoulders
and tell them that being a librarian is so much more than dealing with books
because libraries are so much more than books!
This discrepancy between the perception and reality of
libraries, especially public libraries, was the impetus for my career change. From a toddler into adulthood, I’ve gotten so
much from libraries; books to be sure, but the social experiences are so much
more important. My early “library school” experiences were more than story
time. There were crafts, games and interactions with other kids my age and
adults beyond my family circle that I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. As an
adult I’ve attended lectures, workshops and discussions dealing with movies, food
and museums all of which go far beyond books. Libraries
really are a school of their own, able to teach their communities a range of subject
matter limited only by the patrons’ imaginations. The Library has been an
important part of shaping who I am as a person. I believe that’s what they do
best; they use their resources to mold the minds of young and old alike.
Keeping that in mind, I proudly say that I’m studying to be a librarian and with
a knowing smile I tell people I’ll be doing that at library school.
