Well, my last day at this job is October 31st, and I don’t have another job lined up yet, but I figure it’s too soon to panic. I’ve been saving money all year, planning for the worst, and trying to figure out what I should really be doing with my life instead of this.
Well, last night I found out I got ACCEPTED to the School of Library and Information Sciences Graduate Program at the University of South Florida! I’m going to be a librarian – perhaps even a law librarian! I will start in January, and I can do the majority of the classes online, via distance learning, so I don’t have to move from the Orlando area to Tampa. Now I just need to get a job – perferably something in a local library, even part-time, and I’ll be good to go.
I hated law school and ended up with mediocre grades, after excelling throughout high school and college. I never wanted to be there, hated the Socratic Method, hated the professors, and never fit in with most of the people. I never wanted to practice law anyway (especially in a private firm environment), and even though my job for the last 11 months has been as well-suited for me as a legal job possibly could be, it’s almost over, and I have a feeling I’m moving onto a much better path.
Wow, January. I’ll be back in school, even if I’ll mostly be there in a virtual capacity. I think I would make a great librarian, and I thank all the Dopers who have answered my questions about MLS programs and librarian careers so far, especially Sampiro. For the first time in five years, I feel hopeful and excited about my future. Who knew I had it in me anymore?
SQUEEEEEE! Grats, grats! I’m waiting to hear back from the San Jose State Univ MLIS program myself…channel some of your good fortune my way, if you please. And welcome to the wonderful world of librarianship! May you make lotsa dough as a law librarian in some academic or private law forum.
Thanks so much! I’ve been working in a University Library as support staff/technical services full-time going on 5 years now. I was really lucky to get this job at my age and while completing my B.A. in literature on the same campus – nothing like having work and school in the same place! My tasks include all the behind the scenes grunt work: I do a lot of ordering and cataloging, and atm most of my time is taken up by e-resources purchasing and cataloging. We have over 4,600 e-journal holdings now (not including e-books, databases and integrating resources). It’s madness I tell you!
And yeah, being a paraprofessional cataloger is not something I can do my whole life. While all of the new technology is a challenge and keeps up the variety, I really, really want to work with people. You know, assist them with their research while engendering a love of literature and information literacy. And so, MLIS here I come!
If you ever want to chat/network/pick my brain (for cataloging stuff), my e-mail is in my profile. And be sure to checkout Web Junction, an awesome online community for library staff. Best of luck!!!
Yay Lou!!! I refuse to stifle my excitement for you. Just try to shush me.
It sure is nice to see you excited about life again. You’re gonna be hippest, coolest librarian evah! Just think of all the nerdy-sexy chicks wearing glasses in your future.
And welcome to the wonderful world of librarianship! May you make lotsa dough as a law librarian in some academic or private law forum.