MLIS Personal Statement Essay Draft 2

I remember as a child going to the Fort Knox Barr Library every Sunday with my mother and siblings. I would see librarians shelving books, checking out books and helping patrons find materials. I was so fascinated, that I fell in love with libraries immediately. My love for libraries grew so much that I became a candy stripper librarian aide at the Hardin Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. I later became a high school library aide my senior year. While at Western Kentucky University, I became a library aide at the Bowling Green Public Library in Bowling Green, Kentucky. I got my BA in Library Media Education, History & Social Studies from Western Kentucky University. In addition to academic work, my experience also includes professional development training in libraries, working as a full time school librarian for two years, member of American Library Association, and Accelerated Reader Program Coordinator.  School librarians have changed over the years. School librarians don’t sit behind the desk, read books and shhhh patrons all day, school librarian job description have changed. School librarians workload range from primary technology integration specialist, overseeing and participating in the daily functions,  operation and services of a school library media center, supervises staff assigned to the school library media center, cataloguing, classifying and preparing all books, journals videos for circulation and assisting students, teachers and others in researching/locating materials and information.  Many school librarians have evolved because of technology. Technology has changed the way school librarians teach and share information. . When you walk into a school library you see computers, smart boards, printers ipads, ebooks and etc. Today’s school  librarians are not afraid to use or teach technology skills. I noticed the other day a librarian was helping someone at the computer. I was amazed, because it wouldn’t have happen when I was a child. The only technology librarians knew back then was vcr, overhead projectors and television. If you ask them for help at the computer they would try their best to help you and if the problem wasn’t solve then he or she would leave you and the computer alone.  I myself was one of those librarians thirteen years ago. During my undergrad, I didn't like to use a computer unless it was the Internet. To me technology was just trouble. Over the years, I have grown to love technology and use it quite often. However the major skill that I still lack in is technology leadership. I get upset, because I don’t know how to operate the latest technology equipment (ipad, kindle, iphone etc) or software(Windows 8, Dreamweaver etc). How am I going to integrate technology in the classroom/library, help plan technology programming, purchase and maintain equipment and train teachers when I myself don’t know how to use the latest technology devices. This made me realize that I needed to get an advance degree in Library Studies. My advance degree will be in School Library Media. School Library Media is a degree program that will prepare me to teach library skills to elementary and secondary students, meet students and teachers informational needs, emerge technology, expand my knowledge of the school library media field and run the school library media center on a daily basis.  This degree will allow me teach in New Jersey school districts for a couple of years. After working as a media specialist, I can/will serve as the director of Instructional Technology & Library Services for ten years. After retiring from the school system, I would like to earn my PH.D in information and library studies from Rutgers University. Once I earn my PH.D I plan to work as a professional librarian in the Academic and Public Library. In conclusion what sets me apart from other graduate school candidates is my tenacity to get things done, leadership skills, ability to work with others and assess & appropriately respond to situations.

 

MLIS ESSAY

I am trying to get into graduate school. Can someone critique my essay.  Thanks.

I remember as a child going to the Fort Knox Barr Library every Sunday with my mother and siblings. I would see librarians shelving books, checking out books and helping patrons find materials. I was so fascinated, that I fell in love with libraries immediately. My love for libraries grew so much that I became a candy stripper librarian aide at the Hardin Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. I later became a high school library aide my senior year. While at Western Kentucky University, I became a library aide at the Bowling Green Public Library in Bowling Green, Kentucky. I got my BA in Library Media Education, History & Social Studies from Western Kentucky University. In addition to academic work, my experience also includes professional development training in libraries, working as a full time school librarian for two years, member of American Library Association, and Accelerated Reader Program Coordinator. Now all of this sounds and looks good on a resume, but I still lack some skills as a school librarian.  One major skill that I lacked in is technology leadership. I would get upset, because I didn’t know how to operate that latest technology equipment. How was I going to integrate technology in the classroom, help plan technology programming, purchase and maintain equipment and train teachers when I myself didn’t know how to use the latest technology gadgets. This made me realize that I needed to get an advance degree in Library Studies. My advance degree will be in School Library Media. School Library Media is a degree program that will prepare me to teach library skills to elementary and secondary students, meet students and teachers informational needs, expand my knowledge of the school library media field and run the school library media center on a daily basis.  This degree will allow me teach in New Jersey school districts for a couple of years. After working as a media specialist, I can/will serve as the director of Instructional Technology & Library Services for ten years. After retiring from the school system, I would like to earn my PH.D in information and library studies from Rutgers University. Once I earn my ph.d I plan to work as a professional librarian in the Academic and Public Library. In conclusion what sets me apart from other graduate school candidates is my tenacity to get things done, leadership skills, ability to work with others and assess & appropriately respond to situations.