This post was originally published as an assignment for INFO 200 Information Communities at the School of Information at San José State University.
Okay, I think I figured out what I want to do when I grow up. I just turned 50 a week ago. It’s supposed to be some sort of major milestone right? Thanks to 5 months of sheltering in place due to COVID-19, it really just felt like every other day of this blurred year. Yet this has been a time of forced reflection and clarity.
I have worked in libraries 3 separate times over the last 20 years, so I think I need to come to terms with the natural pull the culture has on my soul. My finger has been hovering over the submit button to apply to this graduate program for almost 3 years. My greatest weakness is my indecisiveness. I just simply could not decide if I should pursue the MLIS or devote all of my energy to my art and design business. I confess I have a hard time deciding what to order at a restaurant, so the thought of making such a commitment has been a struggle.
The pandemic hit and I realized I needed something to keep me focused and ensure I was able to contribute in some meaningful way to the emerging digital communities. I see a big fundamental shift coming to our established systems. Education, museums, libraries, visual and performing arts will need to continue to adapt to an increasingly virtual world. I love libraries. But I also love art, technology, and research. This degree appeals to me because it touches on all of my interests. I believe that the study of Information and Library Science will help me develop the skills to contribute to this inevitable shift. I’m not sure what that is yet, but I do know that learning is the best way to find out.
Oddly enough, when I mentioned to my dad that I was thinking of pursuing an MLIS he told me that my grandmother had done this in her fifties. Holy smokes! It’s been with me the whole time and I didn’t even realize it.
A little more about me. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. In the 1990s, I moved to Arcosanti and lived there for nearly ten years. I now live in Phoenix, Arizona with my husband who is also an artist. Our twin daughters just started their junior year of college together in Massachusetts. This summer we lost 2 elderly pets, so now we just have 1 dog and 1 cat. The nest grows emptier all the time.
Librarian stereotypes that apply to me: introvert, crazy cat lady, knitter, cardigans.
Confession: it has been quite a while since I really dove into a good book.