It took me three years to get from “starting to think about library science” to “starting library and information science school to become an archivist.” I’m a late bloomer, what can I say? But when it comes down to it, this is how I got from “that could be cool” to “this is my life.
Why Library and Information Science?
The People. Truly, this was my gateway into the field. I have spent a lot of time at bookstores and libraries, across the US, and my key takeaway: I like people who like books. I took the next step and started volunteering at my local public library; I discovered that I liked shelving books and helping people find what books. I also talked with archivists during this period and took an informal trip to visit Simmons College GSLIS, my current school. What I heard clicked with my interests and aspirations, and – deal clincher – everyone was nice.
Professional Principles. I am a proponent of literacy and education; I think they are the building blocks of success. I believe in access for all, because I know that everyone does not have the benefit of high-quality education or home technology. I believe that bad books are great conversation starters, and good books are even better. I believe that if I can’t afford to go on a vacation, a good book is the next best thing. I believe that everyone can learn something at the library about themselves or the world they live in; or at least check out that movie they keep missing on TV.
My Background. I was an English major in college, and minored in Political Science and International Studies; I considered going into publishing and the Foreign Service, but ended up in the research/consulting industry after I graduated. My interests, as you can see, are broad, as are my skill sets. Research taught me how to organize my thoughts well, organize documents according to how people would read them, and to determine what people are looking for when they ask broad questions like, “What’s the best way to manage performance?” Little did I know, these are information science skills.
Why Archives?
The Documents. In college, I feel in love with the personal letters of authors and fiction written in that form. My family has an extensive history that is recorded in the stories my grandmother tells and the family letters and photos that remain. I myself love sending letters and postcards; I find physically writing so much more therapeutic than word-processing. The history and personality of those items is exquisite, even when they don’t belong to Ben Franklin or Steve Jobs.
The Field. I enjoy the way librarians and archivists think about access, as the field evolves to apply technology. And books are cool, as are documents, but information organization is so much cooler. How will people search for this item? How can I title it and organize it to make it accessible? What’s the best way to advertise this item and the collection as a whole? Libraries encompass some of these issues as well, but letters and records and other documents – all that knowledge management comes in handy.
In conclusion: Let’s be clear, I cannot be sure if I’ve chosen my future profession exactly; I’m very much a believer in working hard, asking lots of questions, and taking opportunities when I find them or they come my way. But I’m headed in the right direction, even if the road is paved with chapters upon chapters of reading about different paper types.
Stephanie Bennett 