Directions for completing statement of purpose:
*Please discuss (in approximately 1 page, single-spaced) motivation for graduate study in this field, professional plans after completing this degree program, and how this degree program will help me achieve my goals. Include additional relevant details about my professional, academic, or personal history that may make me stand out. Please also see my resume attached and personalize it to relate my experience working in customer service and as a teacher.
Below is a description of the program for which I am applying:
The Master of Science in Information enables students to gain a solid foundation in areas such as general librarianship, information architecture & technology, information needs & services, youth information needs & services, as well as design an individualized program of study. Students will gain the theoretical basis needed to build the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to function effectively in professional positions within Information Studies. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of the profession, in order to analyze critically their current role(s) and establish future directions for the information fields, gain knowledge of techniques and skills that underlie basic information activities, and develop the ability to adapt to changing demands and opportunities for information provision within society, including the application of emerging techniques and technologies. The field of Information blends the basic human need for information with involvement in cutting-edge technology and the development of systems for acquiring, storing, organizing and delivering information. The critical function of the information professional is to fit human needs to information systems rather than requiring humans to fit information systems.
The Master of Science and the Master of Arts degrees are accredited with Continued status by the American Library Association (ALA).
Below is an example of a Statement of Purpose I would like mine to be modeled after.
I often ask myself what the face of information looks like. Some people think of Steve Jobs, Al Gore, or Edward Snowden. Albeit the last one does not often look so cheery, the first two represent well what information could and should look like–or at least what the people who present it should look like. An enthusiastic tone, a welcoming face, and a passion for information all make reference desks more approachable.
Entering a historic or university library sometimes gives me the feeling that I am in a museum. While that feeling is understandable and appropriate to some extent, it can also leave one feeling isolated from the closely protected resources and information. Librarians have the unique responsibility of not only protecting the librarys resources, but also guiding people toward the knowledge they are seeking. When I think of the librarians role as communicator, the Socratic dialogue with Meno’s slave comes to mind. The librarian, like Socrates, must find a balance between suggesting research ideas and letting the researcher come to ideas of their own. It is better to appear approachable and ready to help than to be either elusive or too attentive. Aaron Schmidt, a writer for libraryjournal.com, touches on this problem in his 2011 entry. In the short piece “Revamping Reference,” Schmidt says, “Just the way librarians develop a command of information resources, they should also develop a greater understanding of people.”
Because of my work history in customer service, I notice when those in public positions do not make an effort to be approachable and friendly. For whatever reason, I have often experienced this problem in libraries; it took me three years to approach my university library for anything other than a stamp on the inside cover. The desk attendant stares blindly at a computer screen and when the patron approaches, more oft than not, they misdirect to an electronic catalog where the patron finds themselves lost and overloaded with too much information; it is almost as if the technological changes in the information industry are reflected in the current librarians affectations, which is unfortunate given that the importance and value of the physical library is an ever-growing concern. Many of the informal questions I have posed to 30 years or older college graduates focused on the differences between todays librarians and those past. The number one answer has to do with the way librarians used to have so much cross-departmental knowledge and were excellent sources in their search of excellent sources. Librarians today mirror Socrates’ famed thoughts on the written word leading to the degradation of memory. Computer databases, and even card catalogues to an extent, have eased the pressure on a librarian to know. Thus, it is up to the rising contemporary librarian to be approachable, and to identify the needs of the readership through effective communications and concentrated, thoughtful dialogue.
In an age where information seekers are more and more keen to avoid human interactions, it becomes increasingly important for a staff or research librarian to be able to communicate effectively and present themselves as kempt and knowledgeable professionals. This involves backing away from a computer screen and engaging the communitys readership and researchers. With an affectionate smile and a wealth of knowledge, the librarian must be available to share their expertise at every opportunity. The only way to keep a physical library viable into the future is to make sure that the staff is approachable, communicable, and knowledgeable.
Identify your professional goals and discuss how the MLIS program at ______ University will help you achieve those goals. Provide specific examples.
In my time at __________, I want to learn strategies that will allow me to establish myself as an approachable, effective librarian. The communal proponent of __________ MLIS program will push me to better understand the people who need to access information systems as well as the communities that they come from. By working across diverse disciplines, I will learn skills essential to helping researchers across many fields. I want to be known for my ability to guide others through all types of media in their search for information. The chance to work with regional libraries through the program will hopefully offer hands on experience in a real world setting. Once I have established myself as an effective librarian, I will seek leadership opportunities in the community so I can pass on to others what I have learned. I will strive to excel to the point that I have the opportunity to supervise a team of library professionals that will work together to positively impact the community.
I want to be a part of a system that not only supplies the information, but joins in the ongoing dialogue of access and information freedom. I want to be a part of the enormous shift that has already begun from printed word to electronic media, exploring ways to further expand accessibility to information through technology. Through all of this, I hope to also maintain sight of the integrity and value of the physical word, and a physical place to seek and absorb information.
How has your background and experience prepared you to interact effectively with individuals of diverse communities and perspectives?
Past educational and professional endeavors have exposed me to a range of ideas and cultural systems. In my undergraduate experience, I was a purveyor of philosophical ideals. I sought out courses that would challenge my thoughts and force me to question the systems we live by. Part of this involved understanding the cultural and social differences between folks from other cultures. Two years into my philosophy major I decided to pursue a degree in writing and make philosophy my secondary field. An area I was most interested in was rhetorical displays; the way that different cultures are discussed and referenced in different mediums appealed to me. That eventually led me to study the inherent biases in the education system. I found many authors of educational methods had ethnocentric ideas, and hardly anyone discussed the problems of approaching a multi-racial classroom. I have always worked customer service jobs. They have required me to help others regardless of who they are. Fairness and kindness regardless of race, creed, or orientation has always been of utmost importance to me. In my professional life I consciously look for ways to spread equality and respect for everyone the working environment. In my experience, having an effective team in a retail environment means having respect for fellow employees, and playing into individual strengths.
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