I got the opportunity (thanks to a library friend and mentor) to serve on an ALA scholarship committee this year. Although I have somehow gotten my deadlines all discombobulated, tonight I used up my insomnia time wisely, and theraputically read through the application materials.

I'm advised not to talk about the specifics of the pool of applicants, and I won't even mention which one I am working on. What I can say (I think!) is that it is really amazing to read about hopes and dreams of each of these people, and the concrete plans they all have to transform all these things into reality. Some of them have made me want to cry, some make me want to meet the person, and for some I can't believe I haven't met them already. I can't help getting nostalgic about my own application letters and thinking back to what my expectations and dreams were when I first applied to SLIS.

Anyhow, a big thanks to my library mentor who suggested my name, I think she knew that I would really enjoy this.

In general I'm also trying to slow down lately. I know that even though I am surrounded by degreed librarians and librarians-to-be, we don't spend enough time talking about the really amazing aspects of librarianship. I'll try to talk to all of them a little more about what brought them to the profession, and what their goals and dreams are (and how they compare to what they were, pre-MLS?).