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Lauren Corder
University of Washington
Distance Master of Library and Information Science
Home
My Resume
My Work
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Introduction
My Path to Becoming a Librarian
 I
should have known I was destined to become a librarian. As an eight-year-old child, I was already
shelving my books with a "Dewey" system of my own creation. In fact, I have kept
one of the books with its homemade label affixed to its spine. The label says
"B" and "S", "Fact" and "Science." (I'm not sure now what my abbreviations
meant. "B" for book? "S" for Science?) Anyway, I know I loved books!
Unfortunately, as I prepared for a career, it never occurred to me to
become a librarian. I taught high school English and German and later went into
business for myself. While in business, I began teaching myself the rudiments of
designing web pages. That is where the restlessness began. I wondered if there
were something more I could do to develop my skills. I applied for and was
accepted to the University of Washington's distance Master of Library and Information Science
program. Thus began a rewarding and challenging journey!
Milestones along the Path
Somewhat like the human development
pattern reflected in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, my growth takes on a
pyramid shape to be read from the bottom up:
The portfolio of my experiences during
my time as a student at the University of Washington's iSchool shows a
progression: My education began with intellectual growth and an expansion
of my technical skills. As I progressed, I was able to share my newly formed
abilities with others in my volunteer work through teaching and
leadership
positions. The pinnacle of the program and of my abilities is to be able to use
everything I have learned in service to my community as a
librarian.
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