I really can't stay away.

[icepixie]

This is me checking out where/when I can take the GRE this summer.

Yeah, I figure there's a greater-than-50%-chance I'm gonna be in Knoxville in fall 2007 (or possibly 2008, depending on how the next eight months go job-wise), starting an MLIS program that will theoretically lead to either public or reference librarianship. They require GRE scores from a test taken at least one semester before application (which is, I believe, in April).

Ack ack ack. When did I start wanting to become a grad student? Am I insane?

And should it be worrying me that my first thought upon deciding (pretty much) on this course of action is, "Wheee, I'll have access to a university library and online resources again!"? I think my love for JSTOR borders on the mentally unstable.

*

Also, Virtual ScaperCon. Oh, yes.

Comments

[icepixie]

I have to admit, I never really was able to see you doing lawyer-y things for the rest of your life. I could never in a million years do well at journalism; I could write feature articles on a freelance basis (although that's usually for magazines), but I think I'd crumple up and cry if I had to meet impossible deadline after impossible deadline like staff reporters do.

I've also gotten the impression that in many publishign houses, the employees spend more time on either financial stuff or schmoozing with authors and agents than they do on reading and editing, which are of course what I'd be in it for. I know there are some out there that aren't like that, but it would probably be difficult to find them.

Of the remaining ideas, librarianship has a certain romance to it that government jobs lack. Plus, it promises a fantastic work environment, and intelligent coworkers.

Not to mention fantastic job security and what promises to be an extraordinarily great job market in the next few years; I hear that something like 40% of librarians in the US are within five years of retirement or something like that, and there's going to be a massive increase in job openings.

Since I don't plan to get rich (or have a family that needs supporting), I don't need anything better than a mediocre paycheck, so that's no problem.

God, you do sound like me. :) I want a paycheck large enough to buy a tiny little house, a tiny little car, and keep me and a cat or two in food, cable internet, and DVDs.

The rest of my summer? Um... sitting around, doing a few odd jobs for pay, trying to come up with a plan for my future. Oh, and reading an awful lot.

I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only '06 Kenyon grad with no concrete plans yet. Some people in our class are scary--they had jobs lined up before they graduated, and are planning to take over the world by the time they're thirty, or something. I don't even know what I'm doing next week. Besides reading some more books, that is.

[asinpterodactyl.livejournal.com]

I heard the same thing about the library job market -- in fact, what I read was almost verbatim what you typed. Have you been reading the Occupational Outlook Handbook too? :)

More similarities: "A paycheck large enough to buy a tiny little house, a tiny little car, and keep me and a cat or two in food, cable internet, and DVDs" is exactly what I'm looking for, too. And I don't know what I'm doing next week. I don't even know what I'm doing tomorrow.

Good to know I have a peer in a similar situation! I wish the best of luck to you (and me).

[icepixie]

Have you been reading the Occupational Outlook Handbook too? :)

Nope, although I have been scouting around the internet for information on library stuff.

Good to know I have a peer in a similar situation! I wish the best of luck to you (and me).

*clings* We're not alone! Hooray! And yes, good luck all around.