I have been working as part of the support staff in the library
since I came to pursue my doctoral degree in Comparative and International
Education in the United States seven years ago. From the Teachers College Library and
the Librarians working there, I got to know the library system little by little. I
eventually decided to follow a career in library science.

The Milbank Memorial Library at Teachers College contains the world's largest
and richest collections of materials on the education professions. Many of the collections
are unavailable elsewhere and represent in balance, breadth, and depth an archive of
American and international intellectual and social history. For instance, some photos
and manuscripts of Chinese education in the early 1920's have never been seen even
in China. The librarians at Teachers College are knowledgeabel, perceptive and helpful.
The more I work with them in such a pleasant and professional work environment,
the more I wish to be a librarian.

My memories of libraries in China during the 1980's remind me of the situation
that patrons used card catalog and books were paged by the library staff, which were
the ways people could get infromation. All the books were not accessible by the patron
(They were kept in closed stacks). Library staff would get annoyed at repeated request
for books. when I first came to the US, what impressed me most was the computerized
book searching and open stacks.

The role of libraries is changing all the time. Today as the profession contiuues
to move into the electronic age, the library has developed its electronic resources in support
of research and curricular needs of the patrons. It porvides a variety of social, economic
and technological environments, organizing and dissemination information through
various bibliopraphic and other online resources.

Under these circumstances, I think, a competent librarian should be provided with
knowledge (both of library science and area of specialization), skills and attitudes of
serving the public well.

I have already possessed the attitudes requisite to function properly as a
professional in the library. I have many years of teaching experience both in China and
the United States. I love my students and have experience in teaching them how to use
library facilities to conduct research. Moreover, I have been working in the library, first
as a part-time archivist assistant and now as a full-time professional staff in the Library
Access Services. I have acquired practical experience in serving patrons and handing
various situations.

Meanwhild, I have recognized the importance of fuller grounding in this area.
What I need to learn is the fundamental theories of library science and information
studies; the mastery of computer skills and the application of appropriate technologies
to the management of libraries; and teh understanding and application of electronic
resousces. I will always keep in mind the motto of Queens College, "Discimus ut
serviamus" (We learn in order that we may serve), and look forward to training in the
MLS program and to making productive use of this professional preparation.