my first foray into LIS (Library and Information Science)
For some time now, I’ve been planning to enter the field of LIS, so in preparation for my hopeful acceptance to the University of Illinois’ Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS), I bought an introductory textb
ook entitled, The Organization of Information (by Arlene G. Taylor and Daniel N. Joudrey. 3rd ed. Westport, Conn.: Libraries Unlimited). Needless to say, some of my friends who’ve seen the book tell me that they’d rather jump off a cliff than read it. While I understand their reaction to the monotonous title, I don’t share their despair at the thought of reading it. I confess, it seems rather exciting to me, though intimidating at the same time.
Anyway, I’ve read many scholarly monographs, and, as you know, almost all have an “Acknowledgments” section at the start, which can sometimes inject a personal touch to the otherwise cold and functional prose that lies ahead. This textbook is no different, but I’ve never read such a lavish acknowledgment for an academic book as the following:
Finally, I would like to thank my partner and best friend, …, without whom, I could not have done this. I thank him for his love, his support, his faith, his almost saint-like patience, and his ability to put up with me during my craziest moments (such as when I am writing). He inspires me with his knowledge, his dedication, and his complete and total love of librarianship and bibliography. He is the best librarian I have ever known. I thank him for coming into my life, because when he did, that is when I really began to live. (p. xxv-xxvi, italics original)
