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I've been working at the Old Westbury Public Library for more than two years already. I know where every genre, subject, and topic can be located and what resources are best in attaining them. As part of the librarian force, I am able to interact and help my community in many ways.

Besides helping patrons find books for research and for fun, I take part in various other responsibilities. I catalogue and process new materials and shelve returned ones. For a number of reference materials, I update the latest information. I also take part in collecting money for a variety of programs that we offer, like trips, defensive driving, health programs, and computer lessons. Part of my job also requires knowing how to fix the computers and printers that tend to malfunction quite frequently. This holds high importance to both the patrons and my co-workers for separate reasons. For the patrons, many of them have research or some work that have deadlines that need not small infractions interrupting their schedules. Many of my co-workers aren’t as skilled with the computers to be able to assist the patrons and some are well into their prime to remember some of the things I teach them.

The Old Westbury Public Library has affiliations with many organizations. For one, on our website at www.Nassaulibrary.org/Old Westbury, as a link, it shows the Central Park Historical Society. Their purpose is to “promote and encourage historical research … particularly in Old Westbury.” At times, I help edit and type up information for the site. I help make sure that all the links are in functioning order and that the pictures show up.

Many programs that the library provides the community with, enables me to assist them in many ways. For the “Young Adults Reading Corner,” we have our annual summer reading program. Every year, I help the kids find the right books that they’d prefer and take a record of which ones they read. For their accomplishments, we give out prizes of all sorts that we feel that they’d enjoy. This year, the top prize was an Olympus Digital Camera.

A problem with libraries is that usually information begins to pile up and starts taking up space. Those materials just end up attracting more dust to become a nuisance to those with allergies. With my supervisor’s permission, I helped “get rid” of them by having some of the out of date books, magazines and tapes be sold for a fraction of the cost. For example, a book on traveling across Europe would be sold for about fifty cents as opposed to a new book that would be about fifteen plus dollars. Since we don’t get paid any more or less for any extra money the library rakes in (also by overdues), this extra money goes for new materials that the community could use. So every week I roam the library in search of “one man’s trash that could be another’s treasure.”

Working at the library may not be the best paying job, especially starting at $5.15 an hour plus taxes, but it does have its benefits. First, I am able to help my community in one place where many people come for it. The various tasks that I do have become second nature to me and as a result improved my organizational skills at home and at school. A really great benefit I have is that I can order some books for myself at discounts and with the prices these days, I’ll need them.

The Old Westbury Public Library holds importance to a good portion of the community. We have information that holds importance to many and offer numerous programs that are utilized by people of all ages. I am proud to say that my experience at the library has allowed me to give back to the community and that I am now at $5.75 an hour.

By Mrgiggles (Mrgiggles) on Friday, November 28, 2003 - 11:56 pm: Edit

heres the topic=
Please choose one of the commitments that you listed in the activities section (activity, interest, or work experience) and provide a short description of its importance to you. Include why that commitment could be relevant to your student experience at Penn State.

choose one of your extracurricular activities, employment, or community experiences and describe why it has been especially meaningful to you (ie. because of personal growth, ability to assume or share responsibility).

By Merugo (Merugo) on Saturday, November 29, 2003 - 01:26 am: Edit

it sounds like an advertisement for the library. i think it needs more of you, more of your soul. talk about how working at the library makes you feel, not just what you do. the whole "i edit the website thing" has no real personality to it.

"This year, the top prize was an Olympus Digital Camera." SO?????? that doesn't matter at all. the whole point of the prompt is to show what you do with your free time, and why you do it, and how it makes you feel.

plus you never related it back to penn.

sorry mrgiggles, but you said be brutal. i think it needs some major energy and personality added before you even consider sending it in.

By Mrgiggles (Mrgiggles) on Saturday, November 29, 2003 - 10:25 am: Edit

i mention'd the camera cuz i wanted to prove that i actually worked there.

in a college essay book, it said to focus, and be specific...so i just thought that'd be part of the "specifics"

but thanks overall, ur comments are appreciated

By Sillygilly (Sillygilly) on Saturday, November 29, 2003 - 03:20 pm: Edit

too much description. Cut down the list of menial tasks and focus more on the core importance. There are a lot of things in this essay that colleges dont care about, like prizes, pictures on websites and your hourly wage. How has this experience effected you? Has it changed you? Have you learned from it? Colleges don't want a job description.

By Merugo (Merugo) on Saturday, November 29, 2003 - 06:09 pm: Edit

exactly. oh, and about the camera thing: the reason i pointed that sentence out was because it was sooo objective. and i think most of the essay is too. it's very well organized, it flows, but i agree with sillygirl: discuss YOU in the essay, not your job. the job should only be a vehicle to describe how you react to things, what kind of person you are.

By Mrgiggles (Mrgiggles) on Sunday, November 30, 2003 - 06:23 pm: Edit

thx merugo and sillygilly, you both have helped me so much...if i knew who u both were, i'd give u discounts at my future med office.

By Ccoughlan2004 (Ccoughlan2004) on Sunday, November 30, 2003 - 10:56 pm: Edit

i agree with what has been said. it is a very objective piece. I really liked that out-of-body tone in the first paragraph- i liked it a lot- but after that, you need to bring it back to you. You speak of how interacting with the community is an important part of your job. Instead of detailing your responsibilities SHOW why the job is important to you. Take one meaningful experience and blow it up to explain in general why you like your job. if it is one encounter with a confused 90 year old woman, then talk about that. This can tend to get cliched though so be careful. Pick a topic special to you and focus your essay more. It needs more of a tight feel to it. I really liked the first paragraph, though, good start!

Caro

By Freudboy (Freudboy) on Monday, December 01, 2003 - 12:38 am: Edit

its boring dude. who writes about a library

By Merugo (Merugo) on Monday, December 01, 2003 - 01:07 am: Edit

hey, i happen to like libraries.

By Juliet15 (Juliet15) on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 10:28 pm: Edit

can i get an amen?