INPUT ARTICLE: Article: In order to apply to an MLS program, you’ll need an undergraduate degree from a college or university. There is no particular major requirement if you want to become a librarian, but common majors include English, Art History, Computer Science, and other courses of study that require research and technology skills. If you plan to become a librarian in a specialized library, such as a law or science library, you may need a secondary degree in a specific field. In this case, make sure you choose a major with classes that cover the prerequisites you’ll need for acceptance into a master’s program in your field. The ALA website, http://www.ala.org, is an excellent resource for information on MLS programs. You’ll find a directory of accredited programs with descriptions of each one.  Conduct a lot of research before you choose where to apply. Each program is quite unique; some focus on technology, others on the politics of information accessibility, and so on. Some programs require that you live on campus, while others are conducted entirely online. If you find out about a program through a source other than the ALA website, double check to make sure it’s ALA-accredited before going forward. Many libraries will not hire candidates with degrees from non-accredited schools. Some prestigious institutions offer programs on information technology that are not ALA-accredited. If you’re interested in information technology, but not necessarily in managing a library or the other responsibilities that being a librarian might entail, you may want to look into these alternatives.

SUMMARY: Get an undergraduate degree. Obtain an American Library Association (ALA)-accredited Masters of Library Science.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You can buy sand in hardware stores, art stores, and in aquarium-supply stores. If you already have access to sand, you can use that instead, as long as it is light enough. Try to get the lightest color of sand you can find; white would be the best because it will allow the colors to show up better. You can use this method to tint sand at the beach and make brightly colored sandcastles with it. If you don't want to wait that long, you can dry the sand in a preheated oven at 200 °F (93 °C) for 5 to 10 minutes. When the sand is almost dry, take it out of the oven and let it finish air-drying for a few hours.  Don't let the sand dry completely in the oven. If you do, the color may fade. Do not bake sand that's been colored with liquid watercolor.

SUMMARY: Get some light-colored sand. Allow the sand to dry overnight.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Think of knowing God not by measurable events, but through an intangible presence in everything you do. God is Spirit, experienced intuitively, somewhat like experiencing love, air and gravity, and unfathomable love and grace.  Knowing of God has more to do with the heart (core beliefs) than with objects. The belief you form through faith and in a Higher Power than yourself, does not just happen. You do not wake up one morning, brush your teeth, and say, "today I am going to believe in God. Today I am going to have faith". Something has to happen for you to need and to seek out that faith.  If you approach faith from this premise, then you will see that believing in God is about reflecting on the impact He has on you and on others. You'll find that believing is not by material means but by personal development of spiritual faith, since God is generally viewed as a living spirit, not having a decaying body, He can be measured by intangible things, like acknowledging His presence, our beliefs, plus our ways and reactions. Think about all the things you believe in.  You may believe that a team is the best team in your sport, for example.  But what is this based on?  Do you favor them because they have superior statistics and more championships?  Chances are you favor them because of the specific impact they have on you as a fan.  Your appreciation for them is based on something inside you, individual, and immeasurable. Having faith involves taking a choice.  This means deciding to trust without absolute certainty.  Chances are you make decisions on faith every day.  If you've ever ordered food from a restaurant, you've taken a step of faith.  That particular restaurant may have a high customer rating and stellar health score, but chances are you haven't witnessed firsthand your food being made.  You have to trust that the chefs have washed their hands and prepared your food properly/safely. Seeing isn't always believing.  There are still things science can't measure, yet people still believe in them.  For example, astronomers cannot actually see black holes in outer space, because by definition they absorb materials and the light that is necessary for us to observe them.  But by observing the behavior of matter and the orbits of stars around a black hole, we can predict that one is present.  God is also non-viewable but has knowable qualities and observable influence, that draws people to Him. Think of a time a family member has been sick and gotten better.  Did you ever pray or hope to something higher for their recovery?  Maybe this event is like an orbiting star, and God is like gravity that is exerting His pull on all things. Probably across all religions that have a concept of God, this belief is constant: God created all things.  Because God is the creator, only He is in full control.  Relinquishing control of certain aspects of your life does not mean you are powerless.  Don't think of God as a puppeteer pulling your strings, but as a parent keeping you safe.  You still choose the course of your life, but life may not turn out the way you plan or wish.  In times like this, it's important to remember that God is there to help you.  Knowing that you are not in control of everything can be empowering.  Recovery programs like Alcoholics Anonymous are founded on the premise that people are not fully in control, and that belief in a higher power restores balance by yielding one's broken ego.  Once we accept that we cannot control everything, we learn to accept things we can control. Consider the Serenity Prayer: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference."  There are many things you can change but things you can't. You may believe that there are higher powers that shape your life's outcome.  This is a great starting place for discovering faith in God.

SUMMARY:
Separate physical measurements from believing. Replace proof with trust. Stop trying to control everything.