Demonstrating commitment

A point often made in defense of the requirement that librarians get a master's degree in library science and the recommendation that they remain current members of the American Library Association is that these two acts "demonstrate commitment" to the profession.

If demonstrating commitment is the important thing, then permit me to make this modest proposal: Allow prospective librarians to bypass the MLS and get a lifetime ALA membership in exchange for having a large tattoo of Melvil Dewey etched onto their forearms. (Those who want to become academic librarians would also have to get a second tattoo—a subject tattoo, if you will—etched on their other forearm.) Commitment demonstrated, $30,000 and two years saved—everyone wins!