So this is it. The final day of the semester. It's been a long one, although in retrospect, maybe not long enough. I enjoyed this class, but would have enjoyed maybe just one or two weeks more to delve into some topics a little deeper. However, I suppose that is what the rest of the LIS classes are for.
I came in with a fairly good understanding of what the modern day librarian looks like. This semester has only helped confirm these beliefs (not a shushing bun-head!), but expanded on them. It was interesting looking back on the LIS leaders of the past, who helped make this field what it is today. I feel like modern societies often think of past civilizations as quaint and simplistic, and while that may be true when compared with immediacy and connectivity of modern society, our research showed how futuristic some of these innovators of the past really were. The Library of Medicine would hardly be what it is today without the former battle surgeon John Shaw Billings, who I had the pleasure of researching for the assignment.
Quaint and simplistic are often associated with the librarianship profession, as a whole. We have all heard the stereotype of the woman in glasses who likes to read, but as our Think Tank articles and Ethics Scenario assignment taught us, the profession is anything but quaint and simplistic. Modern public libraries are providing services that were not even dreamed of in the past. They are dealing with all levels of society, all races, all religions. Not many institutions can claim that it provides services specific to every man, woman, and child.
I feel as though the most important thing I can bring to the field is my ability to make connections across different topics. I stated in my initial blog post that I am interested in so many different things, it's hard to decide where exactly I would like to land within the LIS field. The diversity of my interests is carried out in my daily life, as well. I read and research topics that are all over the board, from language and linguistics, to wine and spirits, mathematics and computer technology, philosophy, anthropology, child development, and astronomy. One reason I was draw to and currently enjoy the field of LIS is that it welcomes diversity. There is a librarian for every subject somewhere! Throughout my discussion board posts, I think critically about the articles given, and I draw in related information from other specialities that might enhance the overall conversation.
From here, I plan to focus my academic coursework to anything related to language, data collection, data analytics, organization of information, and databases. The role of a cataloger was mentioned in one of our classes, and after doing my own personal research, cataloging may be a role I pursue within the library system. However, as of right now, I am still maintaining my path to a non-library destination. This class has laid the groundwork for my studies, and I am looking forward to continuing them more in-depth over the next two years!
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Revisiting Assumptions/Assertions about LIS
It's now the end of the semester, and it's time to revisit my initial assumptions:
1. Librarians like to read. I still maintain this sentiment, wholeheartedly, and with good reason. The MLIS program is quite reading intensive, so if one doesn't like to read, one doesn't last long! That being said, I will expand this assumption to the notion that Librarians like to learn. Reading is often the vehicle through which learning is achieved. Throughout this semester, my classmates have taught me a lot about who we are as a community, and what I can expect when I enter the profession. In class discussions, my classmates referenced things they read in book and online, things they watched in movies and on the news, things they heard on NPR, interviews, songs, etc. Librarians are inquisitive, curious, well-read people with a lot to say!
2. Libraries are places to gather. Again, I agree. In my initial post, I discussed the changing atmosphere of the public library, and the idea of access. I talked about the role of academic libraries on college campuses. While I agree with both of these sentiments still, I would, again, expand the idea of the gathering place. In The Hollywood Librarian, we saw immigrants from all over the world coming together to learn English at the library. We also saw children coming to learn songs and language, to make friends, and to move and be active. During a number of Think Tank articles and through the research of one of the groups in class, we learned about Makerspaces, where patrons could come together to learn a craft. The gathering doesn't always have to be social, either. Individuals go to gather amongst others, maybe to just go sit and read, and never really converse with those around them. Students gather to study, often individually, but sharing a table or workspace to keep them from distractions found at home. Writers may use libraries to gather their thoughts, using the inspiration of books and knowledge that surrounds them. After the most recent case of the shooting of Michael Brown, the Ferguson Public Library was a refuge for community members and students. So long as there is a community, libraries will always be a place to gather. We learned it on day one, and it has been reinforced each week since: Libraries are about the people, and Libraries and Librarians exist to provide a service to their communities.
3. Big Data is either going to make it or break it, possibly both. Reading this section now in my original post, I wouldn't add or subtract a thing. My experience with my group covering the role of Big Data in LIS confirmed this assumption. I did find it interesting that I gave Twitter a shout-out, which I forgot about, but then went on to study the Twitter Archive at the Library of Congress for my individual post in our group blog. Ah, foreshadowing.
4. The modern librarian is both the job of a future as well as a job of the past. Not only do I agree with these sentiments, I think this is the most important aspect of librarianship. It's important to remember the foundations that gave way to librarianship, yet we must also stay on the cutting edge of technology. This is not to say that each new tech advancement must be immediately adopted, but rather, librarians must be aware of these advancements as they are monitored for longevity and usefulness. In my intended career working with data, it is even more apparent that my job will one of the future. In day 1, we learned that many of our future jobs haven't even been created yet!
Technology Sandbox
I, myself, am a frequent user of social media sites. This blog, for instance, is a social media platform that I don't have much experience with, but am slowly getting acclimated with and enjoying. I have used Facebook for almost 10 years (yikes!). When I was in high school and early through college, I maintained a LiveJournal (www.livejournal.com). I currently have a Twitter account that I check minimally, and use primarily to follow others, not necessarily to post. I have a Tumblr, although I have little clue as to what I'm doing on that site. That being said, I have become more familiar with the journaling aspect of Tumblr from using the site as our platform in our group journaling activity. I have both Instagram and Snapchat, although I use the former far, far more frequently than the latter. I have a LinkedIn page that, once again, I'm fairly uncertain on how to utilize it. I am a YouTube junkie, but only as a viewer, not a content creator.
Social Media is here to stay, so libraries would be foolish not to embrace some of the different platforms available. I honestly think Apps (for computers, tablets, and smartphones), are one of the most versatile resources a library could use to stay connected to its patrons. The Wayne State University App is on my phone, and while I don't believe it has all the capabilities it ought to, it has been a valuable resource to me. I am able to keep up to date with campus news and events, check parking availability, manage my OneCard, and access my student account, among other things. The same ideas could be applied to a library app. One could have the capabilities to search the collections, renew a checked-out book or movie, pay late fees, and keep up to date with library classes and events.
Facebook is the most popular of all social media sites, which ought to be reason enough for a library to maintain a Facebook page. There are Facebook pages for just about anything. Not only am I able to connect with friends and family all around the world, I "like" (follow) TV programs, podcasts, favorite authors and artists, even food items! People can join groups and other community pages, which libraries could use to advertise their services. Why not appeal to book club pages, Bitch 'n Stitch groups, academics, or anything related to the makerspace the library has created? Facebook connects with a number of other social media platforms, which makes it "gateway" site, so to speak. Libraries could then utilize Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube along with their Facebook pages, with relatively little extra work.
If I had reign of a library, I would embrace social media. The page would have a well developed app that patrons could use any time of the day. I would definitely set up a Facebook page, making sure to include useful information, such as library hours and contact info, along with monthly calendars of library events. Far too often I see businesses with Facebook pages that have little information on them, and that's frustrating for someone looking to use library/business services. Instagram could be used to show new additions to library collections, or showcase events happening at the library. I would set up a Twitter account for the library, but I don't think it would be necessary to post regular updates; a few per month would be more than fine. Although I don't know if this counts, I would set up a text messaging service with patrons to remind them of upcoming due-dates, overdue materials, and upcoming library events. This would be on a subscription basis, so patrons could utilize this service at will.
In this era of technology and connectivity, it is crucial to join in. Libraries need to do whatever they can to stay connected to their patrons.
Social Media is here to stay, so libraries would be foolish not to embrace some of the different platforms available. I honestly think Apps (for computers, tablets, and smartphones), are one of the most versatile resources a library could use to stay connected to its patrons. The Wayne State University App is on my phone, and while I don't believe it has all the capabilities it ought to, it has been a valuable resource to me. I am able to keep up to date with campus news and events, check parking availability, manage my OneCard, and access my student account, among other things. The same ideas could be applied to a library app. One could have the capabilities to search the collections, renew a checked-out book or movie, pay late fees, and keep up to date with library classes and events.
Facebook is the most popular of all social media sites, which ought to be reason enough for a library to maintain a Facebook page. There are Facebook pages for just about anything. Not only am I able to connect with friends and family all around the world, I "like" (follow) TV programs, podcasts, favorite authors and artists, even food items! People can join groups and other community pages, which libraries could use to advertise their services. Why not appeal to book club pages, Bitch 'n Stitch groups, academics, or anything related to the makerspace the library has created? Facebook connects with a number of other social media platforms, which makes it "gateway" site, so to speak. Libraries could then utilize Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube along with their Facebook pages, with relatively little extra work.
If I had reign of a library, I would embrace social media. The page would have a well developed app that patrons could use any time of the day. I would definitely set up a Facebook page, making sure to include useful information, such as library hours and contact info, along with monthly calendars of library events. Far too often I see businesses with Facebook pages that have little information on them, and that's frustrating for someone looking to use library/business services. Instagram could be used to show new additions to library collections, or showcase events happening at the library. I would set up a Twitter account for the library, but I don't think it would be necessary to post regular updates; a few per month would be more than fine. Although I don't know if this counts, I would set up a text messaging service with patrons to remind them of upcoming due-dates, overdue materials, and upcoming library events. This would be on a subscription basis, so patrons could utilize this service at will.
In this era of technology and connectivity, it is crucial to join in. Libraries need to do whatever they can to stay connected to their patrons.
Comparative Analysis of Professional Journals
For this assignment, I chose to compare the professional journals College & Research Libraries and Library Journal.
College & Research Libraries is a scholarly journal is an online-only publication that comes out bimonthly. The journal is a refereed journal that uses a double-blind review process. The editor first reviews the prepared manuscript to ensure it's relevancy to the journal. After the manuscript has been approved, it is reviewed at least twice, and then either accepted, accepted with revisions, or rejected. The overall process, the website notes, can take ten to twelve weeks. Authors who intend to publish in C&RL must submit manuscripts that are original and unpublished elsewhere. Furthermore, while the manuscript is under review, the author cannot submit it to other publications. After the article has been published in C&RL, however, the author may publish their work on an institutional or personal web page. Article topics include anything relevant to the scope of academic and research libraries. This includes not only original research, but commentary on issues academic librarians may face. The journal also publishes letters to the editor on a "space-provided" basis, as well as reviews on publications related to the college and research library field. C&RL is published with the academic librarian in mind. All of the articles are pertinent to that area of librarianship.
Library Journal is a professional journal that, as far as my research goes, is not a reviewed publication. LJ is, according to Ulrich (via Wikipedia), the library journal with the highest circulation. It is both online and in print, but the online forum has a wider array of topics and articles. The journal accepts both queries and finished articles regarding to any topic related to libraries of all types. The journal publishes a number of opinion pieces from librarians or about librarianship. Announcements, feedback to the editor, photos, and other tid-bits are all considered for publication. LJ is also known for it's extensive collection of reviews on LIS related material.
The Library Journal website is broken down into a number of different pages that each contain subcategories of their own. For instance, there is a page dedicated to "News," which has news relating to the topics of "Libraries & Librarians," "Research and Reference," "Archives," and "Publishing". There are pages on "Tech," "Opinion," and "Events". The "Reviews" page is one of the most popular offerings of the Library Journal, and it has resources for "Books," "Reference," "Media," as well as "Prepub Alert," which talking about what's going on in publishing, often discussing titles before publication.
While both of these journals are grounded in the realm of LIS, they are quite different from one another. C&RL is strict with its content, whereas the LJ publishes content covering the entire spectrum of librarianship. Opinion articles are regularly published on LJ, which is not something C&RL does, unless the opinion is found in a letter to the editor. For my personal interest in data and information, I would probably find LJ more relevant, although I would probably focus any primary research elsewhere. Or rather, I would use the content of LJ as a starting point for my research. There may be relevant articles in C&RL that would appeal to me during the course of my studies and career, but this would not be a journal I would reference frequently. The two journals, but LJ in particular, reinforce the diversity of the field of LIS. The LJ website is packed with articles, opinions, and reviews that are on a wide range of topics, which just shows how the modern librarian must be a jack of many trades.
College & Research Libraries is a scholarly journal is an online-only publication that comes out bimonthly. The journal is a refereed journal that uses a double-blind review process. The editor first reviews the prepared manuscript to ensure it's relevancy to the journal. After the manuscript has been approved, it is reviewed at least twice, and then either accepted, accepted with revisions, or rejected. The overall process, the website notes, can take ten to twelve weeks. Authors who intend to publish in C&RL must submit manuscripts that are original and unpublished elsewhere. Furthermore, while the manuscript is under review, the author cannot submit it to other publications. After the article has been published in C&RL, however, the author may publish their work on an institutional or personal web page. Article topics include anything relevant to the scope of academic and research libraries. This includes not only original research, but commentary on issues academic librarians may face. The journal also publishes letters to the editor on a "space-provided" basis, as well as reviews on publications related to the college and research library field. C&RL is published with the academic librarian in mind. All of the articles are pertinent to that area of librarianship.
Library Journal is a professional journal that, as far as my research goes, is not a reviewed publication. LJ is, according to Ulrich (via Wikipedia), the library journal with the highest circulation. It is both online and in print, but the online forum has a wider array of topics and articles. The journal accepts both queries and finished articles regarding to any topic related to libraries of all types. The journal publishes a number of opinion pieces from librarians or about librarianship. Announcements, feedback to the editor, photos, and other tid-bits are all considered for publication. LJ is also known for it's extensive collection of reviews on LIS related material.
The Library Journal website is broken down into a number of different pages that each contain subcategories of their own. For instance, there is a page dedicated to "News," which has news relating to the topics of "Libraries & Librarians," "Research and Reference," "Archives," and "Publishing". There are pages on "Tech," "Opinion," and "Events". The "Reviews" page is one of the most popular offerings of the Library Journal, and it has resources for "Books," "Reference," "Media," as well as "Prepub Alert," which talking about what's going on in publishing, often discussing titles before publication.
While both of these journals are grounded in the realm of LIS, they are quite different from one another. C&RL is strict with its content, whereas the LJ publishes content covering the entire spectrum of librarianship. Opinion articles are regularly published on LJ, which is not something C&RL does, unless the opinion is found in a letter to the editor. For my personal interest in data and information, I would probably find LJ more relevant, although I would probably focus any primary research elsewhere. Or rather, I would use the content of LJ as a starting point for my research. There may be relevant articles in C&RL that would appeal to me during the course of my studies and career, but this would not be a journal I would reference frequently. The two journals, but LJ in particular, reinforce the diversity of the field of LIS. The LJ website is packed with articles, opinions, and reviews that are on a wide range of topics, which just shows how the modern librarian must be a jack of many trades.
Popcorn and a Movie
As a person who loves documentaries, I was thrilled with this assignment, and The Hollywood Librarian didn't fail to disappoint. I was definitely entertained! While I didn't recognize all of the movie references, I now have a list of movies I need to see. Ann Seidl did a nice job of inserting bits of popular culture to reinforce her points, the narration kept a pleasant flow, and the persons interviewed were intriguing. The film reinforced my choice to enter the LIS field, and kept me excited about libraries and their future.
The documentary begins by asking "What is a library?" and "Who is a librarian?" which are two questions I kept in mind during my viewing. I loved the initial discussion of the Library of Alexandria and it's prominent place in society - or, possibly, it's role in developing a prominent society. The Librarians were keepers of knowledge, and thus, highly regarded. The linguist in me reveled in the discussion of words and writing. Someone in the film made a comment pointing out that humans are the only known animal to preserve their language, and that is a pretty powerful statement. It's not only important to recognize that we use language, and that we've developed a system of recording language through the written word, but that humans have recognized the value of preservation. We have records of early histories, stories, and registers saved and passed down through time. Our need for keeping records and preservation has only grown with the explosion of technology. I would argue that the nature of social networking sites, like Twitter and Facebook, have as much to do about preservation of thoughts and events as they do actual networking. Why else would the Library of Congress archive tweets? Archivists and those involved in digital preservation are doing whatever they can to maintain what we have received from past generations, as well as creating new collections to pass down from our own time.
So, libraries are collections: collections of books, collections of thoughts, collections of histories, collections of media, collections of knowledge. Librarians are the keepers, the maintainers, the lenders of these collections. The reel of images portraying the stereotypical librarian, with glasses, hair pulled back into a bun, and a cardigan of some sort was amusing, but all to real. Every time I mention that I'm in Library and Information Science, I get an odd sort of look, and either get a comment about liking books and shushing people, or some comment about the fantasy of the librarian whipping off her glasses and shaking out her hair to walk-on-the-wild-side, so to speak. It's apparent to me, now more than ever, how ill informed the public is about what libraries are and what it takes to be a librarian. Most people I encounter don't realize that a Masters degree is required for Librarianship. There seems to be this divide, and I wonder how it happened. In regards to scholarship and accreditation, librarians are amongst the revered - doctors, lawyers, etc. - but the stereotype suggests "old maids" and homely women with a vendetta against noise. How is this stereotype still commonplace??? Since secondary school it was apparent to me that librarians were well versed in technology, and were people to go to for assistance. This documentary doesn't exactly help to answer this question. It seems to jump from librarians of the distant past to librarians of the twentieth century; what about the librarians in between? Was that were the decline in society happened? At what point did librarians cease to need to be well versed in science, industry, mathematics, and literature (librarians at Alexandria) and become a feminine job that needed no intelligence? I don't have an answer for these questions, but I'm hoping, in time, I can rectify this.
I was most moved by the Salinas Public Library story. It's a story that has been all too true in the last few years, particularly since the economic crash of 2008-2009. The interviews with the librarians were emotional, and I felt for them. Their story did reinforce my decision to not enter the public library system, as sad as that may be to say. The fight that many public librarians have to endure to remind their community members and, more importantly, their city councils and local governments, seems exhausting. Look at the stories of immigrants learning English, or the librarian setting up a program in the San Quentin Prison system! It's clear the library is a core enterprise within a community, and still, it's often first to receive budget cuts when communities need to be frugal.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Hollywood Librarian. Early in the film, one of the interviewees made a comment that librarians are "keepers of the flame," and I think that was a pretty powerful image. Librarians are on the forefront in issues with copyright, freedom to access, and intellectual property. As I have stated before, they are keepers of knowledge, and are purveyors of knowledge. Librarians are concerned with the continued preservation of knowledge. I'm interested to see if, in time, the role of the librarian in society can be restored to it's elevated place, like the librarians at Alexandria - I'm just not going to hold my breath.
The documentary begins by asking "What is a library?" and "Who is a librarian?" which are two questions I kept in mind during my viewing. I loved the initial discussion of the Library of Alexandria and it's prominent place in society - or, possibly, it's role in developing a prominent society. The Librarians were keepers of knowledge, and thus, highly regarded. The linguist in me reveled in the discussion of words and writing. Someone in the film made a comment pointing out that humans are the only known animal to preserve their language, and that is a pretty powerful statement. It's not only important to recognize that we use language, and that we've developed a system of recording language through the written word, but that humans have recognized the value of preservation. We have records of early histories, stories, and registers saved and passed down through time. Our need for keeping records and preservation has only grown with the explosion of technology. I would argue that the nature of social networking sites, like Twitter and Facebook, have as much to do about preservation of thoughts and events as they do actual networking. Why else would the Library of Congress archive tweets? Archivists and those involved in digital preservation are doing whatever they can to maintain what we have received from past generations, as well as creating new collections to pass down from our own time.
So, libraries are collections: collections of books, collections of thoughts, collections of histories, collections of media, collections of knowledge. Librarians are the keepers, the maintainers, the lenders of these collections. The reel of images portraying the stereotypical librarian, with glasses, hair pulled back into a bun, and a cardigan of some sort was amusing, but all to real. Every time I mention that I'm in Library and Information Science, I get an odd sort of look, and either get a comment about liking books and shushing people, or some comment about the fantasy of the librarian whipping off her glasses and shaking out her hair to walk-on-the-wild-side, so to speak. It's apparent to me, now more than ever, how ill informed the public is about what libraries are and what it takes to be a librarian. Most people I encounter don't realize that a Masters degree is required for Librarianship. There seems to be this divide, and I wonder how it happened. In regards to scholarship and accreditation, librarians are amongst the revered - doctors, lawyers, etc. - but the stereotype suggests "old maids" and homely women with a vendetta against noise. How is this stereotype still commonplace??? Since secondary school it was apparent to me that librarians were well versed in technology, and were people to go to for assistance. This documentary doesn't exactly help to answer this question. It seems to jump from librarians of the distant past to librarians of the twentieth century; what about the librarians in between? Was that were the decline in society happened? At what point did librarians cease to need to be well versed in science, industry, mathematics, and literature (librarians at Alexandria) and become a feminine job that needed no intelligence? I don't have an answer for these questions, but I'm hoping, in time, I can rectify this.
I was most moved by the Salinas Public Library story. It's a story that has been all too true in the last few years, particularly since the economic crash of 2008-2009. The interviews with the librarians were emotional, and I felt for them. Their story did reinforce my decision to not enter the public library system, as sad as that may be to say. The fight that many public librarians have to endure to remind their community members and, more importantly, their city councils and local governments, seems exhausting. Look at the stories of immigrants learning English, or the librarian setting up a program in the San Quentin Prison system! It's clear the library is a core enterprise within a community, and still, it's often first to receive budget cuts when communities need to be frugal.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Hollywood Librarian. Early in the film, one of the interviewees made a comment that librarians are "keepers of the flame," and I think that was a pretty powerful image. Librarians are on the forefront in issues with copyright, freedom to access, and intellectual property. As I have stated before, they are keepers of knowledge, and are purveyors of knowledge. Librarians are concerned with the continued preservation of knowledge. I'm interested to see if, in time, the role of the librarian in society can be restored to it's elevated place, like the librarians at Alexandria - I'm just not going to hold my breath.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Mid-Semester Analysis
Well, it's the midway point in the semester, and I have severely underestimated the amount of work involved in grad school. Don't get me wrong, I knew it would be A LOT of work, but I'm still shocked. I am not as up to date on this blog as I would like to be, so I'll [ideally] be doubling up posts in the next couple weeks to catch up. While I cannot reflect much on the blog, as there are only two other posts before this, I do like the project, and I see how the posts will help my understanding of the profession, at large.
That being said, I think I am finally finding a rhythm to all of this coursework. I still need to pick up the pace, but I feel as though I'm floundering less. Although, I'm having some set-backs with my library visits project, so we'll see if I still feel that way in a week from now.
I'm typically not a big fan of the Blackboard Discussion Board components of any class, but I'm enjoying it more each week. For this class, in particular, I like it as an addition to our class lectures. I find I am able to reflect on what my classmates have to say in their posts and responses, and I am able to take that information and expand on it, rather than the generic posts I feel I often generate on these platforms. For some reason, I feel this is made easier with my ability to put a face with the names for each post. These discussion board posts have also helped me learn a little more about my fellow classmates, particularly those who don't always speak up in class.
The Think Tank Activities are, quite possibly, my favorite assignment of the course (thus far). I often find myself "falling down the rabbit hole" while I search for possible articles to present. What I mean is, I find an interesting article, which leads to another article, which leads to a blogger, which leads to Facebook, which leads to me "following" 15 more librarians on Twitter, all of whom lead me to more articles, and more things to ponder! I have found so many new facets of the field this way. What I find most interesting, however, is how diverse the articles posted by each group are. Some groups have posted articles on topics I hadn't even thought to consider in my personal explorations.
Both the Think Tank Activities and the Group Blog have, obviously, made my group and me work together quite a bit, which has been the most beneficial part of the class. My group has provided me with relief when I feel as though I'm the only one overwhelmed with this first semester of the LIS program, and has helped facilitate my developing passions for the field.
I'm looking forward to the rest of the semester, particularly with my newly-sparked interest in Cataloging. Other than the continual time management balance of my demanding job and school work, I think my biggest challenge will be narrowing down my interests, because so far, they keep expanding!
That being said, I think I am finally finding a rhythm to all of this coursework. I still need to pick up the pace, but I feel as though I'm floundering less. Although, I'm having some set-backs with my library visits project, so we'll see if I still feel that way in a week from now.
I'm typically not a big fan of the Blackboard Discussion Board components of any class, but I'm enjoying it more each week. For this class, in particular, I like it as an addition to our class lectures. I find I am able to reflect on what my classmates have to say in their posts and responses, and I am able to take that information and expand on it, rather than the generic posts I feel I often generate on these platforms. For some reason, I feel this is made easier with my ability to put a face with the names for each post. These discussion board posts have also helped me learn a little more about my fellow classmates, particularly those who don't always speak up in class.
The Think Tank Activities are, quite possibly, my favorite assignment of the course (thus far). I often find myself "falling down the rabbit hole" while I search for possible articles to present. What I mean is, I find an interesting article, which leads to another article, which leads to a blogger, which leads to Facebook, which leads to me "following" 15 more librarians on Twitter, all of whom lead me to more articles, and more things to ponder! I have found so many new facets of the field this way. What I find most interesting, however, is how diverse the articles posted by each group are. Some groups have posted articles on topics I hadn't even thought to consider in my personal explorations.
Both the Think Tank Activities and the Group Blog have, obviously, made my group and me work together quite a bit, which has been the most beneficial part of the class. My group has provided me with relief when I feel as though I'm the only one overwhelmed with this first semester of the LIS program, and has helped facilitate my developing passions for the field.
I'm looking forward to the rest of the semester, particularly with my newly-sparked interest in Cataloging. Other than the continual time management balance of my demanding job and school work, I think my biggest challenge will be narrowing down my interests, because so far, they keep expanding!
Monday, September 29, 2014
Banned Book Week
So, here it is, the end of another Banned Book Week! Before I go on, I will put out the warning that there may be some spoilers for anyone not already familiar with the events of this book.
To celebrate this year, I chose to read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. What a great book! I have to be honest, before looking up lists of recently banned and challenged books, I had never heard of this novel before. This is a story about about a Spokane Reservation Indian named Arnold Spirit, Jr., but who goes by Junior to all those on the reservation. He is an awkward kid, so he is frequently picked on by his peers, as well as many others who live on the reservation. Lucky for him, his best friend is a bully, so basically his own, personal, bodyguard. After a series of events, Junior transfers to the local "white" school, which, while advantageous to Junior, is seen as an act of betrayal against the Reservation, and so he is treated as a traitor. The story follows Junior through all of his ups and downs, tested friendships, family tragedies, new relationships, and the balancing act that is his life.
From the start, I was sucked into the story of Arnold Spirit. Junior, as the narrator, is a more amiable Holden Caulfield, with his dry sense of humor. He starts off by describing just how awkward and unfortunate he is, which makes you feel for the poor guy. He's too smart for his own good, and often, too much of a smart-ass (can I say that here? I hope so!), which often leads to a black eye or a bruised body part. I loved the book, though, because Arnold Spirit seemed real, and completely relatable to a teenage boy. He is beginning to recognize the faults in his parents, but can overlook those faults with understanding and love. He has an awkward, yet close, relationship with his older sister. He loves his grandmother. He plays video games, shoots hoops, gets crushes on girls, and talks openly (to the reader, at least) about masturbation - 2 of these 4 things can arguably relate to 99.9% of all teenage boys! He and his best friend are as close as brothers, but express their love for each other in typical teenage-boy-ways: by harassing and picking on each other. He deals with acceptance, something that is a major concern for the average teenager. He copes with death. He understands racism. He sees alcoholism. This kid is living in a real world, with real world problems. As much as it's hard to admit, the stories in this book are not that far fetched for someone living on a reservation (see some stats here).
According to the ALA list of Frequently Challenged Books of the 21st Century, this book was challenged for "drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group."
The first offense is, in this day and age, ludicrous. Children and teenagers are exposed to much more explicit forms of these vices in video games, movies, and t.v. If anything, this book shows the dangers of alcohol addiction; Junior's grandmother is killed by a drunk driver, and his father's best friend, Eugene, is shot and killed by another friend over the last sip of alcohol in a bottle. To add to the destruction, Eugene's killer has no recollection of the event, but is so consumed by guilt, that he hangs himself. If that's not a warning to beware the dangers of alcohol addiction, I don't know what is.
As for the charge of "offensive language," again, I argue ludicrous. The targeted age group for this novel is an age group that learned how to swear on the playground years before, so I highly doubt there would be any shock by readers. That being said, working in a restaurant has made me immune to nearly all language some find "offensive," so nothing about the language of this book really sticks out to me, with the exception of two things. First, Junior's frank discussion about masturbation, which I assume is what the "sexually explicit" charge is referring to, as well. While I can understand some parents wanting to shield anything sexual from their children, it is an entirely natural thing that all boys around this age (or before) discover. Our narrator just admits to it, and celebrates his abilities. I'm not, nor was I ever, a teenage boy, so this, of course, is all speculation, but it's honest, and comical, and probably reassuring to teenage boys who may associate the act with shame. Our narrator suffers a couple instances of awkwardly timed arousals, which, again, is a normal teenage boy experience.
The second instance of "offensive language" ties in directly with the "racism" charge. This books is written about a Native American, by a Native American, as told through the eyes of a Native American. If he, Sherman Alexie, wants to use the term "Indian," he has every right to do so. Furthermore, his use of racial slurs like "Chief" and "Tonto," are to show how racist the people in his new school are. The most offensive line in the book, shown below, is immediately labeled racist.
"Hey Chief," Roger said. "You want to hear a joke?"
"Sure," I said.
"Did you know that Indians are living proof that niggers fuck buffalo?"
I felt like Roger had kicked me in the face. That was the most racist thing I'd ever heard in my life.
(pg. 64)
It's as if Alexie is making sure that no reader will mistakenly think this sort of talk is ok. This was the worst language I found in the book, and the author - via the narrator - objects to this sort of language, and the speaker is immediately punished for it.
This book was written for a teenage audience in the very believable voice of a teenage boy. The story of Arnold Spirit could be related to by any teen living in poverty; any teen who has suffered from abuse; any teen who has mourned the death of a loved one; any teen who has seen the effects of alcoholism; any teen living in a small town; immigrants; outcasts; basketball players; and so on. And you can substitute "teen" for "person" in all of those examples. Would I give this book to a seven year old? No, probably not. But to ban the book from teenagers saying it's "unsuited to [their] age group" is insulting to teenagers. It's naive to think that teenagers aren't dealing with these sorts of issues in the school halls, so to try to withhold a book as honest as this one is about the struggle of the adolescent is insulting to adolescents everywhere. I strongly recommend every middle school and high school boy read this book, as well as anyone, teen or adult, who could relate to any of the situations I listed above.
I'll finish with my favorite quote of the book, which I sent to my sister, who works with low income families in Michigan. In class, we've been discussing the digital divide, and what that means for low income families. I stopped reading after I read this quote, and thought about everything this statement could mean for those living in poverty or low income. "Poverty doesn't give you strength or teach you lessons about perseverance. No, poverty only teaches you how to be poor," (pg. 97).
To celebrate this year, I chose to read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. What a great book! I have to be honest, before looking up lists of recently banned and challenged books, I had never heard of this novel before. This is a story about about a Spokane Reservation Indian named Arnold Spirit, Jr., but who goes by Junior to all those on the reservation. He is an awkward kid, so he is frequently picked on by his peers, as well as many others who live on the reservation. Lucky for him, his best friend is a bully, so basically his own, personal, bodyguard. After a series of events, Junior transfers to the local "white" school, which, while advantageous to Junior, is seen as an act of betrayal against the Reservation, and so he is treated as a traitor. The story follows Junior through all of his ups and downs, tested friendships, family tragedies, new relationships, and the balancing act that is his life.
From the start, I was sucked into the story of Arnold Spirit. Junior, as the narrator, is a more amiable Holden Caulfield, with his dry sense of humor. He starts off by describing just how awkward and unfortunate he is, which makes you feel for the poor guy. He's too smart for his own good, and often, too much of a smart-ass (can I say that here? I hope so!), which often leads to a black eye or a bruised body part. I loved the book, though, because Arnold Spirit seemed real, and completely relatable to a teenage boy. He is beginning to recognize the faults in his parents, but can overlook those faults with understanding and love. He has an awkward, yet close, relationship with his older sister. He loves his grandmother. He plays video games, shoots hoops, gets crushes on girls, and talks openly (to the reader, at least) about masturbation - 2 of these 4 things can arguably relate to 99.9% of all teenage boys! He and his best friend are as close as brothers, but express their love for each other in typical teenage-boy-ways: by harassing and picking on each other. He deals with acceptance, something that is a major concern for the average teenager. He copes with death. He understands racism. He sees alcoholism. This kid is living in a real world, with real world problems. As much as it's hard to admit, the stories in this book are not that far fetched for someone living on a reservation (see some stats here).
According to the ALA list of Frequently Challenged Books of the 21st Century, this book was challenged for "drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group."
The first offense is, in this day and age, ludicrous. Children and teenagers are exposed to much more explicit forms of these vices in video games, movies, and t.v. If anything, this book shows the dangers of alcohol addiction; Junior's grandmother is killed by a drunk driver, and his father's best friend, Eugene, is shot and killed by another friend over the last sip of alcohol in a bottle. To add to the destruction, Eugene's killer has no recollection of the event, but is so consumed by guilt, that he hangs himself. If that's not a warning to beware the dangers of alcohol addiction, I don't know what is.
As for the charge of "offensive language," again, I argue ludicrous. The targeted age group for this novel is an age group that learned how to swear on the playground years before, so I highly doubt there would be any shock by readers. That being said, working in a restaurant has made me immune to nearly all language some find "offensive," so nothing about the language of this book really sticks out to me, with the exception of two things. First, Junior's frank discussion about masturbation, which I assume is what the "sexually explicit" charge is referring to, as well. While I can understand some parents wanting to shield anything sexual from their children, it is an entirely natural thing that all boys around this age (or before) discover. Our narrator just admits to it, and celebrates his abilities. I'm not, nor was I ever, a teenage boy, so this, of course, is all speculation, but it's honest, and comical, and probably reassuring to teenage boys who may associate the act with shame. Our narrator suffers a couple instances of awkwardly timed arousals, which, again, is a normal teenage boy experience.
The second instance of "offensive language" ties in directly with the "racism" charge. This books is written about a Native American, by a Native American, as told through the eyes of a Native American. If he, Sherman Alexie, wants to use the term "Indian," he has every right to do so. Furthermore, his use of racial slurs like "Chief" and "Tonto," are to show how racist the people in his new school are. The most offensive line in the book, shown below, is immediately labeled racist.
"Hey Chief," Roger said. "You want to hear a joke?"
"Sure," I said.
"Did you know that Indians are living proof that niggers fuck buffalo?"
I felt like Roger had kicked me in the face. That was the most racist thing I'd ever heard in my life.
(pg. 64)
It's as if Alexie is making sure that no reader will mistakenly think this sort of talk is ok. This was the worst language I found in the book, and the author - via the narrator - objects to this sort of language, and the speaker is immediately punished for it.
This book was written for a teenage audience in the very believable voice of a teenage boy. The story of Arnold Spirit could be related to by any teen living in poverty; any teen who has suffered from abuse; any teen who has mourned the death of a loved one; any teen who has seen the effects of alcoholism; any teen living in a small town; immigrants; outcasts; basketball players; and so on. And you can substitute "teen" for "person" in all of those examples. Would I give this book to a seven year old? No, probably not. But to ban the book from teenagers saying it's "unsuited to [their] age group" is insulting to teenagers. It's naive to think that teenagers aren't dealing with these sorts of issues in the school halls, so to try to withhold a book as honest as this one is about the struggle of the adolescent is insulting to adolescents everywhere. I strongly recommend every middle school and high school boy read this book, as well as anyone, teen or adult, who could relate to any of the situations I listed above.
I'll finish with my favorite quote of the book, which I sent to my sister, who works with low income families in Michigan. In class, we've been discussing the digital divide, and what that means for low income families. I stopped reading after I read this quote, and thought about everything this statement could mean for those living in poverty or low income. "Poverty doesn't give you strength or teach you lessons about perseverance. No, poverty only teaches you how to be poor," (pg. 97).
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