Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
As promised. . . (alternate title: there's more to librarianship than smelling books) : )
I'm getting a strong inkling that I'm not very good at blogging. It's not that it's an extremely difficult or highly complex thing to do; I've just never been good at keeping regular journals or diaries or anything like that (though in the past I HAVE tried, and sincerely), and it seems the convenience and proximity of doing it via technology doesn't affect my tendancy to slack off on updating. . . I guess that's a roundabout way of admitting that I'm lazy. . . : ) Oh well.
Anyway, onto entry # 2. This one will be about libraries; specifically and as promised, it will be about why the information profession appeals to me; i.e. why I want to become a librarian (Hopefully this won't get too "what I did this summer" -ish - you know, like some essay a kid in grade school would write. )
Some people who know me well say that I just want to be a librarian so that I can smell books all day. . . which may be more than a little true. . . (I'm a huge bibliophile, obviously - I even love the physical attributes of books). Though it's a huge part of it for me, there's more value to becoming a librarian than proximity to books.
Chiefly, libraries are, in my opinion, the last bastion of democracy. I know it sounds cheesy and idealistic, but it seems like in today's highly capitalistic world everything and everyone can be bought and sold. They say that nothing of value in life is free, but those people have obviously never been to a library. I think librarianship is a highly respectable and altruistic profession, one of the few left that actually caters to the values of democracy, both fostering and embodying it.
In an age of pervasive consumerism (money seems to make the world go round now more than ever) it occurs to me that the most precious and remarkable tool possessed by citizens of the United States, though not widely recognized as such, is that of the library system. Despite the fact that you can be shut out of many circles because of inability to pay (I cite health care as an example here in the US), one institution remains true to the Enlightenment rhetoric of the founding fathers; you can still go to a public library and have free and open access to information with which to edify yourself in the face of a changing world. It's information for information's sake - no one is buying or selling information (in most cases and for the most part); librarians are simply the guardians and brokers of information, ensuring that everyone has an equal chance to get at it.
In our ostensibly democratic nation, even an individual’s education reaches a point (the end of high school) at which it becomes restricted to those with the money to pay for it. However, libraries are open to all people, without exclusion. I'm a big advocate of "learning for learning's sake," and the library allows people to do that - as well as learn what they need to learn to advance in life when other institutions have failed them.
Also admirable to me is the stand taken by information professionals (spelled out in the ALA bill of rights, which I will post at the end of this entry) against things like censorship, and for intellectual freedom.
I want to be involved in this field because I want to be proud of what I do, and because I want to help others to gain access to the information entitled to them as citizens of a democracy: information which will help them navigate a confusing modern landscape. There are more reasons why I want to become a librarian, but this one has always been foremost in my mind. Librarianship is an authentic, agenda-less profession with a conscience, and I find that extremely refreshing.
Library Bill of Rights*
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.
I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.
*taken from http://ala8.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/statementsif/librarybillrights.htm
Adopted June 18, 1948, by the ALA Council; amended February 2, 1961; amended June 28, 1967; amended January 23, 1980; inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 24, 1996.
Anyway, onto entry # 2. This one will be about libraries; specifically and as promised, it will be about why the information profession appeals to me; i.e. why I want to become a librarian (Hopefully this won't get too "what I did this summer" -ish - you know, like some essay a kid in grade school would write. )
Some people who know me well say that I just want to be a librarian so that I can smell books all day. . . which may be more than a little true. . . (I'm a huge bibliophile, obviously - I even love the physical attributes of books). Though it's a huge part of it for me, there's more value to becoming a librarian than proximity to books.
Chiefly, libraries are, in my opinion, the last bastion of democracy. I know it sounds cheesy and idealistic, but it seems like in today's highly capitalistic world everything and everyone can be bought and sold. They say that nothing of value in life is free, but those people have obviously never been to a library. I think librarianship is a highly respectable and altruistic profession, one of the few left that actually caters to the values of democracy, both fostering and embodying it.
In an age of pervasive consumerism (money seems to make the world go round now more than ever) it occurs to me that the most precious and remarkable tool possessed by citizens of the United States, though not widely recognized as such, is that of the library system. Despite the fact that you can be shut out of many circles because of inability to pay (I cite health care as an example here in the US), one institution remains true to the Enlightenment rhetoric of the founding fathers; you can still go to a public library and have free and open access to information with which to edify yourself in the face of a changing world. It's information for information's sake - no one is buying or selling information (in most cases and for the most part); librarians are simply the guardians and brokers of information, ensuring that everyone has an equal chance to get at it.
In our ostensibly democratic nation, even an individual’s education reaches a point (the end of high school) at which it becomes restricted to those with the money to pay for it. However, libraries are open to all people, without exclusion. I'm a big advocate of "learning for learning's sake," and the library allows people to do that - as well as learn what they need to learn to advance in life when other institutions have failed them.
Also admirable to me is the stand taken by information professionals (spelled out in the ALA bill of rights, which I will post at the end of this entry) against things like censorship, and for intellectual freedom.
I want to be involved in this field because I want to be proud of what I do, and because I want to help others to gain access to the information entitled to them as citizens of a democracy: information which will help them navigate a confusing modern landscape. There are more reasons why I want to become a librarian, but this one has always been foremost in my mind. Librarianship is an authentic, agenda-less profession with a conscience, and I find that extremely refreshing.
Library Bill of Rights*
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.
I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.
*taken from http://ala8.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/statementsif/librarybillrights.htm
Adopted June 18, 1948, by the ALA Council; amended February 2, 1961; amended June 28, 1967; amended January 23, 1980; inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 24, 1996.
Monday, September 8, 2008
First Thoughts
Though this blog is primarily intended for the purposes of a Library School class (Foundations of Information Technology) and will focus mainly on library-centered themes such as library technology, careers, issues, and other relevant topics, I see no harm in offering a basic, preliminary introduction of myself. My name is Heather (but via this blog, librarylass), and I live in Lexington, KY, where I have just begun attending the School of Library and Information Science at UK. I recently graduated from Transylvania University (May '08) with a BA in English, and a minor in Anthropology. My hope is to one day become a reference librarian (fingers crossed!), a career path I am really excited about. I love reading (obviously), music (listening to and playing - I play piano), I am obssessed with crossword puzzles (though lately I have been finding less and less time to do them), especially the Sunday New York Times ones (I've never finished a whole one, but I've come close).
In addition to offering my thoughts about pertinent library topics (and maybe some not so pertinent topics), this blog will serve, in some ways, to chronicle my first semester as a librarian-in-training. You may even get some bonus goodies, such as maybe a few book reviews of whatever I am currently reading or of some of my favorites, or whatever else I feel like including.
Since this blog is really for a technology course, I'm sure I will dazzle you all by the end with my spectacular understanding of computers, which will no doubt manifest itself here . . . Yeah. No. Not at all. I thought I knew my way around a computer pretty well, but to be quite honest, my stomach does a little bit of a flip when I look at the course syllabus and see all the different (seemingly complex) topics we will be covering. It turns out that, unbeknownst even to myself, I may be somewhat of a technophobe. : ) So we'll see how this turns out. At this point, I at least know that I am able to create a blog and post something to it. Beyond that, who knows.
I think that for my next entry, I will write about the reasons why a career in information (and particularly in reference) interests me, and what, in my view, are some of the most rewarding aspects of the profession. Til next time then. :)
In addition to offering my thoughts about pertinent library topics (and maybe some not so pertinent topics), this blog will serve, in some ways, to chronicle my first semester as a librarian-in-training. You may even get some bonus goodies, such as maybe a few book reviews of whatever I am currently reading or of some of my favorites, or whatever else I feel like including.
Since this blog is really for a technology course, I'm sure I will dazzle you all by the end with my spectacular understanding of computers, which will no doubt manifest itself here . . . Yeah. No. Not at all. I thought I knew my way around a computer pretty well, but to be quite honest, my stomach does a little bit of a flip when I look at the course syllabus and see all the different (seemingly complex) topics we will be covering. It turns out that, unbeknownst even to myself, I may be somewhat of a technophobe. : ) So we'll see how this turns out. At this point, I at least know that I am able to create a blog and post something to it. Beyond that, who knows.
I think that for my next entry, I will write about the reasons why a career in information (and particularly in reference) interests me, and what, in my view, are some of the most rewarding aspects of the profession. Til next time then. :)
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