Remember when you became a "tween" it was suddenly "uncool" to hang around in the children's section of the library? You wanted to show everyone you were grownup, so you went to the teen or adult sections but you secretly yearned for Clifford the Big Red Dog or the tales of Beatrix Potter's animals.
Okay, maybe I was among the few who went through such an experience, but a number of adults today feel a little uncool going to the self-help section of the library. I can spot those patrons: walking around other sections first, then casually, nonchalantly making their way to the self-help books, trying to peek discreetly about them to make sure that no one is paying attention to what they're looking at.
I say there is no stigma about reading self-help books. Once again, THERE IS NO STIGMA ABOUT SELF-HELP BOOKS. Libraries are places to obtain all kinds of information and resources.
Those of us working at libraries are non-judgmental about the materials you seek and check out. Really. As a librarian, my job is to help you find whatever information you want; I'm not here to judge or ask you what you're going to do with that information. That's none of my business. And as a librarian, it's part of my job to keep your questions and your checkouts private. That means I'm not going to go babbling to your neighbors, co-workers, or whoever else about what you were looking up in the library.
So come on down to the library and unabashedly look up and check out those self-help books! Some of my pics: Don Miguel Ruiz's The Four Agreements and The Fifth Agreement along with Sharon Salzberg's Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation.
Breathing in...breathing out...from the perch.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
How September 11 Changed Libraries
It's an understatement to say that the attacks of September 11 have changed life for Americans and others around the world. Most noticeably, we see the changes in the security we go through in airports nowadays whenever we travel by plane. But did you know that libraries have changed as well?
Library staff across the country have become even more proactive to keep the privacy of their patrons. That means computers have programs that erase their browsing history once they are turned off or restarted, records of previous checkouts by patrons aren't kept, and anything written down on paper in helping a patron with research is shredded as soon as it's no longer needed.
Some of you may ask, "Doesn't this make it more difficult to identify and track potential terrorists?" Possibly, but would you want to be named a terrorist just because you have an academic interest in Muslim culture or planes? Do you want to feel afraid to look up something in the library or ask a librarian a question because it may get you into trouble?
That's not what the U.S. or American libraries are about. Believe it or not, there's actually a Library Bill of Rights that all American libraries follow. All people in this country--no matter their origin, background, age, or views--have equal rights to libraries and their resources. Access to information is one of the freedoms we have. It must be protected and preserved.
Patriotically yours from the perch.
Library staff across the country have become even more proactive to keep the privacy of their patrons. That means computers have programs that erase their browsing history once they are turned off or restarted, records of previous checkouts by patrons aren't kept, and anything written down on paper in helping a patron with research is shredded as soon as it's no longer needed.
Some of you may ask, "Doesn't this make it more difficult to identify and track potential terrorists?" Possibly, but would you want to be named a terrorist just because you have an academic interest in Muslim culture or planes? Do you want to feel afraid to look up something in the library or ask a librarian a question because it may get you into trouble?
That's not what the U.S. or American libraries are about. Believe it or not, there's actually a Library Bill of Rights that all American libraries follow. All people in this country--no matter their origin, background, age, or views--have equal rights to libraries and their resources. Access to information is one of the freedoms we have. It must be protected and preserved.
Patriotically yours from the perch.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Banned Books
We're getting ready for Banned Books Week (September 24-October 1) at the library, and I'm forewarning that as a librarian I have some strong feelings about it.
I'm going to let you in on something--librarians are all about information and most (including myself) feel fiercely passionate about keeping information readily available to the public without limitations or censorship. After all, freedom (including the freedom to read what you choose) is part of the foundation of the United States.
So it upsets me when I think of people banning books. I can understand that some books conflict with the beliefs of some people. I'm going to be honest--there are some books or DVDs that I may disagree with. Do I think those items should be banned? No. Just because I may find an item personally questionable doesn't mean that other people shouldn't have the right to read or watch that item. Likewise, I should have the right to access material that other people may not support.
The whole point of the matter is we should all have the freedom to access all types of material. If a library item offends you, no one is forcing you to use it, but respect the right and freedom of others to use it. The U.S. is a nation of many peoples and cultures. Let's all respect each other.
Getting off my soapbox, er, perch.
I'm going to let you in on something--librarians are all about information and most (including myself) feel fiercely passionate about keeping information readily available to the public without limitations or censorship. After all, freedom (including the freedom to read what you choose) is part of the foundation of the United States.
So it upsets me when I think of people banning books. I can understand that some books conflict with the beliefs of some people. I'm going to be honest--there are some books or DVDs that I may disagree with. Do I think those items should be banned? No. Just because I may find an item personally questionable doesn't mean that other people shouldn't have the right to read or watch that item. Likewise, I should have the right to access material that other people may not support.
The whole point of the matter is we should all have the freedom to access all types of material. If a library item offends you, no one is forcing you to use it, but respect the right and freedom of others to use it. The U.S. is a nation of many peoples and cultures. Let's all respect each other.
Getting off my soapbox, er, perch.
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