Is Dewey Excluding Our Patrons?

As I led a very nice (and very loud) 15 year old over to the Oragami section of the library today, I wondered to myself “Is the Dewey Decimal system, for all it’s positives, an exclusive system that disenfranchises our patrons in the quest for knowledge?”

This might seem a little heavy for a routine trip to the stacks, but really, most patrons don’t understand Dewey and they have to come to us to 1) find out where the secret code says the treasure is and 2) help them decode the clue once we find it. I know its purpose isn’t at all to make patrons confused, but unless they know how to use it (and most don’t) that puts us, librarians, in the position of ultimate knowledge dispenser. But isn't that my job? Of course, I just wish I could empower patrons more in their quest for information. Perhaps the Dewey Decimal System (a series of numbers that correspond with various topics in specific locations on the shelf, oft times without really making logical sense – check out the 700’s) creates a system where patrons are required to access information via a map reader (us) instead of being able to navigate the system on their own. Marx would cry Hegemony! but that seems a little too far for me. …and patrons could just…you know…learn how to read numbers from low to high…

I’m not saying that I’m in favor of switching over to bookstore style organization for non-fiction as a few libraries throughout the country have done, but I am interested in ways of making libraries more user friendly.

Persepolis

Who knew I'd ever really like a graphic novel? I just finished "Persepolis: A childhood" and it was fabulous. Really. Here is my review

For sassy young Marjane Satrapi, growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution of 1979 is pretty confusing. After growing up in a relatively modern society, Marjane is now forced to wear a head scarf in public, wear her jeans only in secret, and stop listening to tapes where people might hear, as these things are now against the law. More seriously, she watches as family and friends are taken away, tortured, and sometimes even murdered.

Told through the eyes of a child, this graphic novel is stunning in its ability to capture the complexities of Iran in the early 80’s while remaining accessible and informative. A really great read for anyone interested in the region.

It Peaveth Me

Ok, I was reading the "mailbag" in a book review magazine today and I read something that is uber irksome to me. After complaining for a while about the latest book in her favorite series taking forever to come out, Lillian DeMeritte of Silver Spring, MD writes
"I wish there was something publishers could do to encourage their authors to put limits on the amount of time between books written within a series. It's one thing to allow time to create suspense, but to leave your readers hanging by fingernails, teeth and toenails is a bit much."

I don't know at what point readers think authors become their own personal dancing monkeys, but this kind of attitude drives me crazy. I guess it happens with all "artists", like when music fans are ticked about a band's new album that "isn't like the real them at all" (... but who else could it be?). But it happens a lot in this particular genre.

ok, I'll spill it. It was a romance book review book catalog I was reading and the kicker about this letter was that the responding editor thought it was a perfectly reasonable complaint. If you don't know, the Romance world is a fascinating, if disturbing place. I don't mind saying that it is almost entirely devoid of artistic, organic endeavors. And maybe that's fine, I don't want to be too snotty. The Romance industry is completely based on marketing, and economics drives EVERYTHING about it; plot, character, length, quantity...quality. I'm not saying that's bad, ok, I think it is, but good for them for turning a buck if they can stomach it.

I guess my main point is what a shame it is when readers think they ought to have complete control over writers, and what an even bigger shame it is in the Romance world when they do! Is my idealism showing?

Que Triste!

So, I was updating the community hallway in the library today and I heard uproarious laughter and shrieking coming from the girls bathroom. I went inside and it had, sure enough, turned into the Provo High School bathroom in a matter of seconds. Hairspray, tons of eyeliner, and the ever popular butt-showing lowriders. Since it was during school I kindly asked the girls what they were doing at the library during school hours. (I should point out that were all 15 year old sassy latino girls - it doesn't really matter, but it helps you imagine it) "Um, like somebody dropped us off, 'djou know?" "We just had to use the bathroom."

"So, you're done by now, right?"

At this point they all looked a little nervous and one of them bolted into the bathroom. When she came out a few minues later she had a pregnancy test and she looked really relieved. But then her friend said to her "No, you have to wait three minutes stupit". It was killer.

My first thought was 'oh my heck, she needs help' So old lady library kicked in and I went through all of the adoption resources we had in the library and all of the pamphlets on dealing with teen pregnancy (not that we have many, really this is provo). But then I thought 'if she isn't pregnant she needs to know about how to not get pregnant!' But then I knew I would get fired for sure. I was just so struck with how young she was and how much she didn't know about having a baby, or not having a baby (obviously, since she was taking a pregnancy test). Eak.

So, ultimately I decided to let them have their moment alone in the bathroom and I don't know how things turned out. I realized that If I were to be High School librarian and I got to know the kids it would be hard for me to remain objective about their personal lives. Can you imagine coming home from school and telling your parents that your High School librarian had talked to you about contraceptives...can you say fired? Well, for sure here anyway. I don't know. I don't mind saying that I think abstinence only sex education is ridiculous and I can't beleive the government funds it. But maybe my job isn't worth that issue? But really, when you think about this lives of teens and their possible unborn children...maybe it is? Not yet I guess. I'll wait 'till I'm a sassy old woman with nothing to loose and some serious clout to swing around.