I enjoyed both readings, but I have trouble with some of the statistics about American readership and literacy rates put forth in “The Company of Readers”. Based on the title and statistics given in the first section “Henny Penny”, I believe the author is indicating that we are saying the “sky is falling”, when in fact they see no crisis. I worry that it is sugar-coating the reality. I would like to see who they got their statistics from; was it really an accurate cross-section of Americans? I say this as someone who grew up in a very literate household, but I spent a great deal of time with people who have extremely limited reading skills. Actually, I currently work two jobs which offer a very interesting cross-section on American readers. One of my jobs is in a library in a fairy affluent neighborhood on Madison’s west side. I would say at least half of the patrons are middle-class, and probably seventy five percent of them know how to use a computer with little or no assistance. My second job is an outreach worker for benefits programs. Basically I go to neighborhoods/areas of high poverty and help people apply for food stamps, health care and get them hooked up with other resources. This population group is very different than the west side library patrons. At least half of them do not know how to use a computer (which is required to apply for the programs which can assist them), and a great deal of them have limited literacy. Some cannot correctly spell the name of the city they were born in (often Madison or Chicago). They may take up to half an hour to read one page of a computer screen, probably about 100 words total. I see them get stuck as they try to navigate the application and often they are too afraid or embarrassed to ask for help. Many cannot type at all. I don’t know how big of a group this is, but I think it is larger than many middle-class, literate people are aware of. “The Company of Readers” mentioned more than once that it was pulling the statistics on readership from “high-income” countries such as the US, Great Britain and Australia. The very poor may be underrepresented in these statistics.
That thought leads me to point out that Pawley mentions how documents are passed down, and it that if some of us read and write less, there is probably less information being passed on about us, at least in that medium. On pages 83-84 she talks about how the less literate may only have dry documents claiming their existence. In place of letters, diaries and poetry may only be birth certificates and applications. It is another reminder that when we look at readership statistics, it is important to note that those most struggling with literacy may not have been included to the full extent. Again, I say this as someone who has daily interactions with what I fear is a largely undocumented and misunderstood class of people.
Both articles touched on “the fiction problem” although “The Company of Readers” pointed out that some more recent studies on literature completely excluded nonfiction, which is an interesting change since the late 1800’s when the use of fiction in public libraries was in hot debate. I would be interested in what the class thinks on a question Pawley brings up: is any reading better than none at all? If we say yes, are we hoping some of the readers will move on to a “higher” level of reading? Who decides what is “better” reading and why? When we answer these questions, I hope we keep in mind topics we have already discussed and read about, such as the power dynamics between men and women, white privilege and the concept of racial neutrality (which I don’t believe exists) and other related topics. Let us keep in mind the point made on page 25 that questions the theory that the poor are too stupid or lazy to do much reading or reading of a certain kind. I subscribe more to the theory that the poor have often less time and energy to spend on activities such as reading, as they are putting much more energy in to everyday survival.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Tennessee Libraries have both challenges and achievements
Libraries in Tennessee face various challenges, but also have reason to celebrate and be hopeful for the future. Lack of money is often a problem, especially as libraries face an ever-increasing demand for better technology. A search of newspaper articles on the state of libraries in Tennessee returned results on a variety of types of libraries (public, academic, electronic), although articles on public libraries were perhaps the most common.
Public libraries have both good and less-good things happening. As is likely the case with libraries across the country, many public libraries in Tennessee have been seeing an increase in need for internet computers (Herrington 2005). Unfortunately, public funding for libraries can not keep up with demand, as Tennessee is not a wealthy state. However, grants have made it possible for some libraries to purchase more computers and provide more internet access (Moore 2007). Public librarians note that patrons require the internet for a variety of tasks, ranging from general information seeking, to applying to jobs, to social networking. In some rural libraries, truckers have been known to get off the highway just to check email at a local library.
While many Tennessee residents would like to spend more time online, they are facing a problem with availability of books. Loftin (1997) informs us that Tennessee has the worst ratio of library books per resident. The statistic is one book for every six residents. Of course, some of this is due to budget constraints. Local government spends about $9 per resident for library service, while the national average is $11. I read this article around the same time I had read the article on stereotyping for class and it made me think about the stereotype of people from the rural south being illiterate. Although I could not find a recent statistic on the literacy rate of those in Tennessee, if it is lower than the national average, this article may help to partly explain this. With less free reading materials available, it could follow that Tennessee residents have had less opportunities to practice reading. However, our stereotypes might make us think that people who are illiterate or have limited literacy are lazy or stupid, when in fact they may just have had less money to spend on reading materials. Taking it a step further, we might consider that they may have had less time and energy to spend on reading, if they are working long hours at a grueling, minimum wage job.
The electronic library may be hard to define, in Tennessee it may be best described as a cross between an academic and a public library. Tennessee created a statewide electronic library in 1999, but its funding does get called in to question from time-to-time (Lusk 2000). Since Tennessee has so many rural libraries, an electronic library is an invaluable resource- it would be impossible for the individuals libraries to purchase the material and databases themselves. Any Tennessee resident may use the electronic library from home, work or anywhere else with internet- they just need to obtain the password from a local public or academic library.
Academic libraries were featured in several newspaper articles. Students at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga can access the online catalog from anywhere in the world, thanks to an upgrade in 2001. The new software also allows them to electronically save search results and bibliographic information. The software was paid for by extra student fees. Additional software upgrades, in the northeastern part of the state helped two universities and one public library system be better connected and share more materials through increased interlibrary loan capacity. Both the college libraries, Northeast State Community College Library and East Tennessee State University, have newly built physical libraries which feature state-of-the-art technology as well as more access to computers, internet and a large collection of materials, both online and on-site (M-2 Presswire).
Overall the state of libraries in Tennessee is looking up. Lack of funding available from local governments is being combated by grants and other donations (Moore 2007). Although Tennesse’s literacy rate may not be the best, many foundations exist to improve this, and money is being funneled in to the libraries for programming and collections. New libraries have been built, the state’s electronic library has been kept up well and is still being funded, and access to the internet and other technology continues to be a priority. It would be a good sign if more state (as opposed to city/county) government money was being spent on libraries, as this would show a more systematic commitment to improving literacy and access to the libraries, but hopefully librarians and other concerned citizens will continue to lobby their representatives and fund-raise in the meantime.
References
Herrington, A. (2005, July 4). Libraries caught in Web demand. Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved from LexisNexis.
Loftin, M. (1997, July 17). Embarrassing rank for Tennessee. The Chattanooga Times. Retrieved from LexisNexis.
Lusk, K. (2000, Oct. 17). Tennessee Electronic Library gives access to free databases. The Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved from LexisNexis.
Moore, R. (2007, Nov. 29). Bulk of library funds local. The Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved from LexisNexis.
Shimshock, G. (2006, Sept. 6). Innovative Interfaces. M-2 Presswire. Retrieved from LexisNexis.
Public libraries have both good and less-good things happening. As is likely the case with libraries across the country, many public libraries in Tennessee have been seeing an increase in need for internet computers (Herrington 2005). Unfortunately, public funding for libraries can not keep up with demand, as Tennessee is not a wealthy state. However, grants have made it possible for some libraries to purchase more computers and provide more internet access (Moore 2007). Public librarians note that patrons require the internet for a variety of tasks, ranging from general information seeking, to applying to jobs, to social networking. In some rural libraries, truckers have been known to get off the highway just to check email at a local library.
While many Tennessee residents would like to spend more time online, they are facing a problem with availability of books. Loftin (1997) informs us that Tennessee has the worst ratio of library books per resident. The statistic is one book for every six residents. Of course, some of this is due to budget constraints. Local government spends about $9 per resident for library service, while the national average is $11. I read this article around the same time I had read the article on stereotyping for class and it made me think about the stereotype of people from the rural south being illiterate. Although I could not find a recent statistic on the literacy rate of those in Tennessee, if it is lower than the national average, this article may help to partly explain this. With less free reading materials available, it could follow that Tennessee residents have had less opportunities to practice reading. However, our stereotypes might make us think that people who are illiterate or have limited literacy are lazy or stupid, when in fact they may just have had less money to spend on reading materials. Taking it a step further, we might consider that they may have had less time and energy to spend on reading, if they are working long hours at a grueling, minimum wage job.
The electronic library may be hard to define, in Tennessee it may be best described as a cross between an academic and a public library. Tennessee created a statewide electronic library in 1999, but its funding does get called in to question from time-to-time (Lusk 2000). Since Tennessee has so many rural libraries, an electronic library is an invaluable resource- it would be impossible for the individuals libraries to purchase the material and databases themselves. Any Tennessee resident may use the electronic library from home, work or anywhere else with internet- they just need to obtain the password from a local public or academic library.
Academic libraries were featured in several newspaper articles. Students at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga can access the online catalog from anywhere in the world, thanks to an upgrade in 2001. The new software also allows them to electronically save search results and bibliographic information. The software was paid for by extra student fees. Additional software upgrades, in the northeastern part of the state helped two universities and one public library system be better connected and share more materials through increased interlibrary loan capacity. Both the college libraries, Northeast State Community College Library and East Tennessee State University, have newly built physical libraries which feature state-of-the-art technology as well as more access to computers, internet and a large collection of materials, both online and on-site (M-2 Presswire).
Overall the state of libraries in Tennessee is looking up. Lack of funding available from local governments is being combated by grants and other donations (Moore 2007). Although Tennesse’s literacy rate may not be the best, many foundations exist to improve this, and money is being funneled in to the libraries for programming and collections. New libraries have been built, the state’s electronic library has been kept up well and is still being funded, and access to the internet and other technology continues to be a priority. It would be a good sign if more state (as opposed to city/county) government money was being spent on libraries, as this would show a more systematic commitment to improving literacy and access to the libraries, but hopefully librarians and other concerned citizens will continue to lobby their representatives and fund-raise in the meantime.
References
Herrington, A. (2005, July 4). Libraries caught in Web demand. Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved from LexisNexis.
Loftin, M. (1997, July 17). Embarrassing rank for Tennessee. The Chattanooga Times. Retrieved from LexisNexis.
Lusk, K. (2000, Oct. 17). Tennessee Electronic Library gives access to free databases. The Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved from LexisNexis.
Moore, R. (2007, Nov. 29). Bulk of library funds local. The Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved from LexisNexis.
Shimshock, G. (2006, Sept. 6). Innovative Interfaces. M-2 Presswire. Retrieved from LexisNexis.
Week 3 reading response
I liked all the articles for this week. Reading about our troubled past and how we got to where we are today and what barriers are still in the way is great. Also enjoyed the article on women in this profession, of course I have noticed that many in this field are women and the higher-ups, as in many organizations, tend to be men. Although technology is replacing some of our traditional services, evolution is a good thing and I do not feel afraid that our jobs will disappear anytime soon. One of main concern for libraries and patrons is actually the technology gap will continue to widen, leaving many patrons way behind those who have better computer skills. I believe that librarians can act as a bridge to help connect the underserved in our community with resources and information that they are not able to find on their own.
I want to focus most of my post on Radof and Radof’s article on stereotypes in librarianship. I have worked at several public library branches and am acquainted with many people who work in libraries. Although they do tend to be predominately female and white, their backgrounds and personalities are quite distinct. As the article discusses, humans have a tendency to stereotype, but as with any group of people or profession, librarians have many unique characteristics.
Stereotypes can keep us in shallow relationships with people, and also leave the door open to treat some people as inferior. Since some of us have experienced how awful it is being stereotyped, I would encourage us as current and future professionals in the library field, to spend some time thinking about our own stereotypes and how they may affect the way we treat others. Overall I have been immensely impressed with the ways I have observed public librarians interact with patrons from all walks of life, but of course there is always room for improvement. For example, I recently heard a library employee say they thought they should put a sign up for “certain” new patrons: get a library card and a free rap cd! They were referring to a trend they had apparently noticed among African Americans to have hip-hop cds reach “lost” status, at which point they could not check out additional materials until the cd had been returned or replaced. I don’t question that this does occur, but does it necessarily occur more often with African Americans, or might it just be more noticeable, especially since Madison is majority white, and African American patrons may stand out more? Also, I don’t know that there would be a way to trace this assertion with statistics, as the patron’s race is not recorded anywhere. This is just one example, and it is important to note that this type of attitude can become a vicious cycle. If the librarian already believes that African American patrons are more irresponsible with library materials, then they may (consciously or unconsciously) treat their African American patrons not as well. These patrons will likely pick up on this, and may respond in kind…you can see how this can go on forever.
Other parts of the article that caught my attention: they describe us as Sisyphus, with our endless task of organizing, just to have the materials disorganized by patrons (63). Let us hope that most of us are not looking for “patron-free” days in the library. The library is there for the patron, not for us, and it is a good thing that they are interested in materials and rumple them a bit (or a lot) in the process.
On page 65 they talk about the librarian having created a system that seems needlessly complex to the user, and also makes them dependent on library staff. I agree with this to some extent, however, I think advances like the online card catalog with keyword searches, coupled with a good percentage of patrons who are extremely computer savvy, makes this statement a little less relevant. That said, we should be especially aware of patrons who continue to need more assistance and who may be extremely intimidated by the internet, computers, and even the written word.
My last comment on this article is that I have to acknowledge their shout-out to my favorite television librarian, Mr. Rupert Giles. He’s definitely the coolest librarian/watcher ever to be featured on prime-time.
I want to focus most of my post on Radof and Radof’s article on stereotypes in librarianship. I have worked at several public library branches and am acquainted with many people who work in libraries. Although they do tend to be predominately female and white, their backgrounds and personalities are quite distinct. As the article discusses, humans have a tendency to stereotype, but as with any group of people or profession, librarians have many unique characteristics.
Stereotypes can keep us in shallow relationships with people, and also leave the door open to treat some people as inferior. Since some of us have experienced how awful it is being stereotyped, I would encourage us as current and future professionals in the library field, to spend some time thinking about our own stereotypes and how they may affect the way we treat others. Overall I have been immensely impressed with the ways I have observed public librarians interact with patrons from all walks of life, but of course there is always room for improvement. For example, I recently heard a library employee say they thought they should put a sign up for “certain” new patrons: get a library card and a free rap cd! They were referring to a trend they had apparently noticed among African Americans to have hip-hop cds reach “lost” status, at which point they could not check out additional materials until the cd had been returned or replaced. I don’t question that this does occur, but does it necessarily occur more often with African Americans, or might it just be more noticeable, especially since Madison is majority white, and African American patrons may stand out more? Also, I don’t know that there would be a way to trace this assertion with statistics, as the patron’s race is not recorded anywhere. This is just one example, and it is important to note that this type of attitude can become a vicious cycle. If the librarian already believes that African American patrons are more irresponsible with library materials, then they may (consciously or unconsciously) treat their African American patrons not as well. These patrons will likely pick up on this, and may respond in kind…you can see how this can go on forever.
Other parts of the article that caught my attention: they describe us as Sisyphus, with our endless task of organizing, just to have the materials disorganized by patrons (63). Let us hope that most of us are not looking for “patron-free” days in the library. The library is there for the patron, not for us, and it is a good thing that they are interested in materials and rumple them a bit (or a lot) in the process.
On page 65 they talk about the librarian having created a system that seems needlessly complex to the user, and also makes them dependent on library staff. I agree with this to some extent, however, I think advances like the online card catalog with keyword searches, coupled with a good percentage of patrons who are extremely computer savvy, makes this statement a little less relevant. That said, we should be especially aware of patrons who continue to need more assistance and who may be extremely intimidated by the internet, computers, and even the written word.
My last comment on this article is that I have to acknowledge their shout-out to my favorite television librarian, Mr. Rupert Giles. He’s definitely the coolest librarian/watcher ever to be featured on prime-time.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Tupac's song "Dear Mama"
This year, Tupac Shakur's moving tribute to mothers everywhere, "Dear Mama" will be added to the Library of Congress. I am pleased that Tupac's legacy continues to thrive and my hope is that more "mainstream" information agencies will pick up on his massive influence. Tupac was fatally shot on September 7th, 1996 and passed away on September 13th. You can support Tupac's memory by requesting that your local public or academic library buy more of his albums, biographies and films.
Photo from keepittrill.com
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