John Ambrosio (2013), reflecting on the history of the library profession, invokes Antonio Gramsci, who said that a critical understanding of the self also requires the development of an ethical stance, a set of values, principles, and virtues to guide one’s moral conduct (Ambrosio, 2013, p. 328). Lacking such ethics or praxis, librarians are vulnerable to the dominant political ideology. “The way to overcome paralysis is the consciousness of what one really is and knowing oneself. It begins with taking an inventory of our historical formation with determining how we have been secretly imprinted by history; how our language, thoughts and identities have been informed by various currents of philosophical thought and cultural practices” (Gramsci in Ambrosio, 2013, p. 328). By examining the history of the library profession - a history that conflates neutrality with equality and democracy, staffed by a cadre of professionals who trace their beginnings to a theory of “library economy” - it is easy to imagine how neoliberal ideology found a home in the library.
Many theorists recognize the fact that librarians have the potential to make progressive reforms to society (Raber, 2003, p. 47), if they would only break free of the “contradictory theoretical consciousness” and hegemonic norms that hold them back from doing so by suggesting that they should take no action (Bales & Engle, 2012, p. 22). Louis Althusser (2009), in particular felt that librarians had a “social and moral
For libraries to remain a place for a lively exchange of ideas, librarians should be armed with the right knowledge and strong conviction to preserve people’s rights.
Zadie Smith’s deft appeal to identity throughout the article begins with her discussion of libraries. Smith’s expresses, “We’re humans, not robots.” This is one way for the author to show that people are people and we feel things, while a robot wouldn’t feel an emotion. This is the author’s way of relating to the audience and showing that they have feelings and emotions as well. Smith is showing that the library has significance to her. Smith also shows her reader that she can relate to how they feel by stating, [Libraries] the only thing left on the… street that doesn’t want either your soul or your wallet.” Smith uses this to show how she understands the audience, and that she also has the same issues as the people who are reading the article.
The author starts off with a rhetorical question: “What kind of problem is a library?” urging the readers to think about this question as they continue to read the article. The question grabs the readers’ attention, and intrigues them to read on to find and answer. She further utilizes this technique of rhetorical questions throughout the article for the same purpose of emphasis on the vitality of the role of public libraries. Moreover, Smith extensively employs the use of metaphors and personification. For example, she describes the internet as libraries’ “universal death knell”, which portrays the internet’s negative impact on the development of
In Ray Bradbury’s fictional novel about the horrifying future, he discusses topics that, politically and socially, can relate to Judith Ortiz Cofer’s short story; The Paterson Public Library. These two pertain to each other because both Bradbury’s and Cofer’s characters are afraid of situations that involve books. Though they do compare in many ways, there are also differences between the stories.
This source was important because it allowed us to see what is ‘legally’ considered a bill of rights for a library. As this is from a national association for libraries, it can be inferred that our own library would have shared the same ideals. This was important for the usefulness of for the Strategic Plan as it allowed us to outline the rules that the library would have to follow and how it would likely deal with events in the library.
In Eleanor Roosevelt's speech, “What Libraries Mean to the Nation”, she talks about the importance of libraries in the United States. She talks about how useful libraries are in making a better education for the people. She does this by using logical appeal and in an anecdote.
In LIS 600 students evaluate democratic principles, major information policies, ethical policies, and the role information agencies play in preserving information. In the paper the student determines the role of librarians in the implementation of policy and the role of continuing education no user relations.The instructor describes my paper as “excellent research and smart thoughts.” I earned a B for the paper. The final exam is a culmination of knowledge and discussion of ethical policies, evolution of policies, and education of librarians. These topics provide a knowledge base for anyone entering the library profession. The understating of policy also intertwines with other coursework such as the strategic plan. One cannot create a strategic plan without understanding information policies. I received a letter grade of A for the final exam. Instructor comments for the exam include “a job well done.” These artifacts for LIS 600 build a foundation of library profession providing the theories for future librarian and library development.
The author of this article Mrs. Denise Davis is the director of the Office for Research and Statistics of the American Library Association. This means that Mrs. Davis is able to access and is responsible for the reports mandatory for each library across America to turn in each fiscal year, these reports are used to determine what changes the libraries need to make to better serve the public. Given her credibility to write on such topics she then chooses a topic each year to write on to prepare libraries and librarians across the country for the upcoming years. In 2010 Mrs. Davis choose to write on eBooks and their increasing popularity throughout the American population as well as the difficulties libraries have encountered in the past fiscal year to compete with eBooks. Because this article is written in 2010 it shows just how long libraries have struggled with the topic of eBooks and can demonstrate the new policies that have been used by the libraries throughout the past four years. This information can help my research in showing how eBooks have affected the library's behavior, and consequently give me the statistics needed to show the effects of eBooks on the libraries throughout the recent years. Understanding this source is outdated other sources will also likely be used in my final project from the American Library Association websites of statistics of more recent years.
Although I am a librarian by practice, I am a teacher by choice. I believe in the educational mission of libraries and work hard to perpetuate the democratic ideals on which our profession was founded. I encourage my students to take their learning personally; to look beyond the assignment to see the connections to their everyday lives, and beneath the information to see the systems of social, economic, and political power that build and inform our world. As a teacher, I take the work I do seriously and I encourage my students to do the same.
In response to the closed down of local libraries in London, writer Zadie Smith argues that libraries should remain open in her article "The North West London Blues". She effectively supports her argument using evidence that attacks the reader's rhetorical appeals of ethos, pathos, and logos.
As new technologies are rapidly introduced, people are able to find any information with the access of internet. This leads to people questioning the relevance of libraries and its true purpose. Public libraries cultivate the value of increased education and a social unity to advancing as a society.
I would say that almost everyone in the United States has been to a public library at some point in their lives. I remember going to the public library in almost every town that I have lived in since I was about five or six years of age. I remember, as a young child, checking out books on all kinds of topics such as dinosaurs, racecars, and Egyptian mythology. As I grew older, my taste in literature evolved. I would check out books about wizards battling against dark magic, snipers saving the world from evil regimes, and every day, ordinary people trying to survive in dystopian worlds. The public library gave me access to all of these literary adventures. I also remember when public libraries started incorporating music, movies, and televisions shows into their in-library resources. I was able
There are an enormous amount of people in the United States that depend on the librarian to do different tasks that they cannot do. Patrons may think it is simple, but before you can become a librarian you have to learn how to conquer some patrons that come in, you have to learn how to work the desk and learn how to work the shelves.
The Rose County Public Library is situated in Rose, IN and was established in 1846. The Rose County Library’s creation was not accidental, but rather with prudent foresight, the creators of the Indiana constitution implemented provisions for county libraries. The law of 1816 stated that upon the creation of a new county the Indiana General Assembly,
Need Thesis: The worth of public libraries in America extends far beyond the books they offer. Despite the value of these resources to struggling communities, libraries have seen a decline in both public usage and federal funding in recent years.