Reading...no pain no gain? Response to "The Company of Readers."

After getting my undergraduate degree in history, I understand the need for individuals to read more intellectual material. However, I also feel that the stigma against reading for pleasure is too strong and that sometimes people just need to decompress. In fact, I feel so strongly about this, that I will even argue that reading for pleasure has just as many benefits as reading for an academic purpose. While the benefits may not all be in sync, both forms of reading have something to provide to the reader. Reading for pleasure, "tends to be downplayed in comparison with the importance given to reading for information or literacy as a life " (Ross 6). But why? Throughout my academic career I have hear individuals argue that non-academic material or material with limited accredited intellectual content has little merit or benefit in increasing brain function or analytical thinking. I disagree. Of course valid sources should be used for a term paper or a research project, but for everyday leisure reading, why not explore the taboo? Sometimes there are hidden gems that inspire great avenues of thought. Novels with complex story lines and plot development are not limited to the works of the authors in a literary cannon or works published by Oxford University. There are plenty of works that encourage interaction through a play on emotions and morality. Should these stories whether they be fantasy or murder mystery be thrown out as the smut of the reading world? I don't think so.

Contextual variety

When reading Pawley's article, Beyond Market Models and Resistance, I was especially drawn to the theory presented by Elizabeth Long referred to as "social infrastructure of reading" (80). This is explained as, "encouraging researchers to think of reading as constituting a cluster of social and cultural activities that take place among groups in a variety of contexts..." (Pawley 80). While I agree with the basic message behind this statement, I am curious to see how researchers would apply this to their work. Long's suggestion is rather broad and a somewhat difficult concept to integrate into a field study. When placed within the general context of print culture, how does one subdivide Long's idea for use in a study? What is the criteria for determining what constitutes "social and cultural activities" and what does she mean by, "a variety of contexts?" How far does this contextual variety spread and what would I as a researcher be able to include in my approach to testing Long's theory if I were to adhere to her guidelines?

Reading the possibilities

In the article "Tunnel Vision and Blind Spots" the reference to Louis Rosenblatt's theories about reading as 'a form of intense activity' brings up a important discussion about what the act of reading does for different people. Her statements about researchers needing, "'to find out what happens when specific human beings, with their interests and anxieties participate in the emotional and intellectual life' that reading 'makes possible'" (Wiegand 10-11). Even with all the advancements in the profession through the integration of technology it is important to remember what the act of reading can do for the individual, the community, and world. Reading not only provides intellectual stimulation and engagement, but the opportunity to escape through creativity and imagination. While some people use reading to expand their knowledge base, there are plenty of individuals who use it to relax, to entertain, and for healing.

Response to LIS curriculum article

Racism. It is a difficult topic to discuss because there are those who keep it alive through misunderstanding or hatred and there are those who do not recognize the signs. Battling the taint of racism is useless without first making the attempt to be consciously aware of any undertones of racism evident in the community, academics, and the professional world. Starting with education, "to achieve clarity, LIS educators need to recognize the roots of our racialized thinking and the ways in which these are still discernable in the LIS curriculum" (Pawley 5). Recognition is the first step towards approaching this ethical dilemma but this step is not solely up to the educators. At a bare minimum the student must also make an effort to remain open minded and tolerant when interacting with others and representing the student body of their institution. Every individual has the right to their own personal beliefs, but every individual also has the right to tolerance. Without some level of decorum and respect, the integrity of the organization or field of study is put into question.

the cataloger's plight

The article,"Information technology and the de-skilling of librarians," states that the need for catalogers has greatly diminished and the remaining catalogers are dealing with new responsiblities or a lack thereof. However, it has been my experience that some special libraries or special collections still have a great need for the traditional cataloger. These libraries utalize the traditions of the past where, "cataloguers usually specialized in subject of language ares, reviewed all the materials acqured in those areas and cataloged both the "hot" items (to get them in circulation quickly) and the difficult ones..."(3). Libraries containing collections of materials in foreign languages or from centuries long since past require the expertise of those who are able to best descern the contents within. While there are many libraries where, "Now...the cataloger has to work in several subject areas because there are not enough items that require original cataloguing in most disciplines to warrant subject-specialization,"(3)there are still plenty of intances where there is room for the old alongside the new.

The state of the library: Iowa

Iowa and the structure of libraries

The structure of libraries across the country is heavily influenced by the changing expectations of both the users and the institutions or communities in which the libraries are affiliated. This statement, albeit a simple one, has an underlying implication that continues to pack quite a punch in the development of how people understand and interact with libraries. Libraries are often taken for granted and greatly misunderstood. However, is this the users fault through a lack of interest and laziness or is it a lapse in a given library's marketing strategy? To provide better insight into how to answer this question, a deeper look at the workings of and events surrounding a few select libraries in the state of Iowa is in order.

Believe it or not, but it is communities such as those in Council Bluffs, Iowa where a great development in the digital sphere is taking place. Iowa Western Community College has approached the challenge of going digital versus maintaining the traditional physical library by throwing in another variable. "This new library is part of a $13 million student center that also features a culinary arts lab and a dining area with room to seat 400-plus--twice the seating capacity of the old facility in Ashley Hall" (Rohwer). A dining hall in a library? That is a crazy notion when compared to the image most individuals have of libraries, but it is this innovativeness that is allowing libraries to survive in an atmosphere where change is beating down the door. "With the fall semester ready to start, Iowa Western students will use the resources found in the cyberlibrary in the new student center. 'There are no books,' Kinney said. 'Everything will be on databases online. We are not going to buy any more books. The existing books are being distributed to their respective academic departments"' (Rohwer).

A library without a physical collection is a frightening concept to many of the more orthodox librarians. However, this practice does have its perks. The public library in Ceder Rapids Iowa may have had an altogether different experience back in the summer of 2008 if the majority of their contents had been stored safely on a digital library interface. "Flooding in Ceder Rapids, IA, caused the Cedar Rapids Public Library (CRPL) to suffer significant water damage. The floodwaters reached five feet shelves on the library's ground floor, destroying the entire adult collection, but the children's collection on the library's second floor likely will be saved" (Blumenstein, Oder). There was a considerable amount of damage to not only the main public library but homes, museums, and special libraries. Unfortunately, the damage done to the library building has forced the library staff to operate out of a local mall, but it is through this tragedy that the library has been able to declare an important message. "'We think that library programs are important, and even in this cramped mall space we're doing more of them now. We have book discussions, programs for young adults, and a lot for children,' says Hoke, who sets up much of the programming at CRPL" (Berry III, 30). At the end of the day, marketing through advertising and keeping users aware of services is what allowed this library to stay afloat long after they lost their original physical identity.

Providing further encouragement to the digital push is the issue of open access, more specifically how open libraries want that access to be. Iowa is currently facing a very tricky debate spurred by the presence of sex-offenders and how their rights interact with the principles of an open access system. In the end, it was the digital library that allowed for a decision to be made that did not compromise the integrity of an open access system but kept patrons feeling safe about their library surroundings. "While board members agree with Spencer Public Library staff that homebound deliveries would not be allowed, it was clarified that they would be able to access the library's Wilbor and EbscoHost systems. The online systems allow users to download audiobooks and to access full-text articles from magazines, scientific journals, newspapers and reference books" (Todd).

The short tour through Iowa leads to an important question: Does going digital insure a smooth transition into dealing with issues such as convenience for the users, marketing, and open access? The short answer is yes, but without looking at the individual examples and situations facing library institutions everywhere, the long and more important resolution of understanding what libraries do will continue to be ignored.

Works Cited

Blumenstein, Lynn and Norman Oder. Flooding in Iowa, Especially Cedar Rapids, Damages Libraries. LibraryJournal.com, 20 Jun. 2008. Web. 20 Sept. 2010. http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6570322.html>.

Rohwer, Tim. Library opens new chapter. World-Herald News Service, 15 Aug. 2010. Web. 20 Sept. 2010. http://www.omaha.com/article/20100815/NEWS01/708159810.>

Todd, Kris. Library considers sex offender law impact. The Daily Reporter, 16 Jun. 2009. Web. 20 Sept. 2010. http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/1547582.html>.

Berry III, John N. "After the flood, CRPL buoys the community." Library Journal Jan. 2009: 28-30. Print.

Information Science

"Addressing the problem of information explosion, information science found a niche within the broader context in the evolution of the information society. In its various manifestations and attempted solutions, the niche is getting broader and bigger" (Saracevic 3). Over time, this niche has come to interact very closely with the realm of computer science, which has greatly influenced the tones of how information science has evolved. Both fields specialize in providing information and making that information more usable to the everyday user. "The common ground between library science and information science, which is a strong one, is in sharing of their social role and in their general concern with effective utilization of graphic and other records, particularly by individuals" (Saracevic 10). Although there is some tension between those who operate in these fields, the dividing line is becoming much easier to cross and as the niche continues to become 'broader and bigger' the desired 'manifestations' and 'attempted solutions' will become cleaner and clearer.

digital reality: response to Libraries: Digital, electronic, and hybrid.

There are many changes occurring in libraries across the globe, but not all are as easily discernible as a building renovation or a change in section or shelving placement. Like any profession or field of study, library science is greatly influenced by the factors that create its foundation. Components such as academia, finances, technology, and the trends of the business world can all have, to varying degrees, a powerful influence over the structure of a library. This is especially apparent in the digital library. "The developments surrounding digital, electronic, virtual, and hybrid libraries are symptomatic of impeding changes in scholarly publishing, the entire academic realm, and in the sociological structures of education, research, and scholarly activities as a whole" (Rusch-Feja 4). The influence of technology has become the structure behind almost any professional decision and without learning how to successfully integrate the tools of today into older methods of operation, librarians risk becoming outdated compared to the spheres of influence in which they rely. While the changes wrought by technology are unappealing to some, in order to be successful and have continual purpose in the field, "the librarian must become an information specialists, continuously remaining on the cutting edge of information technology, on the various forms of information offered by the content providers, on the cost-effectiveness of physical and electronic document delivery options, and lastly continuously update the users, to train and motivate them to use the full range of adequate information resources"(Rusch-Feja 4). How are librarians supposed to fulfil that last portion of the quote preceding this sentence if they do not first create a standard of expectation when interacting with technology? In order to appropriately compete with other professionals or stay up-to-date with the societies in which a library generally operates, it must help set and monitor the pace rather than constantly trying to catch up to an overwhelming and sometimes harmful expectation.

Libraries dream in digital

"The digital, virtual, or electronic library, sometimes called the library 'without walls' inevitably threatens the traditional library" (Pawley 2). This statement is a concern that many librarians and preservationists share in a world of looming digitization. However, while there is justification for this concern, there is a way for both the physical and the digital to work together. Among the support that there can be harmony between these two realms of information is the fact that, "a digital library does not only consist of digitized and digitally born information resources, but also of electronic metadata on non-digital objects" (Pawley 6). This consideration for 'non-digital' objects helps blend the different information mediums through the effort to take the methods of old and integrate them within the new systems of cataloging and research support. Although there is a risk that the converted digitized information may reduce user interaction with the physical items, it can also be viewed that having digital access to the catalog information of a physical item can in turn make it more appealing and convenient for the user to access data beyond the limits of their computer. In other words, going digital may very well preserve and better market the physical.

Archive Fever: Response to "Traces: Document, record, archive, archives."

"The recordkeeping processes of selection, classification and description as described above are based on the records creators' view of their mission and the nature of the activities they engage in..." 17



The 'above' in the context of chapter 1 in Archives : Record Keeping in Society by Sue McKemmish highlights a discord amongst those who are in the profession of preserving, cataloging, and collecting information. Whether in the archival setting or a records management facility, the basic foundation of information integrity remains the same. Although it has become increasingly more popular for professionals in these fields to publicly state a code of ethics, this code has not always been in the spotlight. Instead, images such as the one from the 'Children Overboard' story take up a majority of the focus through mass media frenzy and misrepresentation. Working with these materials either during their currency or after their social expiration presents many challenges, specifically in maintaining the 'true' story and information they have to share. Within this process, those working with these materials find themselves balancing between the attempt to 'memorialize' and the action of 'killing the memory' 2. The individuals who argued that the 'Children Overboard' photo was evidence towards the theory of children being thrown into water worked towards 'memorializing' an account of an injustice, but they were working dangerously close to 'killing the memory' by the action of overriding the truth with a more powerful image of inaccuracy. However, this kind of response is frequent and eventually becomes just as important to the story and the historical event as the original meaning behind the item before any alterations or misrepresentations took place. Although doctored, the 'falsified' view needs to be accounted for in records to tell the full story because now it has become a part of the memory.