Read what you want, we don’t judge. Week 13 Prompt
I have never understood those who would poo-poo a genre or
format. I’m guessing it’s a generational issue. An important part of my library’s
collection development plan is patron demand. If patrons request materials and
they circulate well we purchase it. We
use other matrix for purchasing as well, collection balance and educational
needs for example, but it’s primarily demand.
One of the most popular items we
have, that circulates well with all age groups, is our graphic novels
collection. Our staff makes an extra effort to explain to patrons that just
because a title is located in adult, teen, or non-fiction that doesn’t define
who should or shouldn’t be reading it. We truly believe in Dr. Ranganathan’s Second
and Third laws of library science:
2. Every person his or her book.
3. Every book its reader.
Additionally the ALA code of Ethics section II states:
“We uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist
all efforts to censor library resources.”
As far as I’m concerned, if there is a demand for a book /
novel and you won’t supply the item because you feel it’s not legitimate literature
that is a form of censorship. Who are we to decide what a person should read.
This is a decision best left to the individual. Of course we provide reader’s advisory
and make recommendations. However, in the end it is up to the patron to decide what
they want to read and it's up to us to locate the material without prejudice. Of course
that can lead to some awkward situations when patrons request racist or hateful
material but that’s a discussion for another day….
You said it better than I could. Let people read what they want. It's not our job to tell people what they can and can't read. This always comes up in the topic of banned books. I'm going slightly off track but I can't help the two are related. When institutions, such as schools, ban books, it really puts the school in a negative light. Well at least it does for me. My high school banned the book The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I LOVED that book, still do, and when they banned it, I threw a fit. I made all my friends read it, before I knew it, it seemed like the whole school was reading it. They banned in it the school library, but not the public library :). Some teachers praised us for our efforts, and others were "sticklers for the rules". Its funny how diverse the teachers thoughts on the book were. My English teacher had a whole lesson planned on the book, despite it being banned and she taught it anyway. I had another teacher make me go put the book in my locker because it was a "banned book". I tried to tell her a.) the book was mine so I will do what I please with it and b.) I am not currently reading it in your class so why does it have to be in my locker? She wouldn't accept me just putting it in my backpack so, I packed up my stuff and left. I did that more times then I probably should have but what can I say, teenagers.
ReplyDeleteSticking it to the man! I approve! I feel like I would have done the same!
DeleteI agree with everything you said. It's not okay for libraries to tell readers what they should want. Our job is to use our expertise to help patrons find what they want. Refusing to do so is censorship.
ReplyDeleteHi Jason,
ReplyDeleteThis is very well put! I agree with you on all the points you made. Your approach to collection development is pretty similar to mine. I base all my ordering on popular demand. If a patron requests something and it's available, I will order it. It's really that simple... Besides, if one person wants it, I'm sure others do too!
Hi Jason,
ReplyDeleteI was working in an elementary school library when one of the librarians - who has five sons decided it was time for us to have more books to appeal to boys and bought some graphic novels. It was a learning experience for the adults and kids!
The children did not know what they were - outside they looked like regular books but inside they looked like comic books. In our case, some kids worried that if the other kids saw them reading a graphic novel, they would call them "stupid." We actually did a presentation and display to introduce the students to the new format. Gradually they began to circulate more often. Watching reluctant readers check out any books was rewarding. Having another option to encourage their reading was a big boost to our own readers' advisory. Now I can't imagine certain books in any other format. John Lewis' "March" series is just one example. That experience taught me to give any new format the time to find its readers.
You bring up many valid points and it seems as if your classmates agree wholeheartedly based on the robust comment section. Insightful, well written post. Full points!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, that looking down on a specific genre may be a generational "thing" and have not understood why this has been a practice. I agree too, that disliking a genre and not including it in a collection as being a form of censorship. Good points throughout this discussion.
ReplyDelete