Week 16 Prompt

Well, it’s been a little while since I have been a child. Computer were just getting popular and being used good when I was a freshmen or sophomore in high school so you can imagine that there were no Nooks, Kindles, smartphone of any of those thing to read on. There were physical books that we as children at that time really enjoyed reading. Going to the library to get a book was not only rewarding because we were able to check a book but we were able to get read to and see the pictures and just enjoy up close and personal feeling. Children today want to read books on tablets, phones, computers and e-readers. It is difficult to get children to day to get excited about a physical book or even to go to the library unless there is some type of technology is involved. My 12 year old granddaughter will read a physical book because that is what I have read to her and encouraged her to read. She complains when we are on the road or out of town and I tell her to download books so she will have something to read. She enjoys the reading and feel of the physical book even though she has a tablet, smartphone and iPod. Now my grandson on the other hand he five and if is given a choice to use his leap frog reader or a physical book his choice will be the electronic device. I have brain washed him to think that you can only read a physical book at the library so when he and I make our visit to the library that is what we read. It’s not as common to catch a child or an adult with their nose in a book, it more catching them with their nose in an electronic gadget.

With me saying all that what is the future for reading, books or publishing. I still say that they all still have a bright future even 20 years from now. Yes, there will be electronic devices that going to read to use and for us. Yes the more popular thing will be the electronic device.  But reading will be forever, it will never die and the same for books. Physical books will never go away for whatever reason. All people will have some reason why they prefer a physical book over some kind of electronic device. Some will prefer both as I do but books. Depending on my time, place or activity will determine how I read my book. If it will be on a device or a physical copy. Reader will remain readers and produce readers always. No matter what form the book is in reading will be essential to our well-being and still enjoyed by dedicated readers. Publishers might save on a little paper and ink but I think that they will do just as well if not better because their publishing will expand. They will be publishing both electronic/digital and print.   

Week 15 Prompt

Promoting Fiction

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Newsletters, social media (Facebook, twitter, blogs etc.) and of course your library website are all way to get the word out about what’s in your fiction collection, rather new or old. Even though this is the age of technology some people such as myself, I still enjoy receiving actual physical mail. I think by sending out newsletters and having a “New Fiction” section, with an annotated title listing along with rating and also brief comments from staff and other patrons.  As I stated we and in the age of technology and several people browse the different social media sites. Libraries all over has accounts on the different sites. Posting and blogging about new fiction titles will possibly bring patrons into the library to check out or browse the fiction section. Allow for comments about the books from staff and others that might have already read the book. Comments from others always help encourage patrons to check out a book. Advertisement on your library website always is a great place to market.

Displays are always good. With that being known I also feel that the placement of the display is very important. I feel that an eye catching front entrance display will really catch the eye of many patrons; with books, posters and other eye catching effects that will draw the patron attention when walking in. Most displays are positioned throughout the library which might be seen by some but not all. With it being right there as soon as patrons walk in, curiosity will cause observation and observation will bring awareness of the books and lead to circulation.

A Monthly Fiction Review—titled—“What’s New in Fiction”—this is a program that I have been trying to convince the adult programmer to try this. A monthly program for the public with refreshments. It would be a casual setting. Staff will have exciting books talks on the different genres. Have a few book displays with book marks and annotated bibliographies.

Week 14 Prompt

This is a topic that I can't give a blanket answer to. I feel that it should be a local decision. What would be best for your library. At our library we have the Urban/Christian Urban Fiction in its own section. This is a highly used section at our library. It actually have the most circs on a monthly basis. With that being so, it is much easier for our patrons to directly to the "Urban/Christian Urban Fiction Section". It is conveniently placed by our reference desk if any assistance is needed. The majority of the assistance is given by one of the reference library assistance. She knows the collection very well and the regular patrons also. Most of the regular patrons will ask for her or only come in when they know she's there. For this reason I can understand the separated section. African American authors such as Walter Mosley, J. California Cooper, Toni Morrison, Mary Monroe and several other African American Fiction  writers, I don't feel that they should be in a separate section. The fact that a black person wrote the book does not make it any different from any other fiction writer. I feel that when separated it limits exposure from that author and its book. Just as some adults may feel intimidated going into the youth section to browse for books non African American people may feel a since of intimidation or embarrassment going into the section browsing for a book. I also feel that it is an insult to the author, to African Americans, and all readers. Most readers like to venture out of their comfort zones and again I will say good literature is good literature. Race, creed or color should not matter only the content and the preference of the patron. I agree with thoughts of many that it is a since segregation if they are in a separate section because they are African American but if the separation is created at the convenience of the patrons and the community, then it is something that would have to be understood by all.

I know I am everywhere with this topic because there are pros and cons to both sides of this and I'm somewhere in the middle. 

Week 13 Prompt

YA fiction has become acceptable to be read by adults in many libraries. Its actually nothing out of the ordinary at the library I work at. In the recent years several adults has shown interest in YA books such as The Twilight series, the Divergent series, Fault in our stars, and most of all graphic novels. Surprisingly enough adult men are coming in for the Marvel graphic novels collection on a regular. There is no shame expressed when they are requesting them.

Personally I don't see a problem with libraries serving adults who enjoy YA literature or graphic novels. As librarians we don't actually have the right to deny any patrons access to materials of their choice according to intellectual freedom. Everyone has their own reading pleasures. If a child in 5th or 6th grade wanted to read a YA book they would be praised for it. It is thought that it is a great thing that the child is reading above their reading level.

Good literature is good literature and should not be limited to age unless the materials content is inappropriate for the reader.

My granddaughter is 12 years old in the 7th grade. She has read the entire Divergent series. When I took her to see both movies Divergent and Insurgent, there were more adults there to see both movies than young adults. Should adult not be allowed to see the movie or should adults be ashamed.

What's the difference?????

Week 12 Prompt-Reader's Advisory Matrix

Readers’ Advisory Matrix

The Mis-Education of The Negro By Carter G. Woodson

1.            Where is the book on the narrative continuum?

     Highly narrative (read like fiction)

     A mix (combines highly narrative moments with periods of fact-based prose)

 X  Highly fact based (has few or not narrative moments)

2.            What is the subject of the book?

               The book is sociological study of the education of African Americans

3.            What type of book is it?

               Sociological historiography of the education of blacks in America   

4.            Articulate appeal

What is the pacing of the book?                

The book is somewhat difficult to read because of the nature of the material – scholarly.

Describe the characters of the book.        

There are no specific characters in the book. It is a historiography of African American education in America.

How does the story feel? 

The information in the book is extremely important and socially relevant, which provided insight into the educational system.

What is the intent of the author?              

It is the intent of the author to show how an individual’s education determined their world view and personal decision making.

What is the focus of the story?   

The focus of the study was to explain the educational process in the development of black people and what they choose to accept.

Does the language matter?

Yes, it assists in the detailing of factual data.

Is the setting important and well described?

The documentation is very important to the study.

Are there details and, if so, of what?

The book was very well detailed and provided statistical and historical facts to prove the authors point of view.

Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear?

There were sufficient data and other graphic materials that made the study very useful and clear.

Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience?               

The book is about extended period of learning, understanding, or experience that detailed the American educational system and its impact upon African American

 

5.            Why would a reader enjoy the book (rank appeal)?

               1. It explains the African American psyche.             2. Authoritative                 3. Social relevant