No.
The simple and truthful answer is NO.
Literature is art. Literature is beautiful and diverse and nuanced. If this class has brought anything to resounding light it is that the many genres have common elements, but are diverse in nature and appeal to different people in different ways. That is beautiful.
Much like every snowflake is different, every written work offers something new (even ding-dong Twilight that was then changed up to 50 Shades of Grey that was then twisted into the eye-twitching Crossfire series by Sylvia Day-- yes, I said it.).
I can reference the ALA Library Bill of Rights; I can talk about the Freedom to Read statement, but I don't have to. These documents back up what my mentor taught me, "If you know of a couple patrons that would enjoy a title, buy it." What I LOVE about my job is that I get a true hand in shaping my community and stretching their minds. Not only by purchasing materials that might challenge their beliefs and teach them, but also by putting new formats into their hands that show them that they don't have to read the cookie-cutter novels they've always read. Just as there are different vacation destinations and movie genres, there are different book genres and formats. One way that I was able to do that for adults was through our Banned Book Challenge. We encouraged patrons to read banned books and they got recognition as they checked titles off the list. Not only did our list include traditional novels and classics, but it included kids' books, graphic novels, poetry, and new, obscene titles. It was so fun to watch our readers see these titles in a new light and push themselves to titles they might not otherwise grab because of the challenge.
We should be challenging and encouraging our readers to see everything. They don't want explicit, that's cool, but to see that YA offers them something, GNs offer them something, NA is another choice that they have and might enjoy. I'm a fan of offering them all of it and I'm an advocate for that. I think this practice is what keeps us from becoming stagnant and attracting new users. We shouldn't fit in a box.
No, we can't just be normal.
The simple and truthful answer is NO.
Literature is art. Literature is beautiful and diverse and nuanced. If this class has brought anything to resounding light it is that the many genres have common elements, but are diverse in nature and appeal to different people in different ways. That is beautiful.
Much like every snowflake is different, every written work offers something new (even ding-dong Twilight that was then changed up to 50 Shades of Grey that was then twisted into the eye-twitching Crossfire series by Sylvia Day-- yes, I said it.).
I can reference the ALA Library Bill of Rights; I can talk about the Freedom to Read statement, but I don't have to. These documents back up what my mentor taught me, "If you know of a couple patrons that would enjoy a title, buy it." What I LOVE about my job is that I get a true hand in shaping my community and stretching their minds. Not only by purchasing materials that might challenge their beliefs and teach them, but also by putting new formats into their hands that show them that they don't have to read the cookie-cutter novels they've always read. Just as there are different vacation destinations and movie genres, there are different book genres and formats. One way that I was able to do that for adults was through our Banned Book Challenge. We encouraged patrons to read banned books and they got recognition as they checked titles off the list. Not only did our list include traditional novels and classics, but it included kids' books, graphic novels, poetry, and new, obscene titles. It was so fun to watch our readers see these titles in a new light and push themselves to titles they might not otherwise grab because of the challenge.
We should be challenging and encouraging our readers to see everything. They don't want explicit, that's cool, but to see that YA offers them something, GNs offer them something, NA is another choice that they have and might enjoy. I'm a fan of offering them all of it and I'm an advocate for that. I think this practice is what keeps us from becoming stagnant and attracting new users. We shouldn't fit in a box.
No, we can't just be normal.
Your response is just like what you say in the response: you said what I said (and I'm guessing what a lot of us will say) but in an entirely different way, which is perfectly fine and normal! Or not normal, depending on your point of view. And that's okay. I like how you equate literature with art; I entirely agree. Many people don't think of writers as artists, but I disagree with that. Just as visual or musical art comes in many forms, so does written art. Well done.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your passion in this! This is exactly how I feel about it. As librarians we need to encourage readers. If we start telling them they can't read what they like, we're going against that. I also liked your mention of the Banned Book Challenge. That is a great way to introduce patrons to new ideas and genres. Sometimes people need a gentle, encouraging nudge to make a discovery or realize the truth about a preconceived notion.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome- you are so right! People have these preconceived notions of what they should and shouldn't read and why. I think it's always our jobs to offer people more choices and encourage them to expand their horizons. The more people try new and different books the more likely they are to expand their minds- and that is the best option for us all.
ReplyDeleteIt appears as if your classmates wholeheartedly agree with you, I do too! You did a great job on this write up (I loved your comment about Sylvia Day). Full points!
ReplyDelete