Toy Libraries

von Mayrhauser, Heidi.

Cottrell, M.  (2013).  Toy libraries: A place to play.  American Libraries, 44(11/12), 14-15.

Length: 2 pages

Notes Summary and Evaluation:  This article discusses current toy libraries for children with disabilities.  It specifically focuses on the Palm Harbor Library in Florida.  It also talks about the origins of toy libraries in the Great Depression.  Finally, it includes steps and tips for starting your own toy library.  I appreciated the examples of toys for particular disabilities and that the article gives practical suggestions like budgeting, training staff, and the exact company to start with.  

Throwing Dewey Overboard

von Mayrhauser, Heidi.

Parrott, K. & Gattullo, E.  (2013).  Throwing Dewey Overboard.  Children & Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children, 11 (3), 3-33.

Length: 6 pages

Notes Summary and Evaluation:  This was an interesting article about a library in Connecticut that got rid of the Dewey Decimal System--and then the amazing results that followed.  I was interested in this topic, as classmates talked about the possibility of this after looking at our core, emphasis, and special collections in presentations three and four.

After reorganizing their picture book and early reader collections by topic (instead of author last name) the circulation went from 18,926 to 121,245 in the first year!  Then they went on to reconsider their older juvenile fiction collection and non-fiction collection.  I went into this article feeling that getting rid of the DDC would work in a small, non-fiction collection.  But for a large non-fiction collection this might be too overwhelming to find a single book, say for a paging list.  This library came up with a "Dewey Hybrid Model" or "Dewey Lite."  This meant that the collection was divided into several broad subject areas.  The DD numbers remained on the spines.  An example of how they moved things around is by putting all animal books together (500s--animals and 600s--pets).

Here are their main subject areas:

• Kids Animals
• Kids Create
• Kids Facts
• Kids Fun
• Kids Poetry
• Kids Self
• Kids Sports
• Kids STEM
• Kids Then & Now

This article also walks you through the entire process and gives lots of tips in case you want to implement something similar.  It also addresses possible problems, the main being outliers of these subject areas.

Holocaust Denial Literature Twenty Years Later: A Follow-up Investigation of Public Librarians' Attitudes Regarding Acquisition and Access

Curtin, Shane

Drobnicki, J. j. (2014). Holocaust Denial Literature Twenty Years Later: A Follow-up Investigation of Public Librarians' Attitudes Regarding Acquisition and Access. Judaica Librarianship, 1854-87.


Summary:


This meaty article analyzes the results of a 2012 survey given to public librarians regarding the acquisition of Holocaust-revisionism materials in their  libraries, and compares those results to an identical survey done in 1992 (when the issue first took the media by storm). It begins by defining Holocaust denial, then explores the current feeling among librarians regarding the collecting of controversial, historically inaccurate and generally afactual materials. It explores methods to address how to classify such materials in relation to historical sources on the Holocaust. Each survey question and the responses are graphed and analyzed, and the survey itself is included at the end of the article.  


Evaluation:

I find the fact that librarians are still discussing whether or not “offensive” things should be in the collection to be quite tragic. The things that end up in the library without a fuss and the things that cause major controversy are inconsistent. People take issue with the factual inaccuracy of Holocaust-revisionism literature, but there are plenty of other nonfactual texts occupying the nonfiction section of the library- there are books on alien abduction, books by popular mystics and television mediums who have since been discredited (as if there was ever any doubt), books on the most outlandish and outrageous conspiracy theories, and, for that matter, every religious text.
Factual accuracy only becomes a concern for people when the issue is one that is politically charged, or involves ideas that are  considered taboo or offensive to the majority of people.  Some materials are always exempt from the burden of fact: "Accuracy” is never a consideration at all when it comes to materials of theological or philosophical nature, even though believers of each one claim them to be the ultimate truth. Why should historical texts be treated any differently? If history is written by the victors, as the saying goes, it is certain that there are countless unacknowledged lies to be found in the library. Consider how the status of Columbus (for one) has shifted from hero to Villain as more historical facts about his treatment of Native American have come to light. What about literature on the civil war that glosses over the atrocities committed by the north?
A recent dispute occurred at my library when  a patron request was refused for a book denying climate change. The professional reviews of the book were not favorable, and it appears the author deliberately ignored or twisted existing facts to suit his agenda. We ended up NOT purchasing that book, but I think we should have. Or at least, I think we should have some materials in our collection that take that side of the debate.
The facts speak for themselves, and no neutral inquirer of sound mind, when confronted with the facts, will choose to deny the occurrence of the Holocaust. And no one who isn’t of sound mind can be swayed anyway. Some wise librarians, quoted in the article, explained how critical thinking is fostered by the consideration of contrary views. Obviously.
To get back to Holocaust denial- it is a phenomenon of cultural and historical significance, and should be acknowledged as such. Regardless of how we “feel” about such things, we must make them available, to some extent, in our libraries. This is not the 19th century- we are not here to mold peoples' minds. We are guides, human bridges to information, and that is all. When it comes to collections, our own morality has no rightful place.
It is our duty (especially in a world where half the facts are probably wrong anyway) to represent all point of view. Since the body of literature on the Holocaust doubtlessly far exceeds the body of literature denying the holocaust, there is no danger, as one quote used in the article suggested, “that such fallacies may ultimately lead to the persecution and oppression of minorities once again”. That notion is the embodiment of ignorance. Evil cannot be suppressed by censoring ideas: in fact, the censorship of ideas IS the greatest evil.
Frankly I’m a appalled by the level of censorship supporters I see amongst a profession whose members are supposed to the guardians of intellectual freedom. I is unethical (and immoral) for librarians to deny Holocaust-denail a place in their stacks.

Library Collections that Impact Communities

I’m inspired by the limitless potential of library collections. Working as an Early Childhood Educator has developed my interest in resources for this critically important and sometimes overlooked subject. The excited aspect of ECE is that it’s still emerging with positive goals that are easily obtainable through time and funding. Minnesota is home to an organization called, “Think Small”. The focus of this agency is to promote child development services, resources, and advocacy for early education. Those most interested in these resources are often educators and parents. Small business owners who often operate child care services from their homes have a single place where they may find resources for all sorts of topics related to the health, education, and development of children. Curriculum materials for young children ranging between infancy through preschool can be found in the collection. Librarians are available to put together materials for a  patron’s specific interest to support their lesson plan for their early learners. Think Small is visionary enough to design an entire library collection that is centered around child development and education. The Debra S. Fish Library is a library that is exclusively dedicated to early education. Think Small is home to the Debra S. Fish Early Childhood Library. You will find over 5,500 exceptional early childhood materials on a variety of topics: child development and learning, the business of child care, parenting, SIDS, and much more. What’s even more impressive about this collection is the use of the space. This library is new, and streamlined to project the essence of the subject-matter within. Anyone with a library card can check materials out from the collection, and this collection alone has improved child care and early education directly throughout its community. I would like to see more models of libraries that are community-based and dedicated to a specific mission.

If you’re interested in exploring the Debra S. Fish Library, please visit:

http://www.thinksmall.org/for_early_childhood_professionals/debra_s_fish_library

We will Survive

Wilson, Shibrie

American Library Association. (2013). Social Networking: Technology marches on, and so do libraries. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/news/state-americas-libraries-report-2013/social-networking

Libraries fear that due to increase of social media that they may not be able to compete with rapid changes. ALA disagrees and says that libraries will be able to do so considering librarians have been the trailblazers for technology leaders for decades. Essentially in order to so libraries must learn their community and find out what technology works best for them. We are service providers and providing good service to patrons is ultimate goal. Studies found that the library will not go anywhere anytime soon simply being that it is essence of community. Trial and error and learning what technology and social networking best fits needs of patrons in your community. During such time it is important to engage patrons at young age so that they will become lifelong users of library and understand its importance to community. 

Opinion:
There is a common theme in most articles geared to library services and that is knowing your community. Gaining knowledge and understanding of what methods of technology and social media your community uses and interested in using. Libraries will survive but it is up to the libraries themselves to continue to evolve along with technology. 

Why Social Media is A Fail For Some Libraries

Wilson, Shibrie

Malczweski, B. (2013, May 1). Why Social Media Isn’t Working For Your Library. Retrieved from http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2013/05/why-social-media-isnt-working-for-your-library/

Ben Malczweski provides a great description of social media, "social media is casual, spontaneous, and whimsical, the method behind the message is anything but." In order be successful with social media account there must be an organization set in place to oversee account and not just opening one and posting. There is a process and goal behind the world of social media and library utilization. Reason some libraries social media accounts are failing is driven by lack of commitment. Social Media accounts require one to faithfully update information and interact network, without such one will ultimately fail. A group of people managing and scheduling account all based on community. Malczweski also discusses creating a brand and vernacular when using social media. Social media is fun interactive and casual so using formal language will not appeal to all patrons. Failure is occurring because many libraries are opening and account without organization, and contributing old methods of marketing in which are not reasonable for social networks.

Opinion:
Out with the old, in with the new is my take on this article. Social Media accounts are easy to create but there is organization. You cannot open a Social Media account and fail to use it regularly that defeats purpose of creating account. Libraries have to be willing to create groups of people in which are responsible for these social media accounts. Being diligent and persistent are key factors to avoid failure with social media. 

The Nation's First Fully Digital Public Library

Hays, A. (2014, April). The Nation’s First Fully Digital Public Library: How a Texas County Made it Happen. Retrieved from http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2014/05/the-nations-first-fully-digital-public-library-how-a-texas-county-made-it-happen/

Summary:

This article discussed the opening of a completely digital library in San Antonio, Texas. The library is the first of its kind in the United States and it open its doors in September of 2013. This library’s collection is entirely digital. There are IPad, e-readers, laptops, computers, and interactive tables for community members to access their collection. The library also includes community activity rooms, group study rooms, and a cafe. There is Wi-Fi connection available within the library so that library patrons can access the digital collections. There is not one book in the entire library. 

Evaluation:

This new digital library is a first picture of what 21st-century libraries could look like as libraries become more modernized.  Collections have increasingly become digital and this public libraries bold jump to an entirely digital collection demonstrates to other libraries that they can still be relevant in a digital age. This library's collection is a blueprint for libraries of the future to follow. Libraries cannot meet the needs of modern users with the traditional print format. Libraries need to reimagine and reenvisions themselves in the 21st-century.