Thanks to Jessica, The Cool Librarian for bringing this post by the Annoying Librarian to my attention. And thanks to her as well for encouraging a discussion about it at Library Talk. NOTE: if you cruise over there, you'll recognize this post.
Sigh.
The Annoying Librarian's post made the hair on my neck rise in protest for two reasons: a) that someone could hate the direction of their profession and carry such disdain for their patrons and their colleagues but still go to work; b) that 2.0 is being so misunderstood.
I agree that librarians need to think about the technologies we use, purport and incorporate into our users' experience. At the same time, if we aren't going to be innovative or experiment, then why are you a librarian in the first place? There are some things I question about 2.0 and technology in general. I discuss and attempt to dissect my experiences with them regularly here. And there are some things that I simply don't use and don't encourage my library to use, Facebook and Second Life are perfect examples. There are other technologies that have to work on me and it is not until I've played with them a bunch or I've thought about them away from my computer that I realize that they are really useful and fun: blogging, Feevy, and wikis are good examples.
While AL might have a point that the language of the manifesto is a bit sugary sweet, I applaud ALA for encouraging librarians to stop ranting about how difficult technology is, how it is not their job, etc and embrace it. To my mind, the manifesto is not for the likes of us, per se, but for the ALA crowd that does not hang out on their blogs or Library Talk thinking, talking, and sharing technology and abilities to use that technology in the library with their patrons.
It's a lot like Harry Potter: many people might not like it or think it is literature but it sure does get a bunch of TV watching kids into a book.
2 comments:
sidebar convo on AL: (and i'm sure she'll *love* being so topical)
i like reading her blog as a way to pulse check the bell curve that is librarianship, today. as a newly minted librarian, i've found her blog sometimes sad but mostly hilarious.
if i worked w/her, i could see myself going for a drink w/her or chilling and discussing good lit/music, but i hardly think she'd be anything other than those angry coworkers who's eyes roll at every meeting behind anyone in power's back. i'm not sure what she's bringing to the table other than what the class clown brought to class: straw man induced witticisms, highbrow levity, and a bit of booze. (at least, that's what they did down in rural TX!)
at any rate, i admit...i'm hooked.
Thanks for your log - Librarians and Students - CATCH A CAUSE FOR THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES OF NEW ORLEANS.
THE BEATITUDES- New Orleans Noir Mystery
FEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES 8/14/07; NOW AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.COM AND ALL FINE BOOKSELLERS search: Lyn Lejeune, The Beatitudes.
Dear
Thank you for taking the time to read about my book, The Beatitudes and The Beatitudes Network, aimed at rebuilding the public libraries of New Orleans.
When I entered college, I took a two-hour bus trip on the New Orleans transit line from St. Bernard Parish to Lake Pontchartrain. I hated trigonometry, so I headed to the downtown public library and then to Jackson Square for a couple of Jax brews. The public library was my sanctuary. After Katrina, I decided to write THE book, donate all royalties to the New Orleans Public Library Foundation to help rebuild the libraries, and start The Beatitudes Network. I give you and NOLA The Beatitudes…
The Beatitudes is a paranormal thriller (this is New Orleans after all!). Social workers Hannah “Scrimp” DuBois and Earlene “Pinch” Washington start their own business, Social Investigations, to solve the murder of foster children in New Orleans. The NOPD, Catholic Church, and politicians have sidestepped clues. Pinch and Scrimp know they are dealing with paranormal forces that lead to The Beatitudes and the murderers. Each chapter of the book is named after a beatitudes: The Pure of Heart, The Persecuted, The Merciful, The Sorrowful, The Peacemakers, The Meek, The Poor in Spirit, They That Hunger After Justice.
You may read more about The Beatitudes and The Beatitudes Network at www.beatitudesinneworleans.blogspot.com. Here you will also find recipes, excerpts from the novel, news about New Orleans, the world, publishing, and see a list of Beatitudes such as authors Julie Smith, Alafair Burke, Ken Bruen, James Lee Burke, Sara Gran, and others who are supporting this effort. Any book club that purchases and discusses The Beatitudes will be listed as a Beatitude. A Beatitude is someone who acts in the interests of others.
Besides telephone, email, and onsite appearances, I am also available to speak with your group either in person or by phone or via email to help with the answers from my author’s point of view. As a special added feature, for books groups of fifty or more who hold an event for me and purchase the book, I will demonstrate how to prepare my famous chicken and andouille sausage gumbo, all the while talking about the book and libraries. Now that’s an act!! I am booking now for events/appearances/conference calls with dates beginning September 27, 2007 and into 2008. Email: lynlejeune@cox.net, telephone 828-226-3246. Merci mille fois – thanks a million.
Here are some Book-Group Discussion Questions:
To what extent do the chapters, each named after a beatitude, provide clues, move the story forward, and help Pinch and Scrimp find the murderers of the foster children.
In what ways do the beatitudes teach Scrimp (Hannah) about herself and the world in which she must live after she discovers that she is a Gran Met, a voodoo priestess?
Why did the author chose Dante’s Purgatorio (the second book in The Divine Comedy) as the underlying parable for TheBeatitudes? What does the author mean when she has the dead priest, Father Delcambre, say “purgatory is diluted by time?”
How does Scrimp use her visions to solve the murders?
Why is Pinch murdered with a sword from the famous Cabildo Museum in New Orleans?
Why did the author choose foster children as the la Armee Blanc’s (The White Army)
victims? And how do the characters that run the White Army explain the historical context of The Beatitudes, particularly when the real history of the Knights of the White Camellia is considered?
What is the significance of the little African American dwarf, n’est pas juste? How does his name, literally translated, as “I am not justice” explain one theme of the book, namely, that life is made up of many roads of contradiction and each individual must find his/her own correct path?
Why do Scrimp, Pinch and n’est pas juste travel to Scrimp’s old home out in the Cajun countryside? What are they looking for?
What are some underlying themes in The Beatitudes that pertain to you and your faith? Consider these ideas: free will vs. fate; hope vs. cynicism; good vs. evil; the self vs. the greater good.
What is the story about in the end? Why did Scrimp have the following words inscribed on Pinch’s headstone: SHE WAS THE ENEMY OF ALL CRUELTY?
My short stories have been published in literary journals such as Big Muddy: A
Journal of The Mississippi River Valley (East Missouri University), The Bishop’s House
Review (Duke), The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature, Nantahala, Milestone,
Identity Theory, Our Stories and Stone Table Review. I have also published articles in
such journals as Mystery Readers International. I am recipient of the Paris Writers’
Institute Scholarship for study in Paris, France and a Fellowship for study with the Summer Literary Seminars in St. Petersburg, Russia. I was also a finalist in the William Faulkner Novel-In-Progress prize. I studied writing at Skidmore (where I worked with Mary Gordon and Marilynne Robinson), Duke, and the Bread Loaf Writers Conference.
Again, that is lynlejeune@cox.net or 828-226-3246.
****I HAVE ARRANGED SUBSTANTIAL DISCOUNTS FOR GROUPS AND BOOKSELLERS ANYWHERE FROM 25% TO 50%.
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