ctravlos
Now -> Boosting this with alt-text because #librarians rule! ๐ช
I love the last panel. ๐
Terry C@Her_Doing @AnotherJen Nice ๐ I like the last panel, but my favorite line was โI love the sound policy makes when I break it.โ
I liked that one too! ๐ โ
Gordon P. Hemsley@Her_Doing @24bear @AnotherJen I presume that's a subtle reference to Douglas Adams.
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1398-i-love-deadlines-i-love-the-whooshing-noise-they-make
@GPHemsley @Her_Doing @AnotherJen Published in 2003, I would think it was an influence/subtle reference.
Steve aka mdlbear@Her_Doing My mom would have loved this.
Was she a librarian? A teacher? A rebel spirit who believed in doing what was right vs obeying rules? Someone who believed in every child's potential?
All of the above? ๐
@Her_Doing She was a librarian. After she retired she went on to organize and run the library at her retirement community. I think she retired from _that_ at age 98, a few months before her death from colon cancer; she figured surgery at her age would probably kill her faster than the cancer. (Not fear, but calculation: she'd already had open-heart surgery in her 80s, and mastectomies in 1953 and 1966).
Still active, still able to see, still mentally alert, and still connecting with others at 98! My goodness, I hope I am like here when I grow up! ๐คฉ
I'm so sorry about your loss. She sounds *amazing*. ๐
Howlinโ Hobbit@Her_Doing in third grade I had a librarian just like this one. I canโt remember her name, but I remember *her* and bless her spirit.
I love this for you! ๐
Logan Five (aka John)@Her_Doing Librarians rock.
They DO! ๐คฉ
Hera [Yaseenist] Harper@Her_Doing I remember reading these comics a lot as a kid, love this <3
I think I've probably seen it before once or twice, but not anywhere regularly, so I'm going to have to do a proper check-out sometime soon. ๐
Zem ๐ช๐น ๐ช๐บ
Bob Machintruc@Her_Doing Hell yeah; love this so much!
ใชใใฅใผ (stop colonialism ๐ต๐ธ)@Her_Doing TBH the first book I've read in college that wasn't fantasy or sf was "mein kampf" because I heard it was censored and "what the heck, how can a book be so important in history". It was poorly written and I abandonned halfway, but I'm glad I could do it (from a pdf ofc, not sure if the library would have allowed it - the truely complete libraries nowaday are online, sadly...).
It's so difficult for any brick-&-mortar library to be 'complete' - it simply takes up too much room, & there are practical, real-world costs of business/property taxes, utilities, salaries, cleaning, new equipment, maintenance, etc., to pay for.
Plus, what you & I consider complete would probably differ. ๐
Some libraries are meant to be niche; there is one on photography in Accra I hope to visit one day. ๐คฉ
I'm just glad books are available in so many formats around the world. ๐
@Her_Doing I guess my favorite format might be electronic inc by far, because it permits to view text written by "normal citizens" instead of this "glorified symbolism of validity" glow around published books.
Part of me think that libraries are outdated- that they shouldn't be filled with books, but filled with empty rooms with internet and people willing to share or to discuss, having free reins to download or re-share more than ever.
Instead of this "download only from approved authors"
@Her_Doing What might have took thousands of room and football fields now can fit on a hard drive disk on a small server now.
What had justified special elected "writer" to do all the writing is kind of gone too.
But we continue as if nothing had changed. -And complete "free for all indiscriminate knowledge" exists, but are now known as illegal, pirate libraries. It's so counter-intuitive deep down... Sharing cost almost nothing, but it's well made, it's considered stealing now.
@Her_Doing When I think of libraries and how they implemented "sharing knowledge" my first thought is "DRM". Data shackle.
This is the opposite of what libraries was supposed to do. Share stuff to all, but wasn't possible because of material limitation. Now the material limitation is gone, it's doing the reverse.
The goddam heck with that.
Mmmmm, I'm not quite sure what you mean here, and it's possible I may have misinterpreted some of your earlier posts (I'm not seeing them all together).
I'm also wondering if you are thinking of niche libraries such as university / science libraries?
Because if so, I think I can see some of your point, but I'm not sure how it applies in a general, public library.
There is something to be said for actually holding a book in your hand, able to read it any time, anywhere, w/o any other special equipment.
And, no, not everyone can be a writer - certainly not a good one.
GOOD writing is both an art & a skill.
HOW WORDS ARE USED CHANGES THE WORLD.
Someone who can tell a story, create empathy, stir the soul, or clearly explain a concept is a treasure & should be treated as such. Librarians, who can *find* what's needed, are equally priceless.
Historically, anyone wealthy enough could write, print, & distribute their own material.
Also, books formally published usually go through a vetting process for inaccuracies, fraud, or even outright malice.
I absolutely support brick-&-mortar libraries: books are free to borrow, totally portable, transferable, w no batteries/power needed, fairly indestructible, & in an accessible form even hundreds & thousands of years later.
I also believe authors should be paid for their work.
Anyone who wants to can create a website and write whatever they want.
Anyone is (broadly) free to write their own 'zine, pay to photocopy it, and distribute where they like.
But to say that books/information should *only* be in electronic form is incredibly privileged & limited to those who have a phone/laptop, easy, cheap internet access, or even electricity at all.
To say there should be free rein to download is *piracy* from people whose income is their writing.
Accessible books/info needs to be accessible for EVERYONE, available in whatever format they need, including large print, CD & braille, if necessary. (Which libraries provide.)
Those who called to write & are gifted/skilled enough to do it well, deserve compensation for that. Those who can afford it may want to buy their own books, but libraries in many countries cover that too, in the form of PLR (public lending rights) which pay authors a fee every time their books are borrowed.
As for 'people willing to share & discuss', you don't need to go to a special building 'filled with empty rooms' (honestly, what a WASTE) for that - there are in-person & online book groups galore.
There are entire *websites* dedicated to every author, theme, or subject you could want.
Find one and fill your boots. ๐
I'm glad you have found a system that works for you - but everyone has different preferences and needs & a healthy society tries to accommodate as many as it can.
>But to say that books/information should *only* be in electronic
I don't know why you say that, I didn't suggest it. I just pointed out how limited was books to access most written data, and how more compact and cheap it is to maintain nowadays more data with a few cheap screen and computer in any room really.
>To say there should be free rein to download is *piracy* from people whose income is their writing.
One time you value access, then you say access is evil, make your mind
I was responding to your "libraries are outdated- that they shouldn't be filled with books, but filled with empty rooms with internet", which seemed to support your statement books in tangible form are limited in use or obsolete.
There is more to consider than just physical space needed for data storage. (Even at that, it involves more than a computer; at the back end is also the server farm somewhere & energy to power it, plus all the metal mining & manufacturing to create it all.)
the 2nd part was your "having free reins to download or re-share more than ever", which immediately made me think of of book piracy. If that's not what you meant, I apologise.
But piracy is vicious, and has already dealt deadly or even fatal blows to authors who will now never be able to finish series they started, or possibly ever be able to write again. Without the income from their writing, they have to take a more corporate job instead & it's very difficult to do both.
@Her_Doing >But piracy is vicious, and has already dealt deadly or even fatal blows to authors who will now never be able to finish series they started
Have you any example in mind.
I have dozens of example of small artist who never could make a living of their craft - no because lack of talent or "stealing". But because the art economy is hostile. Some star get all the visibility, and small ones have nothing.
I pay the second one, and steal the first when I get curious sometimes. x)
I could find out. I know of at least two who had their series cancelled b/c current sales weren't good enough - but people were DL'ing copies of their books fr pirate sites in greater numbers than their official sales.
Pirates had even listed their books before their pub date, so they didn't even get an opening day boost.
There are very, VERY few authors who are well off, even if they get a lot of publicity. But please don't steal their books. Buy from Amazon at 1.99 or borrow.
HollieK@Her_Doing All the limits placed on reading that make it harder for people to enjoy reading. ๐
Yes, but think of the barriers that are being smashed! ๐
We now have audio books, e-books, & graphic novels, widely available to buy or borrow - & we can do that either in person or online. We can read stuck in bed, or on our phones, on the go.
There Little Free Libraries on people's front lawns. There are book mobiles.
There are people & orgs fighting against censorship; publishers offering imp't books for free, & libraries offering memberships to non-local kids. Progress! ๐
Dawn Tรฅke ๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ@Her_Doing
Male librarian's name is Dewey.
Unshelved is a really good comic overall. Its successor, Library Comic, is pretty good too.
I vibe more with Dewey's PG- Randal-from-Clerks vibe more, but hey.
IIRC, my library's unofficial policy is, "its the parents' job to parent."
As a kid who read above my reading level, I'll get a kid whatever they ask for. I'm in Adult, so its not frequent, but it happens. I understand the desire both professionally and personally.
Ooh, thank you for all this - I didn't know any of the history!
I read everything I could get my hands on - and I think kids self-censor; they are not going to consistently read something that they are not interested in, can't connect with, or disturbs them in some way.
I had a parent of a 7 or 8 yo upset their child only read the first few HP books. Ma'am, have you READ the HP books? They get dark & disturbing pretty quickly & way beyond a 8yo's ken.
@Her_Doing
I think you might still be able to buy the whole run of ebooks on a thumbdrive that looks like a card catalog drawer off their site.
There are also several doorstops past there too.
I was at least ten before I started reading Animorphs and all the body horror therein.
Blake C. Stacey@Her_Doing Links to original (it's multiple daily strips pasted together): http://www.unshelved.com/2013-10-28
http://www.unshelved.com/2013-10-29
Thank you for this! I look forward to diving in! ๐
bebatjof@Her_Doing I am SO happy (and privileged!) that my municipality had a library without those stupid rules. My school library did have restrictions, so I didn't go there. I mean, doesn't it defeat the idea of a library entirely? The municipality library had age labels, but they were just informative, not enforced, as it should be.
One librarian wrote & said their library's unofficial policy was "It's the parent's job to parent".
I understand there may be reason for concern sometimes, and possibly limits in specific circumstances (a child checking out books that will give them nightmares, for example), but it's a slippery slope, and should be on a case-by-case basis, not a blanket policy.
Kagan MacTane (he/him)@Her_Doing Thank you so much for adding the alt text!
You're welcome! I had to! I saw it making the rounds and thought it was good, but I couldn't boost without alt-text.
I was also not happy; I could tell it was a book/reading/library joke, I wanted to read it myself, & I couldn't.
It took me a long time to work out what was being said, and even longer to transcribe it all, but especially given what's going on right now, I felt it was important.
I guess it hit a nerve; my notifications haven't stopped 'blooping' in two days! ๐
LaurenZannah in Techland๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ@Her_Doing @tiesa my first week in an elementary school library, I asked the librarian if they had Norby books and she told me that was a high school reading level, which I took to mean the library would only have overly-simple books
Wow, I'm surprised at that - I wouldn't think Norby would be out of the reach of at least grades 5 & 6, and I bet there would have been kids who stretched themselves to read them if they had been available. ๐ฌ
@Her_Doing @tiesa They did have some other science fiction and stuff, but yeah I didnโt think it was so outrageous ๐ I think I looked it up later and it was actually an 8th grade level which is totally not too much for an advanced elementary schooler
I really have very little sense of what reading levels are appropriate for what ages - but I did think rating this as high-school level was extreme. ๐ฌ
Jamie Booth@Her_Doing Unshelved is the greatest. Love that comic.
I don't know much about it, but so many people have recommended it, I have to check it out! ๐
Viviana the Gender Witch@Her_Doing as a teacher, i love when kids are ambitious but i have also seen children become very discouraged because they pick up a book theyre excited about and then cant read it. theres some wiggle room but i understand why these policies are there
in general, i dont know that id ever tell a kid not to get a book to look at, but during independent reading time id want them to have a book be close enough to their level that they could actually read it
I love the DK (Dorling-Kindersley) books - lots of block text, lots of two-line text, & lots of pictures - good for almost anyone of any reading ability. ๐
I think 'policies' is too strong & 'guidelines' might be better. Almost every person who has responded has been a frustrated advanced reader, which I think proves the necessity of skilled librarians who can judge on a case-by-case basis & guide not-strong readers to books they can both be interested in & read fairly easily.
Statistically Human@Her_Doing @ASegar I have a very particular memory of being steered away from โThe Call of the Wildโ and back to the picture books in 2nd or 3rd grade. I told my mom when I got home, so she took me to the town library and we got it there. It was my favorite book for years after that. I must have read it a dozen times. Thanks #mom!
Stoneface Vimes@Her_Doing yes. Nobody ever got better by just staying within their limits. Even if they only go a little bit beyond, its stretching.
I *can* understand guidelines - on a case-by-case basis, it can help someone who is a very poor reader to find books they are interested in, but won't be frustrated by - but I think 'policy' (which gives the impression of being inflexible) is too strong.
There are other reasons to be nuanced. I knew of a child who could technically read the HP books, but didn't want to because the later ones gave them nightmares.
WolfisBirdWatchCool! ๐ ๐
Rev. Doc Fleam@Her_Doing Hell, I "borrowed" The Andromeda Strain from Mom's book collection when I was, like, ten. I'm sure there were subtleties I missed back then, but it's still one of my favorite books.
I'm not sure we ever read exactly the same book twice.
I wonder if it would hit differently for you now, after the last three years?
Everything we read before influences who we are now, and how we'll read / interpret in the future. ๐
I started *very* early on science and world mythologies and I never stopped. ๐
Winter Jo 
โ๏ธ@Her_Doing "i love the sound policy makes when i break it" is such a raw line, holy shit
Exactly this, yes! ๐
JaddyIn 1st to 4th grade, I was way ahead in reading, so I often was allowed to use the school library instead. My mother was nit amused, when she found out ;)
From age 10 to 14, I spend many afternoons in the local library, reading through all the shelves. Mostly Science, Tech, SciFi.
And with 15, I got access to the lib of the university. Heaven! They had to drag me out at closing time...
I can't think of any book in a public library, that could do any harm to a child that can read and understand its content.