Cathy the Librarian

Well, its over now. I had gotten so worked up about making sure that everything was perfect… well that I survived the program without dying of embarrassment at any point. Jason (the other presenter) was a little worked up as well (in my opinion). I think that he really wanted to make sure that everyone learned something and really enjoyed themselves. I don’t think that I’ve ever seen him talk so much or so fast. (This is why I think he was nervous). Unfortunately, between his talking and spending so long having everyone look at the graphic novels (all of which were good things, so I’m not upset) but that meant that I really didn’t get much time to talk about the site that I created. I just put a lot more work into this site than I thought I would, and I had hoped to explain a bit more about the site. I know that the others could look more on their own, but I thought that it was really important for me to catch their attention so that they would remember to take the time to look on their own. I had just enough time to quickly go through the sections of links and the categories that they are divided into. I think people sort of got the idea that this could really help, but a little more time… ah well. I think people learned a lot, and thats the important thing. Although people were still very reluctant to embrace the manga. I guess its just one baby step at a time. Someday they will understand how important graphic novels could be for connecting with kids. Its just like telling the kids that you know who Boots or Magenta are. Sure everyone knows who Dora and Blue are, but you know Boots! Tell them that you’ve read Naruto, and you’ve caught their attention. Then they’ll know that you really take the time and you care. And isn’t that what being a public librarian is really all about? I’d like to think it is.

Yup. Walter the Farting Dog. He was banned (or challenged) this year. Poor Walter. He can’t help his flatulence. But somebody out there didn’t like the idea of a farting dog. Or probably a farting anything. But kids love farts and they love dogs! Who could imagine a more perfect combination. Granted the family in the book doesn’t really care for his flatulence, but they learn to appreciate it when the gas saves their lives from some evil robbers. There’s really not much more to say, except everyone in the world should read Walter and I’m really bad at book talking… which is why I will quite soon need the help of Ms. Uber-librarian herself, Adrienne from Webster Public Library.

Good night!

Spark Notes

In all honesty, I can’t remember much about the book. I read it when I was in college at Geneseo, when I was an English Lit major and reading a lot of books at the same time. I do remember that I loved it, especially at the end when I distinctly remember crying quite a bit. I felt that the book was excellent, and fully intend on rereading it as soon as I can.

According to the American Library Association’s website:

85 Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Reason for challenges: racism, sexually explicit, offensive language

It seems weird that a black author could charged offensive by writing “racist” language. I mean, sure I know its possible for a black person to be racist, just like its possible for a white person to be racist. However, considering that almost all the characters in the book are black, it seems strange that Morrison would be considered racist against black people, which is where I assume they are trying to go with it. I’m also getting really bored with the “sexually explicit” claim. People have sex. Sex is life. That’s all there is to it. Granted, the main character, Milkman is in a relationship with his cousin, but that doesn’t stop it from being real life. Also the “offensive” bit. I’m going to assume that the “n” word is probably used quite a bit, since the book is not supposed to take place in the present. But even if it did, young black people still say the word, you can hear it in the music etc.

I am of the opinion that people need a reason to complain. They can’t handle it when a book that takes them out of their own comfort levels is really, really good. So they complain and try to wipe the existence of the book off the face of the planet. All I have to say is, shame on you. Shame shame shame.

I will remember to read this book again, because at the time of reading it in college, it was really good. Take that book burners!

PBS was in danger of losing all its funding recently. That would mean no more Sesame Street, Cailou, Nova or This Old House. There would be no more NPR or my local PBS station in Rochester NY, WXXI. I listen to the WXXI radio station as I’m falling asleep every night. I want my son to have nice educational programs to watch, such as Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers, whic I grew up on. He wouldn’t have the radio station, which is the only one in Rochester that plays classical music, to use as background music when he’s dancing around in the living room like my sisters and I did when we were younger. As a kid with both parents working full time, PBS was something we had when we couldn’t go outside or we didn’t want to play inside. People have been saying that PBS is biased and leans to the left, but I don’t really think that Barney, Mr Rogers and Big Bird had some secret agenda. Luckily, through places like MoveOn.org the word has gotten out and over a million people added their signatures to a petition to restore funding. Granted, on look at the website and you’ll know that MoveOn.org hates our current president and obviously pretty liberal thinking, I don’t think that PBS had that intention.

In closing, it was really freaking hot today! According to the local newspaper it only got up to 92… but I think it was hotter than that.

Oh well, I must be going. My baby is giggling!

Link: http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/6643805p-6530196c.html

Every morning I wake up to Howard Stern. I know I know, he’s a pig, but sometimes he’s a funny pig! Anywho. He keeps talking about how the FCC and some congresspeople (an article for enlightenment) are trying to increase the fines for DJs on public radio for indecency. They also want to include satellite radio and cable tv in this travesty. I thought that I was supposed to be living in a more enlightened society… of course we did re-elect W. which doesn’t really say much for us. Between this and all the book banning going on in high schools around the country I don’t hold out much hope for this thing in our constitution called the first amendment. According to our Bill of Rights: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. No laws huh… seems to me that people are trying to find ways around that. I have some grievances!

1. People are trying to tell me what I should be listening to and how I should be listening to it. I sort of like listening to Howard Stern, and because I do, I’m considered indecent and immoral. People who don’t like what he has to say are trying to stop me from listening to him instead of turning the dial to another station. If they don’t want their children to listen to Howard Stern or someone else, then they should be monitoring what their children are listening to, not what I’m listening to.
2. If one thing is allowed to be monitored and censored, who’s to say that they won’t move on to other things? If they move to satellite and cable tv, why don’t they go to movies and books? Thank goodness we have big brother watching out for us! Ray Bradbury and George Orwell would be rolling over in their graves (well Ray Bradbury would be if he was dead but he’s not so he should be writing another apocalyptic book about a scary futuristic world) if they saw what was happening. In fact I think that we all should be rolling, but not rolling over and playing dead as it seems that we are.
3. We should not be burning books, and telling teenagers that we don’t think that they can handle reading certain books because of the langauge, sex or violence. Parents are deluding themselves if they think that their teenagers are unaware of crude language, sex or violence. Look at what’s going on around them! Millions of people in Africa are dying of AIDS. We are at war with Iraq that will not end. “Good” christian people are spouting hateful words against gays and other minorities. We do not need to hide our teenagers from this. We need to educate ourselves and our kids. I want to scream at these parents that think that they are going to protect their innocent little children from the evils of the world. What happens when they go to college? Are their parents going to sleep in the dorm room with them? Are they going to move into their 30 year-old son’s new house?
I’m getting tired and depressed and I’m starting to ramble. I better go to sleep.