Editor's DeskAs reader's advisory professional, I'm stunned whenever any particular type of book is targeted as "not worth reading." Censorship and suppression are ongoing challenges for librarians, of course, but it's the court of public opinion that more often limits what readers will pick up. A recent Slate article, for example, bashed adult fans of YA books and made me more than a little hot under the collar (this month's "Around the Web" column has more to say on the piece).
I am proud to be part of a profession that both promotes and protects the freedom to read, and strives to help readers identify what appeals to them. For some folks, that may be comics (check out Matt Groening's May 2014 graphic novel release: The Simpsons/Futurama Infinitely Secret Crossover); for others, maybe magical realist novels with challenging female characters (did I mention Helen Oyeyemi's Boy, Snow, Bird?).
The truth is that most popular genres, from Victorian novels to the Sunday comics, have been disparaged as "unworthy" reading material at one time or another. Part of what librarians defend is a reader's right to choose books and stories that matter to them. Author and teacher Daniel Pennac (in Better than Life) offers a compassionate "Reader's Bill of Rights," that recognizes reading as a powerful act of self-determination. He grants readers:- The right to not read.
- The right to skip pages
- The right to not finish
- The right to reread
- The right to read anything
- The right to escapism
- The right to read anywhere
- The right to browse
- The right to read out loud
- The right to not defend your tastes
What books have helped you exercise these rights? (Bonus if they're YA!)
|
|
Book Discussion First Aid
|
|
|
by Becky Spratford
Every book discussion group has its ups and downs, and I have found that the longer a group has been together, the longer the down swings seem to last. As readers become more comfortable with each other it is easy to fall into bad habits that can drag group discussions down. It is the group's dynamic…Continue Reading
|
|
|
by Molly Wetta
Libraries are interacting with patrons in digital spaces. Virtually all libraries have a Facebook page, and over half are on Twitter but as the social media landscape continues to evolve, so must libraries' digital presence. This doesn’t mean abandoning existing social media channels; it means…Continue Reading
|
|
Around the Web with Jessica Zellers
|
|
|
Each month Jessica Zellers adds a few items to your web-surfing itinerary. Take a look at these lists, articles, reviews, and the best of new RA materials and advice.In some circles there is a prejudice against fiction in general and genre fiction in particular. According to this perspective, fiction is just a tool for recreation or escapism. It’s a frivolous pursuit, without the gravitas of nonfiction. I suppose there’s some truth there. I do read fiction to get away…Continue Reading
|
|
On the Dangers of Reading
|
|
|
by Keren Dali
If you think that reading is good for you, think again. I am not talking about learning, literacy development, or other intellectual benefits, I am talking about reading for the soul -- reading to feel better, to chase away a bad mood, or to find balance in our lives. I am talking about the reading of fiction in particular. Fiction books can certainly…Continue Reading
|
|
Every month, we include a few of the titles that NoveList staff and contributors are reading. Have you read them? What did you think?
|
|
Learning Through Play in Adult Programs
|
|
|
by Audrey Barbakoff
As a twenty-something librarian, I am often struck by how few of my peers walk through the library doors. Many of us are avid readers and community-builders; yet when I host a library program for adults, I rarely see people in their twenties, thirties, or even forties. Across the country, librarians have noticed the same problem and…Continue Reading
|
|
|