Nonfiction Annotation

 

Author: Richard Ovenden

Title: Burning the books, a history of the deliberate destruction of knowledge

Genre: Nonfiction

Publication Date: 2020

Number of Pages: 320

Geographical Setting: All over the world

Time Period: various points in history, leading up to more present day times

Series (If applicable): n/a

Plot Summary:

This is a historical account of the destruction libraries and archives have faced throughout history. The author connects historical events and the destruction of knowledge and shows the ways in which literature and learning have managed to survive against seemingly insurmountable odds. The book begins with an introduction to the topic that starts with a picture of the Nazis burning books in 1933. A chilling and eye-opening way to begin that sets the tone for the rest of the book. There are black and white images spread throughout the book, with each chapter beginning with an image that is related to the chapter’s topics. Letters, quotes, and journal entries are also included throughout the story to provide insight into the historical events. What follows are detailed accounts of how and why knowledge has been destroyed throughout various points in time and in a wide variety of locations from around the world.

The story is conversational in tone, making it very readable and approachable and not just a dry accounting of history. With a descriptive use of language, using words like “swooned over” this story reads like a love letter to the history of books, learning and libraries.

Wyatt defines nonfiction as one that is broken into two categories “task books and non-task books” (2007, p.2). Taks books are those that guide the reader to accomplish some function and non-task books are ones books for pleasure, learning, recreation, exploration and escape (Wyatt, 2007, p.2).  Burning the Books would fall into the latter category of non-task book as it is a story that people read to learn and explore a topic.

 

Subject Headings:

• Censorship History
• Archive History
• Book Burning History

Appeal:

Here are some words from one of our readings called “The Secret Language of Books, a Guide to Appeal” that I would use to describe the appeal of this book (Novelist, 2018).

• Compelling
• Descriptive
• Easy to Understand

3 terms that best describe this book:

• Engaging
• Richly Detailed
• Well Researched

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors

 

 Author: Wayne A. Wiegand

Book: Part of our Lives, a People’s History of the American Public Library

 

Author: James Raven

Book: The Oxford Illustrated History of the Book

 

Author: William Marx

Book: The Hatred of Literature

 

 

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors

Author: Marie Bendedict

Book: The Personal Librarian

 

Author: Pip Williams

Book: The Dictionary of Lost Words

 

Author: Madeline Martin

Book: The Last Bookshop in London

Week 11 Prompt

 

Burning the books, a history of the deliberate destruction of knowledge written by Richard Ovenden, 2020

1. Where is the book on the narrative continuum? a mix

2. What is the subject of the book? The destruction of knowledge in libraries and archives from ancient up to contemporary times. 

3. What type of book is it? History/nonfiction

4. Articulate appeal:

• What is the pacing of the book? Leisurely paced but it also isn't a story that feels like a slow and  quiet read, due in part to the vivid descriptions of the destruction of libraries and archives. 

• How does the story feel? Moving, Reflective, Thought Provoking, Hopeful

• What is the intent of the author? To provide a history of how libraries and archives have been destroyed throughout history. 

• What is the focus of the story? Early historical accounts of the destruction of libraries and archives and then moving forward in time with additional stories and examples. 

•  Does the language matter? Yes, the story is in a conversational tone, making it easy to follow along with the historical accounts. The author uses descriptive phrases like "swooned over" which makes the story read like a love letter to the history of books, libraries and learning. 

• Is the setting important and well described? Yes, the author does a great job of describing the context and setting of where the destruction of knowledge took place. 

• Are there details and, if so, of what? Yes, each chapter focuses on a different point in history and explains the who, what, when and why the destruction took place. 

• Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear? Yes, there are black and white images spread throughout the book, with each chapter beginning with an image that is related to the chapter’s topics. Letters, quotes, and journal entries are also included throughout the story to provide insight into the historical events. 

•  Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience? Yes, the author frames each occurrence of destruction within a historical and cultural context. The author connects these past events with more current concerns of our time, discussing the rise of technology companies, the role of libraries, and the history of early libraries and how library collections have evolved to present day.

 5. Why would a reader enjoy this book (rank appeal). This book would appeal to anyone who values the written word and learning and is concerned about efforts to destroy and ban books. 

1. Compelling
2. Detailed
3. Easy to Understand

Historical Fiction Annotation

Author: Charlotte Bronte

Title: Jane Eyre

Genre: Historical Fiction, classic literature

Publication Date: has been republished many times, original publication date is 1847, the version I have was published in 2006

Number of Pages: this also varies depending on the republication version, but the version I have is 576 pages

Geographical Setting: Northern England

Time Period: early 1800’s, although the book never says specifically, but based on the year the book was published and the plot of the book, this is a safe bet.

Series (If applicable): n/a

 

Plot Summary:

This is a story of one person’s search for a place they can be their true self, a place to call home and the search for someone to share life’s journey with.

Jane Eyre tells the story of an orphan named Jane who goes to live with her aunt, uncle and cousins after her father dies. Janes relatives are not particularly welcoming to this new addition to their household. Jane faces many trials and tribulations with this new family, which ends with her being sent to a school for girls. At this school Jane’s life does not improve and one could argue becomes worse, but she does make her first true friend. When Jane comes of age she teaches at this school and begins looking for a governess position. She finds a job at Thornfield Hall. With this new position Jane faces challenges that test her closely held views of herself and the kind of life she wants to live. Jane finds love, loses love, and ultimately triumphs and carves out a life for herself.

 Our textbook Wyatt and Saricks define the historical fiction genre as one that “transports readers to the past, thereby letting them witness what has transpired in our global family time line” (2019, p.169). While Jane Eyre wouldn’t have been considered historical fiction at the time of its original publication in 1847, in our present time of 2023, the title now fits the description. From the book we get a glimpse into the challenges that women from that time frame would have faced and the limited choices they had if they were not born into a wealthy family.

 

Subject Headings:

• England Social Life and Customs
• Governess Fiction
• Classical Novel
• Love Stories

Appeal:

Here are some words from one of our readings called “The Secret Language of Books, a Guide to Appeal” that I would use to describe the appeal of this book (Novelist, 2018).

• Compelling
• Descriptive
• Atmospheric

 3 terms that best describe this book:

• Character driven
• Slow burn
• Strong female characters

 

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors

 

Author: Lucasta Miller

Book: The Bronte Myth

This book tells the story of the Bronte sisters and how their personal stories have been distorted throughout history.

 

Author: Mary Wollstonecraft

Book: Vindication of the Rights of Women

At the time of its original publication in  1792, this book was considered to be scandalous because of its arguments for women’s rights.

 

Author: Claire Harman

Book: Charlotte Bronte A Fiery Heart

This book tells the story of Charlotte Bronte and how her life shaped the books that made her live on long after she was gone.

 

 3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors

Author: Jane Austen

Book: Pride and Prejudice

This book also focuses on a strong female character and her journey to carving out a life for herself in a time where marriage is one of the few options.

 

Author: Louisa May Alcott

Book: Little Women

This book focuses on the story of a group of strong women and the choices they make to carve out lives for themselves in a society where choices are few.

 

Author: Emily Bronte

Book: Wuthering Heights

This book focuses on a strong female main character, the limited choices she has during the time period she lives in and what she sacrifices for love.

Week 11 Prompt-Ebooks/Audio Books

 As an avid reader a library user I wasn't a big fan of e-books when they first started gaining in popularity and availability. I thought that a part of the reading experience was the touch and feel of a book and the smell. I think many of us have gone into a used bookshop and the physical smell of books is something unique in and of itself. That added to the fact that the early e-readers were not the most user friendly added to my dislike of e-books. Does anyone remember the Kobo and the early Kindle paperwhites? Those things were clunky and confusing devices to use. 

My opinion of e-books started to shift when I took the plunge and ordered a Kindle Fire. The device was very easy to use, and I loved the fact that I didn't have to remember to return an e-book like with a regular library book. I also liked being able to change up the font sizes and page colors. The look and feel of e-books is not the same as a physical book, but I think the convenience factors outweigh these deficits. For library patrons e-books are fantastic for readers who need large print. This group has a whole new world of books available at their fingertips.

I've never really gotten into audio books, e otherwise. I think I've just had a few narrators who were duds and then just never tried out any other options. I remember the days of audio books being cases that included a thick stack of discs. Then the format shifted to mp3 player style, which was more portable and user friendly. I work in a youth services department, and we have an audio book collection of these mp3 style books, but we've been shifting more resources towards ordering e-audio books. With a vast majority of people having smart phones, it's easier than ever for people to download a library app and have access to a large variety of e-audio content. I don't think touch and feel play as large a role with audio books, it's more about a format that is user friendly and accessible. 

I think library e-book consortiums play a large role in how popular e-content can be with a community. If a library is part of a larger consortium, chances are their patrons will have access to the content they're looking for. Within the past year or so my library joined a much larger e-content consortium and we've seen our circulation stats for e-content go up. Sharing resources and content is a win, win for libraries and their patrons. 

Book Club Visit

      I visited a local library’s book club that meets once a month on a Thursday evening. The book club is called “Brews+Books” and meets at a local brewery. The atmosphere of the brewery is relaxed. The building used to be an old gas station, so there are high ceilings, cement floors, and a mix of booths and tables. The place was pretty empty, besides the book club members arriving. The book club took place before a trivia event. The book club met at a reserved area of tables that were pushed together in a long, straight line. When I arrived, the librarian running the book club was there, had placed printed out book club questions on the tables and was chatting with people who were arriving. Attendees generally ordered a drink from the bar area and then sat down to begin the discussion. The librarian brought their own waterbottle.

     There are over 25 people who attended the book club, with a mix of ages and genders. People began chatting before the book club discussion began and it was clear that this group was familiar with one another. Some discussed how they were in other book clubs and how this particular book club had grown since Covid. There had also been a change in the librarian who was running the book club and that may have factored in with the growth of the club. The majority of the group was on time, but a few straggled in.

I knew the librarian running the book club and mentioned that this was for a class. The librarian had also been through an MLIS program and was familiar with these kind of assignments. I was planning on reading the book, but ran out of time, so I took my notebook and chose a spot at the end of the table. It was clear that most, if not all, the people who attended had read the book. I’m trying to remember what the book was called, but the title is escaping me. It was a thriller with the storyline of someone being locked away in a basement for most of their life, there was a murderer on the loose, a baby in the mix and flashbacks to the past. From the conversations people were having about the book club, it was clear that this club often readers thrillers and true crime types of books. 

     The librarian asked open ended questions to get the discussion started and then let the group run with that question for a while. With how the tables were set up, and the music playing through the building, it was often hard to hear what everyone was saying. Group members would ask each other questions about the story they’d read. Then after a while the librarian would focus the group back on the next question. The librarian would sometimes share their own thoughts on the story and took an active role in the conversation, but also gave the group time to flesh out their thoughts. While there were members who shared more, there were no show stealers. Group members actively listened to one another and were respectful of everyone’s thoughts. 

     Towards the end of the discussion people get a little antsy and some start looking at their watches or phones to check the time. The librarian introduces the next book for the next meeting and people pick up copies to take home. There were not enough books for all the people who wanted one, but the librarian assured everyone that they would be getting more in at the library soon. Some people stay to chat after the meeting is over. Overall, it was a fun book club meeting that was full of interesting conversations. The only drawback was that it was hard to hear everyone speak because of how the space was set up. The brewery does have an outdoor seating area and there was talk that when the weather improved the group would meet outside. It can be hard to find a book club that meets in the evenings, at least in my area. So, this may be a book club that I visit again once my classes are over. 

Special Topics Paper Summary-Role of Readers Advisory in Library Service

      This special topic paper will analyze the role readers advisory plays in library services. Wyatt and Saricks state that “the goal of readers advisory service is to help readers discover titles they are currently in the mood to read” (2019, p. xv). This seemingly simple task can prove to be daunting for inexperienced librarians. But it is a role that people often find synonymous with libraries, this idea that a librarian will help them find a “good” book. This paper will analyze the history of readers advisory, staff training, and the public’s expectations from librarians. 

     Crowley states that finding a date for the beginning of the readers advisory service “is at best a frustrating, almost arbitrary exercise” (2005, p. 37). This is due to the idea that historians have a difficult time agreeing on some of the very basic definitions of terms like “what is a library,” and “what is readers advisory” (Crowley, 2005, p.38). 

     When librarians were asked, via a survey spearheaded by the Library Journal, about the biggest challenges they face when conducting readers advisory, many responded that it’s difficult to work with genres and authors, they aren’t familiar with or haven’t read (Wyatt, 2021, p. 26). The adage “practice makes perfect” comes to mind when honing readers advisory skills. The job of readers advisory is a task that is being shared by more and more librarians within a library system and not a job set aside for one specific person (Wyatt, 2021, p.27). 

    Smith states that we can think about the relationship between readers, books, and book selection as a reader’s ecology that has three basic parts: discovery, discernment, and delivery (2022, p. 34). Readers want to find new things to read, they want to know if a book is right for them or not, and then they want to acquire that title (Smith, 2022, p.34). The whole process often sounds much more straightforward than it usually ends up being.

     Overall, libraries and readers advisory have a long and storied history, one that is continuing to evolve and grow with the needs of their communities. 

References

Crowley, B. (2005). Rediscovering the history of readers’ advisory service. Public Libraries, 44(1), 37–41.

Smith, D., Fredrick, V., & Friedli, A. (2022). Engaging readers: readers’ advisory + reader   engagement = reader services for our times. Library Journal, 147(3), 34.

Wyatt, N. (2021). Surveying the field: ra by the numbers. Library Journal, 146(8), 26–31.

Wyatt, N., Saricks, J. (2019). The readers’ advisory guide to genre fiction. ALA Editions.