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 Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 7:49 pm
Does anyone have a Library card? I do!
BUT...
I was recently pondering.. Libraries of the ancient world were places of learning.. people truly valued their existence and went there to gain knowledge. They were serious about it.. and now we live in a world where the average person doesn't even have a library card..
We live in a world where libraries are places you go to do "boring" research for a school paper.. and if you go there for a reason besides school.. it's to rent a twilight book or to check your facebook page! We don't value knowledge anymore.. it's sad.
We look to books for entertainment, not for knowledge.
Has anyone else thought about this? and if so.. how do you feel about it?
I'm very bothered by it. I worship knowledge. Intelligence is a trait I value second only to compassion.
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Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 1:07 am
I myself have a library card, although I do not go to the library as often as I should. Albeit this is influenced in large by me not reading as much as I should. Indeed I have decided that I would like to make some decent progress into reading the current books that I own, before I get back into reading books from the library again. For some indication of how long there will be, I own over four hundred books. Yet I have read maybe twenty to thirty of these books at best. That was a very generous guess too.
As for the library however, I do not see it strictly as a means of acquiring knowledge. Indeed speaking to it from the Aotearoa New Zealand perspective, it also provides a means of social cohesion and integration. For immigrants and refugees they can find programmes in place to help them become more accustomed with our culture and language. Furthermore it provides people from other cultures an avenue to return the favour by introducing others to their language and culture. I recall seeing advertisements for learning Chinese not so long ago. Even outside of the programmes offered by and through the library, as an environment it serves as a comfort zone. My flat mate has spoken with me how she is able to find peace in the library. This was also the case for her when she initially arrived here from Japan as an international student for her high school education. She is not alone in these feelings, as I have heard of numerous other international students expressing similar sentiments. Indeed in one of her anthropological classes, where you made a mock thesis proposal, there was a student who intended on studying the structural functionalist role that the library plays in society. One of the elements they too were drawing on was this social cohesion role. I would also stress that it is not limited to people new to a community, but can also be applicable to those inside the community already.
So from this I am already perceiving libraries in somewhat of a different manner to you. As my previous angle predominantly influences how I see them. As for reading itself, I do not see any problem with people using libraries for entertainment. While a majority of the very little reading I do is non-fiction, indeed about to start reading Sexual Meanings: The Cultural Construction of Gender and Sexuality tomorrow, I am no different to people who read fiction. As quite simply what I read, I do so for entertainment. It just happens that I find acquiring certain knowledge to be entertaining.
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Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 7:32 am
@ Zydron:
The cultural perspective is one that I've never considered... probably because I've never had to integrate myself into a new society.
I'm the same as you regarding non-fiction. Fiction is nice sometimes, but lately, I've enjoyed learning something from each book I read. I finished The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell not long ago, and now I'm slowly working my way through a biography of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, the creator (a woman) of the champagne method of making sparkling wine.
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Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 3:18 pm
@so retarded -
In fairness issues like this are of interest to me. I have had discussions with my flat mate about this for that very reason. Even myself personally, I have found the library to be a place where I found comfort. I had not really thought all that deeply about the specific role the library plays prior to the student I previously mentioned using it for their mock proposal. It is however a stance which I quite agree with. Furthermore it is due to their role in maintaining social cohesion that I believe they should be funded with tax payers money. As they are more than a place for reading, they serve a crucial function for the community.
Even returning to the reading part. This is not something that in and of itself should be downplayed either. I am a strong believer that the acquisition of knowledge goes a long way in terms of self empowerment. While I tried to avoid it in my last post, I do somewhat idolize what I perceive as intelligence. Indeed the very idea of being friends with someone who does not read, or whom I do not perceive as being intelligent is quite foreign to me.
As for your selection of reading, I do read some fiction texts. Commonly when I go into fiction, I prefer to read science fiction. I do find it quite interesting to read how they describe the various different societies, political systems and cultures which feature in their works. Although do not read too deeply into that, as they are quite reductionist and simplistic descriptions. The whole simple things amuse simple minds and all that ^_-.
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Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 4:21 pm
I am a proud owner of a library card! It's come in handy more than my driver's license xd
Anyway, I think there is always hope. We just have to find ways to get masses interested in learning, then maybe it will be valued by them. There are so many distractions in today's World that people forget what really matters and only look forward to instant gratification and easy satisfaction.
I also blame the educational systems. If school wasn't so dull maybe our children would show more excitement for gaining knowledge. Instead, youth value stupidity and ignorance above wisdom (or so it seems). I found that learning on my own is much more fun than going to school 3nodding (though I am still going to school, it can prove to be useful at times)
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Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 9:38 pm
I would venture a guess that libraries are less valued here in the US then in other cultures though that could be completely wrong. I wonder where the problem stems from...though somehow a culture has been born in the young in which some will brag about their failures or ability to skip class.
Our educational system strives to kill curiosity.
Kids aren't smart enough to do things on their own is the view, so we get them to memorize multiplication tables and memorize rules of grammar. A story an old English teacher of mine once told my class a story that exemplifies this. She told how she was in kindergarten perhaps, I don't remember the exact grade, but they had to color something and were graded on it. My teacher used all sorts of different colors, and drew flowers on the page. She ended up with a C because she drew outside of the lines. Creativity squashed. Only the lucky learn to ask questions in school. ( This is just me ranting on education now. I do despise our system. )
This probably helps breed the hate of the library. Despising something that seems to represent the death of creativity. Humans are meant to create, and at every turn our culture doesn't allow such a thing to take place.
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Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 8:57 pm
My sister and I share a card since we live in Nowhereland and the library is a good 45 minutes away. And, as for what the OP said, libraries are places of knowledge regardless of whether it has nonfiction or fiction books in it. Personally, fiction books teach me plenty since I'm aiming to write novels someday.
I don't really see people reading books for entertainment as a problem (though, I have a serious problem with Twilight). When I read books for "entertainment" means that I'm reading classics and well-known science fiction or fantasy in order to broaden my horizons and learn new words/sentence structures/writing techniques. So, I'm doing research in a sense and learning, too. (Though, I do enjoy reading nonfiction books when they're about politics, obscure history or religion, or some conspiracy theorist...) I guess my reason for reading books for entertainment may not work for everyone, but I can't exactly judge them for not craving knowledge or anything. I'm sure that plenty of people are in the same boat as me, though. So if libraries didn't have fiction books, then writers would be out of luck.
Also, reading books for entertainment is better than watching pointless television shows for entertainment. Reading gives one the opportunity to be exposed to new words, at least. As for having movies, I don't see a problem with that either. I watch a lot of foreign movies in an attempt to get a glimpse into different cultures. My library has a lot of obscure and/or artsy films, which I wouldn't really have access to otherwise.
It does sadden me to some degree that others associate libraries with "boring", but not everyone does. I know I don't. Libraries still provide knowledge, but now other sources like news broadcasts or the internet does also... so we can't pinpoint it as the source of knowledge like in older eras. I guess modernizing comes with abandoning old systems, to an extent. Perhaps libraries will never be regarded as they once were since we have updated means of acquiring knowledge.
Am I rambling? >.<
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Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 9:45 pm
I think everyone is getting the wrong end of the stick with my topic.. I'm not bashing reading for entertainment. I'm not saying that Libraries aren't places of knowledge.
I'm saying that when I walk into an Orange County Library, I see people on the pcs checking their picture comments and checking out books that aren't great, but achieve "greatness" based on their popularity.
It's a rare sight to see anybody go into a library and check out a book on biology for some light reading.
A library will always be a place of knowledge to ME, and to some others but for the most part it isn't viewed that way by modern society. You can tell because no one reads anymore.
Books are becoming relics. We're more interested in who Angelina Jolie is dating than who created the theory of evolution.
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Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 3:20 am
@Comrade Nicholas -
Although in fairness reading is not the only way in which knowledge can be acquired at the library. There are the programmes which I mentioned designed to help people integrate into the community. My flat mate and I were discussing one such programme over dinner tonight. Through use of volunteers, those not fluent in English are able to have a native English speaker to practice conversations with. It is both a means to gaining knowledge. For not only are they becoming accustomed to the language, but they will also be learning specific mannerisms. Not that I am wishing to downplay the importance of language. Indeed the language we speak and think in goes a very long way in shaping how we perceive and understand the world around us. Turning this point to the side, we also have seminars. My library has lecturers, scholars and various other academics come in from time to time to give a seminar. These can range from a variety of topics such as the politics of the 'developing world' to poetry nights. This is another way in which people can go to the library and gain knowledge without reading per se. While I have not specifically attended any of the seminars there, I am somewhat familiar with some people they have had speak. Indeed some of them I have attended their seminars at university and/or attended their classes. I do hope this is not coming off as too harsh. It is more a case of me not liking these functions of the library being tossed to the side like they are nothingness. The library can and does serve an extremely important function in regards to social cohesion. crying
I also do not understand what is wrong with reading books which are popular. Sever of the science fiction texts which I have read are popular. Although I recall my lecturer for Anthropological Enquiry asserting that science fiction texts are commonly of interest and benefit for those with an interest in anthropology. Indeed I am somewhat certain that it also goes the other way. That is an understanding of anthropology can help those aspiring to become science fiction writers. Even in terms of simply keeping people literate, you can find popular books useful. Although I must admit there are certain books in the library which I myself am quite disheartened by. Several atheistic works for instance can go a long way in annoying me. The same also applies to sociobiology and evolutionary psychology works. Indeed even some general psychology work on 'human nature' can bother me.
Edit: I have been thinking about this post since I made it and would like to make some alterations. First and foremost, I do agree with your point on the lack of reading. I find it quite difficult to comprehend people within literate cultures not reading to some level. As you mention this is a key to gaining knowledge and a very beneficial habit to be into.
I would also acknowledge that my point on seminars is misleading. While I still feel they are incredibly useful. They are much better seen as supplementary knowledge. Whereby your own reading/research should be the primary means of gaining knowledge. Without having read about the topic they are discussing one is seriously limiting how much they can gain.
In addition, regarding my point on sociobiology etc, I do not wish to see these works banned or anything. Rather I would like to see ethnographies, cross cultural studies and other works which disprove them more widely available.
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