Saturday, July 31, 2010

Another CUHK Professor Passed Away ...常宗豪教授

Another heart breaking news from the Far East. Former CUHK Chinese Language and Literature Professor Sheung (常宗豪教授) passed away on June 26, 2010 in Macau.

確實意外,內心難過。

Friday, July 30, 2010

繙譯大師劉殿爵教授走了 (Professor D.C. Lau)

I came across the following news when I looked up sinological studies materials this morning.

From CUHK:
Professor D C Lau, Emeritus Professor of Chinese Language and Literature, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, passed away on 26 April 2010 at Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong. Members of the University mourn his passing with deep sadness.

香港著名哲學家、繙譯大師、語文學家,中文大學中文系榮休講座教授及中國文化研究所榮譽教授劉殿爵教授於二零一零年四月二十六日在香港沙田威爾斯親王醫院因病辭世。深表哀悼。

Book: The Joy of Teaching

Peter Filene’s The Joy of teaching gives a lot of valuable of advice to someone who “accidentally” becomes a first-time teacher , including “don’t be a Perfectionist,” “don’t apologize for creating a less-than-state-of-art Web page for your course,” Teaching and not perishing,” “build a relationship with students,” etc. This book, no doubt, provides the new teachers confidence walking into the classrooms. However I found the vital element of this book is missing: “the joy of teaching” as the title suggests. I cannot deny that I am a little disappointed for not able to find “the joy of teaching” in this book. And I personally do not like the font size of this book. It is at least 16 points (?) – The fonts are as big as large print book. Otherwise it is a very useful and practical book for new teachers.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Fred Lerner's The Story of Libraries

This is a history of library and librarianship, from the ancient time to nowadays digital age. Like other reader, I am also wondering why the title of the book is “the story of libraries” and not “the history of libraries.” The author, Fred Lerner explains in the Preface: “The Story of Libraries is a brief historical narrative, not an exhaustive statistical survey.” The aim of this book is: “to trace the evolution of libraries and to explore the role they played in the society.”

This book is very informative; but I wish it covers more library “stories” of East Asia countries such as the China Emperor’s royal libraries and the private book-collectors’ libraries in the ancient. Those areas are still the “gray” area of Chinese librarianship.

I was surprised to find out that the Germany libraries extended their library services to young readers was much slower than the US. And the initially purpose of the children services in Germany was simply to keep young people away from bad company/trouble. The motivation was sociological rather than educational, compare the American experience.

This book not only appeals to the librarians, but also the general reader.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Another thought of the book: Girl in Translation

I finished Jean Kwok's Girl in Translation a few days ago. The story, for some reasons, stays at the back of my mind. In this book Kim Chang was "abused" by her aunt who brought her and her mother from Hong Kong to New York. They have to work hard to pay off their debt, including the immigration fees, air tickets, and the rent. Her aunt was outraged when she was told that Kim was admitted to the elite middle school, and later, to Yale University. It is part of the culture issue. Kids in Asian are born and lived in a continuous competitions among their classmates and as well as their sisters, brothers, and cousins. Many Asian parents put extreme pressures on their kids to excel academically, especially those who are first-generation immigrants, like Kim’s aunt. Her angry was naturally from jealous and a sense of "failure" because her own son is not as smart as Kim. Every year there are so many kids in Japan, Hong Kong, and other Asia countries committed suicide just because they have not lived up to their parents' expectations.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Books about For-Profit Colleges

Here are books about for-profit colleges:

- Richard S Ruch and George Keller, Higher Ed, Inc.
- Gary A Berg, Lessons from the Edge
- Guilbert C. Hentschke, Vicente M. Lechuga, William G. Tierney, and Marc Tucker, For-Profit Colleges and Universities
- Jennifer Washburn, University , Inc.
- Sheila Slaughter, Academic Capitalism and the New Economy
- Alan Collinge, The Student Loan Scam: The Most Oppressive Debt in the U.S.
-

In Defense of For Profit Colleges?

Yesterday (July 23, 2010) there is an article titled, "In Defenses of For-Profit Colleges" in The Wall Street Journal by Henry Bienen.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703724104575378933954267308.html

In the article, he addressed that: "For-profit colleges run the gamut from vocational schools that give certificates for culinary or beautician training to schools that grant bachelor's, nursing, medical and master of business degrees. Some of these schools have regional accreditation (the highest type) from the same organizations that accredit elite public and private universities." - I though will argue about the quality of the for-profit colleges, especially the career colleges. First of all not all the credits can NOT be transferred to accredit elite public and private colleges. The tuitions are EXTREMELY high and the admission requirement is VERY low. Most career colleges literally accept anyone who came to the door. The instructors and staff "come and go" - advisors and admission staff are paid based on commissions. Therefore, they try to recruit EVERYONE to attend their colleges. At the same time, the administrators can hire anyone they are pleased regardless of the qualifications of the instructors.

Here are some links that address the issues at the for-profit colleges:
http://unsettledsoul.wordpress.com/2010/05/06/for-profit-colleges/
http://www.complaintsboard.com/?search=EDMC
http://ai-is-a-scam.deviantart.com/
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/brown-mackie-college-c329174.html
http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/danielschultz/3001/welcome_to_the_%E2%80%9Ccareer_college%E2%80%9D_scam/

Friday, July 23, 2010

For-Profit Education

For-Profit Colleges Face Risk Under New Rule - Article from The Chronicle of Higher Education July 11, 2010.

These 20 institutions could be found in violation of a new federal rule on student-loan defaults if it took full effect today instead of in 2014, as planned. The colleges could escape risk by lowering their default rates before then. Colleges in violation can lose eligibility for federal student aid. For-profit institutions appear disproportionately affected by the new rule.

Full story: http://chronicle.com/article/For-Profit-Colleges-Face-Risk/66215/

Is it about time to regulate for-profit career schools?

Abstract from today's Wall Street Journal article (July 23, 2010):

UPDATE: For-Profit Schools Rise On Relief Over Oversight Plan, by   Melissa Korn and Caitlin Nish Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

- Shares of for-profit education companies surged Friday as investors expressed relief over a long-awaited U.S. Department of Education regulatory proposal that was less harsh than feared.

- The gains moderated somewhat as trading progressed, though, as analysts warned that the measure, which would penalize for-profit career colleges for graduating students with high debt-to-income ratios, could still hurt the schools in the long run. The schools are under increasing scrutiny as they capture a growing share of federal student-aid dollars and are being asked to prove they are training students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

- "The watered-down gainful employment rules are likely to support for-profit education stocks near term," FBR Capital Markets wrote in a note to clients. "However, the details of the proposal are likely to have a greater impact, particularly on short-term programs, than the market may expect."

- According to the Education Department, if career colleges made no changes from current policies, 5% of all programs would no longer be eligible for federal student aid and 55% would be required to warn students about high debt-to-earnings ratios. Most for-profit colleges derive the vast majority of their revenue from federal aid.

- The stocks have been highly volatile since the government released its first iteration of the proposal in January, with shares propelled by speculation over what a final measure would impose.

...

College degrees for sale?????

Booklovers' books

Here are some "exceptional" books about books for booklovers. - Nonfiction.

- Living with Books, by Alan Powers
- Unpacking My Library by Jo Steffans
- At Home with Books by Estella Ellis
- Libraries by Candida Hofer
- Decorating with Books by Maria Proeller Hueston

Enjoy your reading!

I have been waiting for this title for a long time...

The title of this book, What They Don't Teach You in Librarian School draws my attention immediately! I would like to know what you are NOT taught at the SLIS! On the contrary, what you will be taught at iSchool. I am so glad that EVENTUALLY a book about SLIS has been written. I am excited for my “discovery”! SO I search all the public libraries’ catalogs in my home area. I even tried to request via ILL. Then I realized that this title has NOT been released yet! I have to wait another month! - August 31.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

A "Chicken Memoir!"

Martin Gurdon’s Hen and the Art of Chicken Maintenance is one of those “first chicken memoir” types of books. It is a book about the relationship between human and bird. It chronically describes the daily life of a chicken. This book is surely very entertaining. But it is also very informative – because readers are able to learn things about raising chickens by reading Gurdon’s stories about his chickens.

I love this book. It certainly speaks for me – on the last page, the last sentence of this book, it said, “She’s (the chicken) enjoyed life and we’ve enjoyed her enjoying it. What more could any of us want?”

Book: Girl in Translation

First of all, I am disagree with the subtitle of this book "a novel" (?) It should be "classified" as a semi-autobiography.

It is a book about a girl who immigrated to the United States with her mother when she was eleven years with a hope of better life in the adopted country. Upon arrival, she found herself living in a tiny unheated apartment and beginning her new life with backbreaking labor in a Chinatown sweatshop. That is certainly NOT the life she wants. She decides to use her “talent for school” and eventually received a college degree from Harvard University.

It is a powerful storytelling. It is kind of a “déjà vu” type of book. Why I like this book? - it is a 21st century Cinderella story.

Something Fishy at the Library

I heard from the NPR on my way to work this morning. A library made a comment on the changing role of public libraries on the air. He mentioned that the local libraries provide a variety of services to their patrons, including loans of books, videos, DVDs, and as well children and adult programs. He pointed out that most "radical' change is that library provides wireless. Patrons bring their laptops and use the wireless at the library FREE. Yes the role of public libraries has been changed dramatically in the past five years. But I have to say, the most radical change is "gaming at the library."

Here is my issue: I don’t like kids playing games on the computers in my library. Don’t be wrong. I am not an anti-gaming librarian. I just prefer to have our young library patrons make good use of the public terminals such as learn how to utilize PowerPoint with clipart and word art for their assignments or how to use the electronic databases. But, gaming? I feel it is not only deprived the kids of reading books, it also makes certain amount of computers not available to the patrons who would like to do bona-fide research. After all, library should be a place where one learns and enjoys reading.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Kindle, e-Books ...

According to Amazon.com, the e-books have a bigger demand than book. The ratio is about 145 to 100. Really? I guess I am getting too old. I cannot imagine I am able to read with an electronic device because I won't be able to highlight and write down my thoughts/comments along the pages. Thing changed radically in this digital era. I probably should "learn" how to" read e-book with a kindle before I fall so behind the rest of the "book" readers. I won't be surprised someday a library patron comes to the Desk and asks for assistance with his/her kindle! The library world is definitely NOT my mom's library anymore!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Nelson Mandela turns 92 today!

Today reminds me the book titled, Long Walk to Freedom. This book collects his memory of his imprisonment on Robben Island for over 27 years. There are many various publications of this title; but there is one published in September 2009 which caught my attention when I prepared the ILL book tubs a few weeks ago. It is an abridged version of Mandela’s 1994 autobiography which is in a picture book for 2 to 6 graders - edited by Chris van Wyk and illustrated by Paddy Bouma.

This book describes his childhood, growing up in a system of apartheid, his education, and the influences that led him to become one of the world's most renowned political activists. The book also tells the unjust treatment of blacks in South Africa during his youth and how he became an early activist working with the African National Congress, coordinating protests, and meeting with others around the country, and eventually how he ended up be in prison for almost three decades.

The large map and the timeline, no doubt, will draw the young readers’ attention. The story is compelling and the life of a young political activist is very inspirational.

It is NOT just a comic book

Marjane Satrapi’s: The Complete Persepolis is Marjane’s autobiography. Marjane tells her childhood in Tehran during the Islamic revolution in black and white comic strip format. It is Marjane’s own story with a very interesting insight of the Iran’s woman lives. There is also a movie made out of Marjane’s book which I have seen by borrowing a copy from the local library. Both the book and the movie are “visualized,” but in my opinion, the book is better in terms of presenting the story with conversations in words. It is just NOT the same in the movie.

This book also covers many issues such as history in the region, the moral laws in Iran, the Iranian’s culture and customs, and view of Iranians towards the West.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

A surprise ending film: Dear Zachary: A letter to a son about his father

Andrew Bagby, a medical doctor was murdered by Zachary’s mother, Shirley Turner under mysterious circumstances in 2001. His childhood friend, Kurt Kuenne made this documentary film for his parents, Kate and David Bagby in the memory of Andrew and his son, Zachary. As the subtitle suggests, I kept thinking that Zachary is now ten years old and it will be hard to learn his father was murdered by his mother. I realize that it is not the case until the end of the film. Zachary was drowned by his own mother in 2003 in a suicide-murder case. I was shocked. How and why a mother can do such thing to her own flesh? I keep asking why? Why? Why? It is a nightmare for Andrew’s parents, Kate and David Bagby who had been cared for Zachary for a year with numerous custody battles with his mother who was in and out of the jail. I cannot imagine how they handle the tragedy in two years – lost their own son and as well their grandson in less than two years –“白頭人送黑頭人”( it is a Cantonese proverb meaning "white-haired person sending off black-haired person).

It is a heartbreaking film but please do not let that stop you from watching it.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

A small book "bigger"than it looks, titled: The Research Virtuoso

The Research Virtuoso: Brilliant Methods for Normal Brains, by Toronto Public Library and illustrated by Joe Weissmann..

Do not judge a book by its “size” – that is actually what you cannot judge this book, The Research Virtuoso: Brilliant Methods for Normal brains. This book only has five chapters: Getting Ready for research, The Virtuoso Online, The Virtual Library, The Information Warehouse, and Grand Finale. But it provides all the tips and hints how to get information and collect data for research project, step-by-step. In addition, it provides examples with illustrations to show how the research is done.

Most people go to “google” when they start looking for information. After reading this book, you may rethink or decide NOT to “google” for your research.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Today is Bastille Day! La Fête Nationale

Bastille Day - It is the national celebration in France. That reminds me one of Claude Monet's paintings, Rue Montorgueil. The red, blue and yellow colorful painting portrays the street in Paris on June 30, 1878. If you like French culture (not only the festivals), here are some of books I recommend:

- Rebecca S Ramsy's French By Heart: An American Family's Adventures in La Belle France
- Charles Tomoney's Pardon My French: Unleash Your Inner Gaul
- Kristin Espinasse's Words in a French Life
- R. de Roussy de Sales's Easy French reader
- Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence
- Sandy Price's The Flea Markets of France
- Mireille Guiliano's French Women Don't get Fat

Enjoy your reading!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Do-It-Yourself Libraries

I received the new issue of Library Journal this afternoon. The cover caught my attention immediately: Do-It-Yourself Libraries. It is true that most public libraries have self-service stations. It is cost-effective and efficient yet lack of the human interaction. Well, it is NOT my mom's library anymore. The article states, “Libraries say, self-service works” and “Librarians are overwhelmingly happy.” REALLY? The author did not ask me.

I have no objections that library patrons check out library materials on their own or pay their fines. But for the library reserved items, I would like the Reserve Shelf behind the Circulation Desk – privacy issue. When we allow library patrons to pick up their holds by their last names, we voluntarily expose the individual reading interests to the third party.

Book: Delivering Happiness

Tony Hsieh, Delivering Happiness: A Path to profits, Passion, and Purpose..

DO NOT let the title of this book "fool" you. It is not an inspirational "self-help book." According to Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme, it is a business book (658.409). If you take a close look of the subtitle, then you will notice that it is a book about building business culture of a company.

Tony is a CEO for an online retailer, ZAPPOS.com. This book chronicles the life and business pursuits of Tony. He shares the lessons he learned as an entrepreneur. He delivers very powerful and inspirational messages, such as: “By concentrating on the happiness of those around you, you can dramatically increase your own,” “Our goal is for our employees to think of their work not as a job or career, but as a calling.” he talks building a successful business culture and creating a working environment where employees are empowered and engaged. As the subtitle suggests that it is a book about the path to gain profits with passion and purpose.

Monday, July 12, 2010

No So "Secret" Archives Library

When one thinks of Vatican Secret Archives, one immediately thinks, "Oh! That’s a forbidden library." I have the same thought when someone mentions the Vatican Secret Archives Library. But I am wrong. The Vatican interprets the word "Secret" differently. According to the Head of the Library Services, Neil MacInnes, "Secret Library" means "Private Library". -That's a very interesting interpretation. The Library has some public rooms open to academics and researchers; but there are still thousands and thousands of original unpublished documentations are still "behind the scene."

If you are interested in the Vatican Secret Archives, there is a book, Vatican Secret Archives which was published in October 2009. It is the first time that readers are allowed to "walk around" this wonderful and secrecy library without any restrictions.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

A book for new PhD students and new professors

Paul Gray's What They Didn't Teach You in Graduate School

As the subtitle suggests, 199 helpful hints for success in your academic career is a book about the graduate ivory tower world. The book is written in a fun and humorous style. I particularly like the funny cartoons/illustrations - they get to the point and make you smile inside you. Having said that, this is NOT a book that you will find answers for your questions how to be a PhD student or a new tenure professor.

Friday, July 9, 2010

A "good" and "bad" book

Edited by Sandra Harris, Changing Mindsets of Educational Leaders to Improve Schools: Voices of Doctoral Students

I picked up this book simply because it is written by individual doctoral students sharing their own personal experience as a doctoral student. I am very eager to know why they decided to take the ivory tower journey and what they believed then and believe now about the role of educational leaders.Unfortunately the book is poorly printed. The fonts and the ink … it seems to me that the printer was running out of toner !

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Library Privacy Issues at Public Library is Dead?

Public Library is dedicated to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of its library patrons. A public library will not disclose records which reveal a person’s borrowing information to the third party. A friend told me that our local County library system now allows their patrons to pick up their holds on an open bookshelf, including the ILL items. The reserve shelf is arranged by patron’s last name alphabetically. As a librarian, I was stunted to learn that new policy. I am sure that the new policy will affect the patron’s library visit. My friend also told me that she stopped going to the public library simply because she does not feel comfortable. She is also worry about her borrowing information, such as what kinds of book she requested is “open” to the other patrons who have the same last name. She also heard that the library has lost a great amount of popular items such as DVD and musical CDs.

It is just a few years ago, we, the library staff, was trained and was prohibited to disclose any information with the library cardholder’s family or friends. This also applied to the release of information to the parents’ of minors when the minor has their own library card. I am so surprised that the library has implemented this new policy because in some states, it is against the law, such as Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 78, Section 7 (1994 edition): “Part of the records of a public library which reveals the identity and intellectual pursuits of a person using such library shall not be a public record as defined by clause Twenty-sixth of section seven of chapter four.” The policy extends to circulation records (borrowing records, registration records, reserves or fine records), interlibrary loan transactions, registration records, database search records and reference interviews. Except in cases involving the USA Patriot Act, no records can be made available to any inquiries, governmental or otherwise, unless a subpoena has been served by a court of competent jurisdiction and the library administration has consulted with legal counsel to determine if it is proper to release the requested information.

What happened to our Mid-Western States???

OCLC and Non-Roman Scripts Collection

Two great news from OCLC news releases for East Asian librarians and scholars:

(1) The National Diet Library of Japan adds records to Worldcat (June 2010):
http://www.ococl.org/us/en/news/releases/2010/201029.htm

(2) National Library of China shares its collection with the world through OCLC's Worldcat:
http://www.oclc.org/us/en/news/releases/2020/201028.htm

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World

When I travel and visit a new town, the first place you will find me is the public library or the university libraries. Last summer when I was in Oxford, I was unable to visit the famous Bodleian Library because it was SUNDAY! The library was closed. I was very disappointed because I was scheduled to leave England the next day. So I missed the chance. This beautiful photographed book, The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World (photographed by Guillaume de Lauber and written by Jacques Bosser) absolutely provides an easy way to visit the libraries that we cannot visit in person or we “missed” the chance to visit. I know it is not the same when you can go there and walk around the libraries. But at least you can “picture” the libraries with colorful photos. And you won’t see the “unorganized shelves” and you won’t see the old and fragile chairs and tables at some of the historic libraries which are photographed perfectly in the book.

Yesterday someone returned this book at the library, I couldn’t help but recheck out this book again. I have read this book when it was published in 2003. That is before I went to Europe. It is very different after you physically visited the libraries and re-read the book, especially the images. - I picture myself walking outside the library and enjoying the amazing architectural building.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Undercover Journalists in Burma: Burma VJ

One of my fellow librarians visited me from Florida and recommended Burma VJ to me. I couldn’t find a copy at our local libraries; thus I requested via our university library’s ILL service.

The 2007 movement was led by the monks with a massive crowd on the street, including students, general public. They chanted and they requested the democracy of Burma along the street of Rangoon. They even made their way to the house of the Burma’s political leader, Ang San Suu Kyi – who was under house arrest since 1988. The scenes are so “familiar” – the massive crowd protest, the soldiers fired to the running crowd, pool of blood covered the pavements, monks were arrested and disappeared, soldiers raid the monasteries.

The undercover journalists follow the anti-government protests in August 2007 and film the scene with hidden cameras. A few times the journalists were almost caught by the military government spies. The uncut incredible scenes were sent out of Burma through secret channels to the international networks and media such as CNN in September 2007. At the end, three uncover journalists were missing, probably were arrested. And the one and only one Internet server in Burma was shut down by the government. Things are gone back to what they were – it is still a military control country.

Nothing's changed.

Amongst the White Clouds - Chinese hermit monks

Amongst the White Clouds is a film about the enlightenment of Chinese hermit monks who live in the Zhongnan Mountain range. I like to listen to the monks who tell their experience to practice in the mountains – surrounded by nature and living in a simple but hardship life. I learn two things from their conversations:

(1) We, the common people, need to learn how to “let go”.
(2) When the monks were asked why they became a monk or their past, they simply replied “it doesn’t matter and avoid the questions. So we shouldn’t let the past be an obstacle for our present lives: “let bygone be bygone.”

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Nanking: A Documentary FIlm

I studied the Nanking Massacre (1937) from my Chinese history book when I was a seventh grader. I also learned from my late father who was a young boy during the World War II. The massacre committed by the Japanese soldiers when they captured the Chinese capital, Nanking in August 1937. I have seen the historical pictures from the section of Far East War in one of the World War II books. There is no single book about the massacre until 1997, Iris Chang wrote a book called, The Rape of Nanking. Chang's research on the book was credited with the finding of the diaries of John Rabe and Minnie Vautrin, the foreigners who lived in Nanking during the World War II and witnessed the massacre.

This documentary film Nanking (2008) describes the massacre by reading the diaries and letters of John Rabe , Minnie Vautrin, and Robert Wilson - a German surgeon. The subject matter and the archival footage of the events are compelling. It includes the interviews of the survivors who tell their own horrible experience at a very young age. When I saw the testimonies of Japanese soldiers who participated in the rampage, I keep wondering what they are thinking now at their old age. Do they regret what they have done? Are they proud of their victory in Nanking? None of the Japanese soldiers say "sorry for they have done" in the interviews. They did describe how they killed 20,00 Chinese soldier without showing any emotion. That makes me cry inside of me. Is it possible for them to live without regrets?

It is a very well done film. Very good pace, brief, to the point and keep its viewers right to the film. Recommended.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

An Inspirational article.

Doug Achterman and Joyce Kasman Valenza’s article, “Why Enter a Doctoral Program in Library and Information Science?” was published in February 2007 on School Library Media Activities Monthly, Vol. 3, No. 6 (pp. 56-58). Their personal stories are very inspirational. In this article, Joyce explains the reasons why she entered a doctoral program in library and information science:

“After thirty years in the library world, the certificate process didn’t seem the right step for me. I had reached a point where I didn’t need to prove myself to my administrator or to fellow professionals.”

“I wanted to add my practitioner’s voice to the intellectual dialog to combine my knowledge of practical with the theoretical. I wanted to take a leading role in the profession I adored. Without the doctorate I was cut off from making the types of contributions I longed to make.”

As I read these few beautiful lines, my heart struck. And I embrace her and admire her ultimate ambitions. I have heard some doctorate students call us, the professional librarians as the “mainstreams” who are usually NOT considered as “intellectual scholars” in the academia's ivy tower. I disagree. We are the practitioner, yet we also have the ability of doing intellectual research. That stereotype certainly needs to be re-imaged.

Friday, July 2, 2010

You Don't Look Like a Librarian

When we talk about image of librarian, we "naturally" think of a middle-aged lady who wears a pair of “special” spectacles on her nose, busy behind the desk and constantly says, “shush!” to the unsettling, noisy kids. Yap! This is stereotype. But honestly I do not remember any librarian in my hometown like that. I am so glad that FINALLY someone fights the stereotype and writes a book about the “REAL” image of librarian.

In Ruth Kneale’s You Don’t Look Like a Librarian draws a different picture of a librarian. As the subtitle suggests, this book creates a new and positive image of librarian in today’s digital era.

I think we should all “re-paint” the image of librarian in our brains!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

How to Read Literature Like a Professor?

I found Thomas Foster’s How to read Literature Like Professor when I looking for an easy and practical reference book on reading for my literature class students. Once I read the Introduction chapter, I knew that’s the one I need to have for my library.

According to this book, three elements separate the general reader from the literature professor s: memory, symbol and pattern. In brief , when reading a novel or a story, readers are easily emotional attached to the characters. The literature professors, of course, have the emotional attach as well; yet they pay more attention to other elements of the story and ask questions such as what did the respond effect come from? Whom do the characters resemble? Where have I seen this situation before? And so on. – it is a very interesting analysis.

This book is full of knowledge yet it is very easy to read. A wonderful book.