A Sense of Elsewhere is an article from the November 2007 issue of American Libraries; it is a must read! Author Vartan Gregorian writes a powerful, heartfelt piece on the value and purpose of libraries in one of the most passionate articles I’ve read on this subject.  My favorite part is the simple but grand way he captured libraries with the words “instruments of civilization”. He also refers to them as the “DNA of our civilization”. Take a moment to ponder on that…..

The article summarizes the great contributions of philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, to American libraries and libraries worldwide; Carnegie contributed to the creation of more than 2, 600 libraries. I found this to be astounding! The author’s bittersweet tone radiates feelings of conviction and stirs up tearful, happy memories of childhood and the role libraries have played in providing a welcoming atmosphere of learning and knowledge for people of all ages, ethnicities and religions regardless of economic status. The author points out how significant this is because before our nation had embraced equality, American librarians had already taken it upon themselves to extend services to a diverse society; not just to a privileged minority.

Quoting Vartan Gregorian:

“We also need the sense of elsewhere that libraries give us: In a library, we are in a place where we are safe and yet, at the same time, poised on the brink of discovery.”

For more information about this writer see the link below. He is currently the president of Carnegie Corporation in New York and served for eight years as president for the New York Public Library. http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/newsmakers/nwsmkr.jhtml?id=17000013

For stimulating conversation share with us your “whatzintellect” thoughts about an interesting proposition for libraries from the author: Gregorian suggests that libraries “build coalitions with…natural allies- public television…” etc. In light of previous discussions about the power of media and its influence on information flow what are your thoughts about how libraries would build coalitions or what positive and/or negative implications would arise from such an alliance?

 

 

 

This blog is one of many blogs assigned by an instructor who happens to be an information expert. This blog is anonymous except to those who belong to the school and the class from which it was assigned.

The focus of this blog is to discover the management of information, its theories, its history, its future and any current hot-talk topics concerning knowledge and information science. The reason for Gripe Fest 2008 was to collect information about controversial topics people were interested in in hopes of organizing those topics and using them to conduct further research and promote intellectual stimulation through ideas that were socially authentic and relevent. Never the less, because this was an assignment and the individuals involved in this blog reading were most likely snowed under with their own blogging, studies and life, there was little to no response (also it could just be a really bad blog).

It is with much pain and endurance that this blog continues to live. It remains to be seen if it will stand the tests of time. Until then keep posted for new and up-coming big ideas, this blog is truly evolution in its purest form.

Have you posted your pet peeve in “Gripe Fest 2008″ yet? This video, from a European news broadcast, goes along with mine. We are way too unexposed! When was the last time you heard anyone in America admit that people can be fat AND  healthy and often are just that? Or did you know?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6932909090558446686

Rant & Rave, Baby!!! 

Thanks for taking time to visit my blog, whatzintellect.wordpress.com. The current theme is “Let’s Share Some Info”. I wanna know your pet peeves about the useless or relevent information we are bombared with or should be exposed to as a society through news media? So, come on and rant and rave, Baby!

Personally, I get tired of being told what is important information. Networks do this by only airing what they want to show, which is to say, what they think is important. Who gets to decide what America needs/wants to know?! Where is the meat in our local news channels? I’m sick and tired of hearing about our country blowing up with obesity, fast food chains, lawsuits against Oreos, blah, blah, blah! If I see one more camera zoom in on someone’s @$$ in a discriminatory fashion I’m going to scream!!! Check out my video Gripe Fest Video #1 for more info on this topic.