Service Learning Journal: Entry 5
10/10/12
This past week we listened to the banned books speech given
by Chris Crutcher and Lauren Myracle.
These authors had some amazing points, and gave me a new perspective on intellectual
freedom! I had never really questioned
banned books before this speech; I just kind of accepted the fact that they
were banned. Chris and Lauren gave me a
new perspective, however, and that is that intellectual freedom is our right. I
do, however, feel like it is a parent’s responsibility to, not necessarily
censor the information a child receives, but to help them make sense of what they
have read, and provide a moral compass for them to follow.
This week I also researched some selection tools. My SL librarian pointed me in the direction I
should be looking, and I was able to find a slew of online sites, journals, and
reviews. A couple of the sites I looked
through did not seem very reputable. One
site particularly stood out because I noticed that it only promoted books that
were published by certain companies. I
showed the site in question to my SL librarian, and she advised me to find
another source. This week I was also
able to help my SL librarian barcode new materials that had arrived. I was completely unaware that the school had
to purchase the barcodes. I was also
shocked to find out that the small set of barcodes in front of me cost the
library fifty dollars! I felt like I was
watching the budget dwindle with each sticker I placed on a book. Being in the library this semester has really
helped me see the responsibilities that a librarian is accountable for, and I am
sure that there are plenty of other responsibilities that I do not see. I am eager to complete some observations in the
public library and compare the two.
