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Sarah Dessen, local food, & libraries
Feb. 4th, 2007 05:30 pmKeeping the Moon - Sarah Dessen. Definitely my least favorite Dessen, of the three I've read so far. I felt v. mixed about this one. 15-year-old Colie learns that being fat is okay, despite her mother being a famous aerobics queen, b/c her Aunt Mira is fat & happy, & then Colie learns that being herself is okay--but especially b/c she lost 45 1/2 pounds. Ugh. I like the "quirky ppl in a small town" setting, but...
The Changing Culture of Libraries - Edited by Renee Feinberg. I think I'm reading too many books about librarianship lately; they all start to blend in somewhat after a while. This one's uneven; some of the essays are a bit repetitive since I've been reading other library anthologies. I liked "Social Equity and Empowerment in the Digital Age: A Place for Activist Librarians" (Carla J. Stoffle), "A Vicious Circle?" (Barbara A. Bishop; on diversity in librarianship, or the lack thereof), & "The Resource Centre Experience in South Africa: An Important Contribution to Librarianship" (Faye Reagon) probably best.
Eat Here: Reclaiming Homegrown Pleasures in a Global Supermarket - Ian Halweil. A compelling introduction to why local food matters & how you can start making change in where your own food comes from. Even though I've read a lot about this issue already, there was still enough unknown to me to be inspiring. The case studies from around the world demonstrate how a globalized food system is bad for everyone, & how people are trying to change that. For example, in Zimbabwe, most of the peanut butter sold is imported, even though there are local peanut farmers. Four women started a local peanut butter business that supports the local economy & produces peanut butter that's 15% cheaper than global brands (not to mention it doesn't use nearly the same amount of oil to be transported to the consumer). Well worth reading. Eating local matters, & this book will persuade you.
Civic Librarianship: Renewing the Social Mission of the Public Library - Ronald B. McCabe. You'd think, from the title, that I'd like this book, & I did agree w/some bits: like that the library should be a place for public education. But otherwise the book felt really conservative & gross--pro-hierarchy (librarians as educated gatekeepers & taste-makers) & full of seemingly willful misunderstanding of the left. For example, no indication of why folks on the left might have good reason to be skeptical of authority figures & of the idea of there being right answers to things--no indication that this might be a normal reaction to all the -isms, etc. Blech.
The Changing Culture of Libraries - Edited by Renee Feinberg. I think I'm reading too many books about librarianship lately; they all start to blend in somewhat after a while. This one's uneven; some of the essays are a bit repetitive since I've been reading other library anthologies. I liked "Social Equity and Empowerment in the Digital Age: A Place for Activist Librarians" (Carla J. Stoffle), "A Vicious Circle?" (Barbara A. Bishop; on diversity in librarianship, or the lack thereof), & "The Resource Centre Experience in South Africa: An Important Contribution to Librarianship" (Faye Reagon) probably best.
Eat Here: Reclaiming Homegrown Pleasures in a Global Supermarket - Ian Halweil. A compelling introduction to why local food matters & how you can start making change in where your own food comes from. Even though I've read a lot about this issue already, there was still enough unknown to me to be inspiring. The case studies from around the world demonstrate how a globalized food system is bad for everyone, & how people are trying to change that. For example, in Zimbabwe, most of the peanut butter sold is imported, even though there are local peanut farmers. Four women started a local peanut butter business that supports the local economy & produces peanut butter that's 15% cheaper than global brands (not to mention it doesn't use nearly the same amount of oil to be transported to the consumer). Well worth reading. Eating local matters, & this book will persuade you.
Civic Librarianship: Renewing the Social Mission of the Public Library - Ronald B. McCabe. You'd think, from the title, that I'd like this book, & I did agree w/some bits: like that the library should be a place for public education. But otherwise the book felt really conservative & gross--pro-hierarchy (librarians as educated gatekeepers & taste-makers) & full of seemingly willful misunderstanding of the left. For example, no indication of why folks on the left might have good reason to be skeptical of authority figures & of the idea of there being right answers to things--no indication that this might be a normal reaction to all the -isms, etc. Blech.
