Ha!

The best way to scare a bear is by making a bunch of noise.  I recently posted...well, ranted about, a couple of books being banned from high school and public libraries in Missouri.  This troubled me deeply!  I hadn't done any research on banned books since the incident with "Uncle Tom's Cabin" banning a few decades ago.  I hadn't given much thought to the side effect of putting this out there...but isn't the best way to draw attention to something is to place a restriction on it, forbid it or ban it?  Think back when we were unruly teenagers.  The best way to tempt a kid into trouble is to tell them NOT to do something.  Of course we are going to cross our eyes to see if they stay that way.  Of course we are going to sit way to close to the television and crank the volume up on our music.  Of course we are going to fish a bagel out the toaster with a fork (maybe that is just me).                                                                                                        

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20110805/NEWS04/108050339

This article was given to me by a classmate-Thanks Ruth!  If you don't have time to read it, an anonymous donor is giving 150 copies of Slaughterhouse Five via the Vonnegut Library to anyone who wants to read it.  Sort of a way of thumbing one's nose in the general direction of the School Board in Missouri that voted to ban it! As I said before: to scare a bear...make some noise!

This just really steams me!!!

http://www.americanlibrariesmagazine.org/censorship-watch/so-it-goes-missouri-high-school-bans-slaughterhouse-five

I am an opponent to banned books just on principle alone.  I read this with an attempt in objectivity and failed.  I cannot rationalize how a person in an academic profession could possibly recommend restricting access to information-especially in a book that has been around since 1968-in this day and age.  Academic professionals should be proud supporters of unbiased and unlimited at access to information for all individuals that see it fitting for their purposes.  Its just preposterous!!!  What's next universe?

In the Beginning

I guess I should begin by indicating how this whole thing all got started.  The title of this bog is obviously a combination of two famous author sets (Lewis Carroll and Brother's Grimm) who just happened to also be famous Librarians.  I am currently a Grad Student in Emporia State University's Library and Information Science...destined to be a professional InfoGenius.  This is my first contribution into the Blogosphere and not confident what goes here (how quaint...an unintentional rhyme!). Having a blog was a requirement to participate in a rousing professional development exercise relevant to my discipline of study.  If anything, this blog may be an interesting exercise in tracking the details of the challenges this term will present for me in school.  I am casting this out in the wind with the hopes of connecting with my cohorts while trouble shooting common pitfalls in our area of study.

A few general details about me: I love to read nearly anything I can get my hands on (my newest Fictional adoration falls upon Jim Butcher and the Harry Dresden File Series.  A quiet nod goes to my "besty" Dean for introducing me to such an intriguing series), I love a good game of Book Trivial Pursuit and I love to knit.  I am an aspiring author and cello player.  I cannot cook nor do anything remotely domestic-in fact my last meal was polishing off a peanut butter and honey sandwich while standing over the kitchen sink (I kid you not).  Somehow all of that math and reading just hasn't translated into a mixing bowl nor into my impressive Pyrex collection that would amount to anything palatable.  I have a generally quiet disposition but could not really accurately be classified as a loner by any means.  So with that, I shall push "publish post" and see what becomes of it.

I welcome feedback and emails:
shelly_speicher@msn.com
mspeiche@emporia.edu
frumpybutcute@gmail.com