For our second topic on the first day of Armchair BEA, we’re asked to discuss the concept of “literature.”
Librarians have gone back and forth over the years about whether our duty is to promote “good” literature or whether it’s to promote reading. These days, mostly, we go for the second and that’s how I was taught in library school.
As a librarian, I’m wedded to these two laws of library science:
- Every reader his or her book.
- Every book its reader.
To a librarian, this means we need to develop a collection that is right for our community. Every patron should be able to find something to read (or, these days, watch or listen to or visit online) without anyone judging his or her choice, but it’s a waste to purchase anything that no one will use.
On my blog, I apply these two laws by choosing not to rate or judge books. Instead, I use the Appeal section of my book reviews to reflect on what sort of reader might like this book.
