Competency 4

I have added a feed from the American Association of School Librarians to my blog. Seeing that my library type is school libraries, high school in particular, I thought this was a good choice.

Competancy #3: Podcast

Using Yahoo! Podcasts Search I chose the following blog from Lib Vibe.

http://libvibe.blogspot.com/2007/03/libvibe-12-march-2007.html

The podcast contained several different library-related stories. The first one had to do with Sports Illustrated's decision to withhold the annual swimsuit issue from its school and library subscribers. Some 21,000 libraries and schools didn't receive their issue after past feedback from parents, teachers and librarians about the issue not being appropriate for the patrons.

Librarians were in an uproar over this decision and complained. They say it is not up to Sports Illustrated to determine what is appropriate for individuals to read. Sports Illustrated realized the decision was wrong and is changing the practice. Anyone who missed the issue was able to contact Sports Illustrated to request the issue.

I was intrigued with this story because I have personally not put out the swimsuit issue when it comes to our school's library because in my opinion it is nothing more than soft porn (some of the models don't have tops on but are covering there chests with their arms and they are often in very provocative poses). Although after hearing this story it got me thinking that perhaps this is not right to be doing this. I feel very strongly about intellectual freedom and allowing individuals to decide for themselves what is appropriate for them to read and wouldn't want to be making the decision for them. This is something I will definitely have to think more about before the next swimsuit issue comes out next spring.

Blog Competency #2

The blog that I choose is: http://blogs.ala.org/oif.php I found the blog by searching on GoogleBlog.

"The most recent post discusses a decision by Creighton University president Rev. John Schlegel to rescind an invitation to Anne Lamott to speak as part of the school's Women and Health lecture series. Some public opposition had arisen to the lecture after Lamott's pro-choice politics and participation in an assisted suicide a decade ago came to light. In the wake of the cancellation, a group of Omaha churches agreed to sponsor Lamott at a larger venue in the city."

I find it interesting the things that people use as criteria to decide that something or someone isn't appropriate for not only them but others. It's one thing to decide for yourself that you don't want to listen to a certain person speak but I think it is wrong to force your view on others.

Topic Change

I have decided that I would like to change my topic to intellectual freedom in high school libraries.

Topic and Library Type

The purpose of my blog is to complete the 13 competencies required for LS 5013. My topic is imformation literacy in high school libraries