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Carol, Thank you so much. I couldn't have said it better. Those of us who are in a middle school where children are really fighting = to find their own identity be it sexual orientation, academic achievements = -- struggling or excellerated, or individual causes, realize the last = thing adolescents need is something that signals them as an individual out = of the norm. We are looking for a new principal as our principal is retiring. I cringe = each time someone comes in and during the interview speaks about leveling = our library. YIKES!!!!! Readingly yours, Chris=20 =20 Christine L. Evans, librarian Library/Media Center Barrington Middle School - Station cevans@cusd220.lake.k12.il.us 847-381-0464 >>> Carol Simpson <Carol_Simpson@UNT.EDU> 02/29/04 12:34 PM >>> I think we are equivocating here. We all understand genre labels. But this = =3D is a definition of "labeling" in the same denegrating form as racial =3D labeling. When books are segregated into "special" shelving because of =3D their controversial subject matter, it draws attention to children who go = =3D there to browse. Sort of the "Oh, he must be one of THOSE students because = =3D look where he is browsing!" When books on gays and lesbians are forced to = =3D carry special "red alert" labels, students look at that student in a =3D different way. It is similar to putting AR reading levels on the outsides = =3D of books. Would you want to be a struggling 6th grader forced to carry =3D around a book with a 2nd grade reading level on it? Especially in a school = =3D where students are only allowed to read in their ZPD? (yes, there are =3D plenty of those around). This isn't a management issue. This is an ethical one. Walk a mile in the = =3D shoes of the student struggling with his/her sexual identity, or the one = =3D who just doesn't "get" reading very well. Putting a label on the books =3D they read (and I don't mean genre labels) might as well put that label on = =3D their forehead. >>> Ken Umbach <kumbach@UNLIMITED.NET> 2/29/04 12:08:09 PM >>> <<It could also be argued that any labeling is a form of censorship. =3D Labels indicate how one or a group of people perceive a resource. The presence = =3D of a label will always "turn off" members of certain groups of patrons. For example, I don't read science fiction for pleasure. When I see a book =3D labeled science fiction, I don't read it. --Carrie Gardner>> I think one could credibly argue the opposite -- that such labeling FACILITATES access rather than limiting it. For example, I read a lot of mysteries and usually make a beeline for the mystery section at the local bookstore to see what is new. If I had to browse through thousands of unrelated titles to be able to happen across a new author or a new title = =3D by an old favorite, I might not bother. Ditto for science fiction. When I = =3D go on a science fiction jag, I scan those shelves with an eye to an interesting title, a this-grabs-me cover illustration, or an author I =3D might have overlooked for a while. I have done that for nearly half a century [eek!!!!!]. [Aside: science fiction fans, check out the Chronicles of Solace trilogy by Roger MacBride Allen -- starts with The Depths of Time. DYNAMITE. Great choice for school libraries, too -- high school esp., but perhaps even middle school. Space Opera in the grand tradition.] Is that really an unusual approach, to want to be enabled to zero in on particular interests? Don't the labels/subject segmentation help, not hurt? Ken -------------------------------------------------------------- Kenneth W. Umbach, Ph.D. Research-Writing-Editing-Consulting Ken@umbachconsulting.com=3D20 http://www.umbachconsulting.com=3D20 6966 Sunrise Blvd., #263 Citrus Heights, CA 95610 916-733-2159 -- voice Also see my http://www.capitolweasel.com=3D20 -------------------------------------------------------------- =3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D= 3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D=3D -=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-= =3D3D=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D- All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu=3D20 In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/=3D20 Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/=3D20 EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/=3D20 LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html=3D20 =3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D= 3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D=3D -=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D--=3D3D-= =3D3D-=3D3D-=3D3D- Carol Simpson, Ed.D. Asst. Professor - School of Library & Information Sciences University of North Texas PO Box 311068 205 Chestnut, ISB #205 Denton, TX 76203 940-565-3776 (voice) 940-565-3101 (fax) csimpson@lis.admin.unt.edu =3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D= -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D=3D-=3D-=3D- All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. 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