I know that there are some denominations of Christians who believe that
nothing should ever be set on top of a bible. It would be difficult to
avoid disturbing the sensitivities of these people in a library by never
allowing a bible to be at the middle or bottom of a stack of books being
carried to a shelf, or in a book return. I am sure there are many more
"rules" out there among various religions as to the handling of their
scriptures. I could see where this could really open a can of worms.
Lauri Cahoon-Draus
Suring School Libraries PK-12
Suring WI
Home: jlacd5@ez-net.com
---------- Original Message ----------
From: Carol Savage <c.savage@CMS.K12.NC.US>
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Cc:
Subject: Re: Unique situation / classifying the 200's
Date: 04/28/05 06:48 pm
---------------------------------------
Ann Marie's comment about the location of religious tales is certainly
true. I always use the Jataka tale of "Little Rabbit's Big Mistake" to
introduce the 200's to second graders. They notice that the story is a
lot like Chicken Little. I don't know what message that's sending and I
wonder how many of our folk tales are based on stories from other
religions. Another time, the third grade students were looking up folk
tales to tell. One of our Indian (country in Asia) students showed a book
to a classmate of the same heritage. He pointed out that the stories were
about his "god." The book was in 398.2. Is it the system or the
catalogers?
I may be accused of heresy, but a Methodist minister and storyteller once
told me that to other religions our Bible stories are like folk tales.
Carol
Carol Savage, NBCT
Library Media Specialist
Hawk Ridge Elementary School
Charlotte, NC
c.savage@cms.k12.nc.us
----- Original Message -----
From: Ann Marie Gordon <agordon@LIVONIACSD.ORG>
Date: Thursday, April 28, 2005 4:08 pm
Subject: Re: [LM_NET] Unique situation / classifying the 200's
> An interesting point. It wasn't until very recently that I even
> noticed(because of my own religious upbringing, I'm sure) the way
> that some
> materials are classed as religion, and some as folklore. For example,
> when I checked the online catalog of my county public library, I found
> that all library branches have cataloged the parables of Jesus in 226.
> The Jataka tales of Buddha, though, are sometimes found in the 200's,
> but far more often are classed in 398: folktales. From a young
> child'spoint of view, finding a book about Buddha next to
> Cinderella may
> suggest something about its content.
>
> I certainly am not advocating that we all re-classify all the
> 398's and
> 200's based on any one culture's view of "the ultimate truth",
> only that
> we think about how our own beliefs affect the way we work, in ways we
> may not even aware of.
>
> I've always found it beautiful, that books on Judaism, Islam,
> Christianity, and all world religions, reside so compaionably together
> in the 200's. If only the real world could be more like that!
>
>
>
>
> Anne-Marie Gordon, Librarian
> Livonia Primary School
> Livonia, NY
> agordon@livoniacsd.org
> http://www.livoniacsd.org/primaryschool/gordon/index.htm
> >>> Kristina Fallon <yasumani@AOL.COM> 04/28/05 10:14 AM >>>
> What's interesting to me about this whole discussion is the fact that
> Dewey himself made it very clear of his own bias on world religion by
> reserving virtually the entire 200's to Christianity and various
> aspectsof it and left only the 290's for everything else. Don't
> shoot me but I
> think this should change.
>
> Kristina Fallon, librarian
> Robert Morris School
> South Bound Brook NJ
> yasumani@aol.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Linda Lucke <llucke@D70.K12.IL.US>
> To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> Sent: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 08:11:57 -0500
> Subject: Re: Unique situation
>
>
> Shonda,
> I find this a very interesting question, and would love to
> know how
> the
> opinions fall out. I'm afraid I would weigh in on the side of leaving
> your
> collection as it is, largely because the implications go far
> beyond your
> particular library. I am sure the Koran is placed in many libraries,
> and I
> cannot believe all of them arrange special placement for it.
> Also, what
> of
> other books of other religions? I would imagine many have
> traditions or
> beliefs that are similar. Are libraries to start making
> exceptions in
> shelving for all of them? In the end, I think the Koran is in your
> library,
> and most other libraries, as a book, rather than an object of
> religiousveneration. If it is there as a book, I think it must be
> treated as a
> book,
> like other books. All books in the library should, and I think are,
> treated
> with equal respect. If the Koroan is, in and of itself, too
> sacred to
> be
> treated as book, then perhaps it shouldn't be in the library, in the
> same
> way that other religious icons are not in libraries, but are in
> churches.
> Just some preliminary thoughts on the issue. Again, I would be
> interested
> in other opinions. Good luck,
>
> Linda
> Lucke
> Linda Lucke
> Learning Center Director
> Butterfield School
> Libertyville, IL
> LLucke@d70.k12.il.us
> Happy are those who have learned to laugh at themselves, for they
> shallnever lack for amusement!
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brisco, Shonda" <briscos@TRINITYVALLEYSCHOOL.ORG>
> To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 3:20 PM
> Subject: [LM_NET] Unique situation
>
>
> I just had a student who came into the library and wanted to let
> me know
> that our copy of the Koran (297.1) was located on the lowest shelf of
> bookcases near his feet. In his religious experience (he tells me
> that)the Koran should not be at the ground level or near the feet....
>
> The section which begins at the shelving top level with the
> 292's....ends 6 shelves later at the bottom row with the
> 297s...that is
> where the Koran is located, as it just happens.
>
> Although I can adjust shelving and move books to accomodate the
> student,this is the first time that I have been asked to move an
> entire section
> in order to make a religious book fit the "teachings" of its
> followers /
> readers. While I see his point, I also tried to explain that the
> library isn't arranged according to a specific religious doctrine
> (and I
> won't go into those who worship cataloging and Dewey), but that it was
> arranged according to the DDC--and it just happens that this
> book's call
> number ends with a number which happens to end at the lowest
> shelf--which is ground level. I also tried to explain that within the
> library, we try to remain neutral in all areas and provide the
> studentsand teachers with the information they need, but that our
> classificationand arrangement within the library isn't something
> that we can modify
> for one or two items---unless we have a special display
> case....which we
> don't.
>
> I'm not sure that this will become an issue...but wanted to see what
> others thought. I'm not adjusting shelves yet, but if (or when) the
> time comes, it might be nice to offer additional justification for why
> we are remaining "neutral" on this type of issue rather than
observing
> the requirements for the followers of this religion and moving an
> entireshelf of books to allow this book to "rise" above the ground
> floor level
> of others with the same call number. I am certainly open to ideas and
> understand what he is asking, but this is rather unique and
> possibly a
> politically / religiously correct issue that might become nasty if
> somebelieve that I am discriminating...which I'm not...
>
> Ideas, comments, solutions...?
>
> ~Shonda Brisco
> Trinity Valley MS / US Librarian
> Fort Worth, TX
> briscos@trinityvalleyschool.org
>
>
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