Before you start gathering your pitchforks to protest the title, hear me out (and forgive the deviation from my normal topics).
I was recently introduced to a very interesting article through a professional mailing list I subscribe to. The article, written by Junot Diaz, is titled "Apocalypse: What Disasters Reveal" and appeared in the May/June 2011 Boston Review. Diaz's exploration of the meaning of apocalypse and what an apocalypse is was particularly intriguing to me. Drawing from James Berger, he explained that there are three types of apocalypses, yet all three types have one common thread: "it must be revelatory" (para. 3).
The idea of an apocalypse as a revelation, while perhaps not a new idea in general, was a revelation in itself to me. Continuing this train of thought, it makes sense then to find the Catholic/Christian description of the Apocalypse (read: end of the world as we know it) to be contained in the last part of the Bible, the book of Revelations. I started to examine the world at large with this new perspective, and I think it is indeed time for an apocalypse.
The point of Diaz's article was that an apocalypse can reveal inherent social and socio-economic problems, which close examination and reflection show were indirect or direct causes of the apocalypse. He concentrates on the earthquake at Haiti to illustrate the facets of his discussion, and the more I read, the more the article made me think (which all good articles do).
We're coming up on 2012, a year that has gained infamy due, in part, to the Mayan calendar that mysteriously stops at December 21, 2012 (I personally think they just ran out of room to include more days). Many people in many professions from astronomy to archeology theorize what the end of the calendar means, what will happen on that day, and what those events will mean for us. A movie came out recently depicting the Hollywood version of what will happen during this year. I don't think that world-wide catastrophe is in our future, but I really hope we have an apocalypse of the third kind, "a disruptive event that provokes revelation" (Diaz, 2011, para. 3). Look around at our society, our world. We need it, otherwise I worry that things won't change--or they'll get worse.
I've posted before about the great (drastic) changes that are happening around the world. Natural disasters, economic and social turmoil, political division, and revolution seem to be happening with greater frequency. The attitude of our society, and perhaps the global society to some extent, has become very "me-orientated" with a strong sense of entitlement (I deserve to have this, no matter the cost). I think part of this is due to our survival instinct kicking in because our livelihood is threatened and we revert to an every-man-for-himself strategy. But as I see problems in some areas worsening and many others so slow to recover, I can't help but think that we all need an attitude adjustment. We need a strategy to promote cohesiveness and compromise because I truly believe that we're only going to successfully get through our current and future troubles as one.
So we need that apocalypse to give us a revelation to help shift our attitudes and give us perspective. We need a jolt to our system to see our way clear through to the other side. Regardless of whether the doomsday predictions are true, 2012 will be a year of change--which we must be prepared to meet.
Diaz, J. (2011). Apocalypse: What disasters reveal. Boston Review, May/June. Retrieved from http://bostonreview.net/BR36.3/junot_diaz_apocalypse_haiti_earthquake.php
Showing posts with label world events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label world events. Show all posts
Friday, December 23, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Libraries are growing out of the box
We are living in interesting times. Global stability is not a reality but a dream (and perhaps for some a goal). The worldwide economy is currently in upheaval, from our own recession (funny how they won't use the D-word and yet we're seeing some of the worst unemployment rates and economic outlooks since the 1930s) to the financial crisis in Greece. People in other nations are forming their own revolutions against their leaders; Egypt and Libya did it, who's next? Protest seems to be the buzzword of the day, and even here in the US we have no end in sight for dedicated groups of people participating in the Occupy Wall Street movement. Take a moment and think about this: we're all right now in the middle of history. Each one of these events will be making it into history books and will almost certainly be discussed and theorized about; students will be writing papers about these events. And we're living it.
Libraries, in their own way, are also going through revolutionary changes. Even before some of the more recent economic and political struggles, libraries were evolving. Technology can take some (a lot) of the credit for that. Our libraries have had to change and adapt to match their communities' needs, and so many of the "traditional" ideas about libraries have been turned upside-down. For decades, libraries were seen as a place that houses books, and librarians were the gatekeepers (perhaps "guards" better describes the public attitude). Now, more and more libraries have drawn away from the idea that they are a house of books and now try to promote the idea that they are a haven of information. And that information takes any and all forms: books, DVDs, CDs, websites, classes and workshops, story times, game nights, job seeking support, and on and on. Libraries are growing out of the box they had been in for some time, and the rate of change seems to be increasing, not slowing down. Librarians now wear more hats then ever: researcher, guide, tech savant, entertainer, social worker (often not by choice), decoder, event coordinator, career advisor, detective, and any other position needed to provide their patrons with needed information or services.
The Occupy Wall Street libraries that have cropped up seem to be "breaking the rules" even more drastically. Instead of having a building that patrons must go to in order to access the physical materials, the libraries have gone to the people. At Zuccotti Park, books are stored in bins at the OWS camp's People's Library. They are cataloged--a nod to a traditional part of the life of a book in the library--but its circulation system is one that would likely make many library administrators shudder. There is no formal system policing the taking and returning of books. Anyone can come by and take a book if they want it, and they can keep it as long as they like, returning it only when they're done (or not at all). The catalog, then, is not the accurate listing of materials in the library that its counterpart in brick-and-mortar libraries is. Rather, it's a record of what has passed through the OWS library. To those long used to the "normal" way libraries are run, this kind of library (and it is a library in truth) is drastically different, maybe even alarmingly so. For more information about the People's Library, you can check their blog.
On another note, Scooter and I have continued to try recipes from the slow cooker cookbook I mentioned in my last post. This last Sunday, we made the slow cooker risotto recipe. Now, I love risotto, and I was a little unsure about how good this recipe would taste. I was pleasantly surprised. It was easier than my favorite recipe, and it still delivered a good flavor and texture. Scooter and I, as always, changed some of it, so here's our recipe:
What you'll need:
1/4 c. olive oil
4 shallots, minced
1/2 c. white wine (we used a Riesling)
1 1/4 c. Arborio rice
3 14.5-oz. cans chicken broth
1/2 c. grated Romano cheese
salt to taste
What you'll need to do:
1. In a skillet (cast iron preferred), heat the oil over medium heat. Add the shallots and saute until softened. You don't want to brown them, so if they are cooking too fast, turn down the heat a little.
2. Add the wine and cook 1-2 minutes, allowing the liquid to cook down a bit. Add the rice and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often. Don't brown the rice.
3. Remove from heat and scrape the rice mixture into the slow-cooker. Add the broth and salt, then set to HIGH. Cook for 2 hours until the broth and wine have been absorbed by the rice. The rice should be moist, not dry.
4. Turn off the heat or put on KEEP WARM and add the grated Romano cheese. Stir it in completely and serve.
We fried up some chicken in the skillet and had the risotto with it (yum!). The shallots have a mild flavor, so if you like the flavor of onions, I would recommend substituting the shallots with either yellow or red onion. Also, you want the Arborio rice or another thick-grain rice for this recipe; something like a basmati rice is too thin and won't hold up. The original recipe calls for Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, but I like a stronger flavor, so we opted for the Romano. One great thing about risotto is that you can add other ingredients along with the basics. I like mine with mushrooms too. However, since this recipe uses a slow cooker, you may have to experiment a little since not everything can keep its texture and flavor in a slow cooker.
Enjoy!
Libraries, in their own way, are also going through revolutionary changes. Even before some of the more recent economic and political struggles, libraries were evolving. Technology can take some (a lot) of the credit for that. Our libraries have had to change and adapt to match their communities' needs, and so many of the "traditional" ideas about libraries have been turned upside-down. For decades, libraries were seen as a place that houses books, and librarians were the gatekeepers (perhaps "guards" better describes the public attitude). Now, more and more libraries have drawn away from the idea that they are a house of books and now try to promote the idea that they are a haven of information. And that information takes any and all forms: books, DVDs, CDs, websites, classes and workshops, story times, game nights, job seeking support, and on and on. Libraries are growing out of the box they had been in for some time, and the rate of change seems to be increasing, not slowing down. Librarians now wear more hats then ever: researcher, guide, tech savant, entertainer, social worker (often not by choice), decoder, event coordinator, career advisor, detective, and any other position needed to provide their patrons with needed information or services.
The Occupy Wall Street libraries that have cropped up seem to be "breaking the rules" even more drastically. Instead of having a building that patrons must go to in order to access the physical materials, the libraries have gone to the people. At Zuccotti Park, books are stored in bins at the OWS camp's People's Library. They are cataloged--a nod to a traditional part of the life of a book in the library--but its circulation system is one that would likely make many library administrators shudder. There is no formal system policing the taking and returning of books. Anyone can come by and take a book if they want it, and they can keep it as long as they like, returning it only when they're done (or not at all). The catalog, then, is not the accurate listing of materials in the library that its counterpart in brick-and-mortar libraries is. Rather, it's a record of what has passed through the OWS library. To those long used to the "normal" way libraries are run, this kind of library (and it is a library in truth) is drastically different, maybe even alarmingly so. For more information about the People's Library, you can check their blog.
On another note, Scooter and I have continued to try recipes from the slow cooker cookbook I mentioned in my last post. This last Sunday, we made the slow cooker risotto recipe. Now, I love risotto, and I was a little unsure about how good this recipe would taste. I was pleasantly surprised. It was easier than my favorite recipe, and it still delivered a good flavor and texture. Scooter and I, as always, changed some of it, so here's our recipe:
What you'll need:
1/4 c. olive oil
4 shallots, minced
1/2 c. white wine (we used a Riesling)
1 1/4 c. Arborio rice
3 14.5-oz. cans chicken broth
1/2 c. grated Romano cheese
salt to taste
What you'll need to do:
1. In a skillet (cast iron preferred), heat the oil over medium heat. Add the shallots and saute until softened. You don't want to brown them, so if they are cooking too fast, turn down the heat a little.
2. Add the wine and cook 1-2 minutes, allowing the liquid to cook down a bit. Add the rice and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often. Don't brown the rice.
3. Remove from heat and scrape the rice mixture into the slow-cooker. Add the broth and salt, then set to HIGH. Cook for 2 hours until the broth and wine have been absorbed by the rice. The rice should be moist, not dry.
4. Turn off the heat or put on KEEP WARM and add the grated Romano cheese. Stir it in completely and serve.
We fried up some chicken in the skillet and had the risotto with it (yum!). The shallots have a mild flavor, so if you like the flavor of onions, I would recommend substituting the shallots with either yellow or red onion. Also, you want the Arborio rice or another thick-grain rice for this recipe; something like a basmati rice is too thin and won't hold up. The original recipe calls for Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, but I like a stronger flavor, so we opted for the Romano. One great thing about risotto is that you can add other ingredients along with the basics. I like mine with mushrooms too. However, since this recipe uses a slow cooker, you may have to experiment a little since not everything can keep its texture and flavor in a slow cooker.
Enjoy!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Libraries and World Events
The world is moving.
It is being shaken by protests and people crying out and voicing their needs/wants/demands for betterment and acknowledgement of their rights. We all watched in awe as, day after day, the people in Egypt went to the streets and demanded change in their country, change to make their lives better. I was amazed at the dedication and responsibility that the protestors exhibited. Far from being a mindless mass, these people had a purpose and took steps towards reaching their goal. They remained mindful of the situation, creating checkpoints to deter those with violent intentions, because nothing causes more havoc in a crowd than an armed assailant shooting at anyone nearby. They impressed me, these people that showed an uncanny sense of duty to their fellow citizens. Things there could have been so much worse than they were. And in the end, the people got what they wanted: their president is president no more. (A perspective of the protests from Bibliotheca Alexandrina Director can be seen here.) Now the people in the neighboring countries are looking at this model of human achievement and thinking that maybe things could be different for them too.
An earthquake has razed the town of Christchurch in New Zealand. For this, the earth has literally moved. Buildings are down, people are dead or still missing, and the town has suffered billions of dollars in damage. Growing up where I did, earthquakes are a fact of life; but that doesn't lessen the impact that this natural disaster has on the community where it occurs. It's always a trajedy. It is in Christchurch; it was in Haiti and Chile too.
Even here in the US, there is unrest. Wisconsin especially is a current mover and shaker. The governor is trying to ban collective bargaining rights. This situation is troubling at best; mostly it has me scratching my head wondering "is that even legal?" What I find remarkable is the overwhelming support the opposers of this bill have received, from every thinkable source. Fire fighters, police, university students, teachers, nurses, electrical engineers, sheet metal workers, iron workers--public sector, private sector, people from all walks of life are joining together to show Governor Walker that he needs to re-think his bill. (One article on the protests can be found here.)
I'm sure you're thinking "what does this have to do with the topic of your blog?" Most people wouldn't think that these three world events have a common thread, but they do: libraries.
Remember those protests in Egypt? Well, Cairo is the city where the Alexandria Library (Bibliotheca Alexandrina) is located. There are thousands of items in there that, if destroyed, would be a great loss. Not only are those items still safe even through the protests, but many of the protestors themselves were barring the way with a human chain around the library. Throughout this time of unrest, the library sustained not one fingernail's worth of damage (for more, you can read this article). A library by its very nature is a symbol of democracy; the information it holds is available to any who want it. The Alexandria Library embodies democracy both in this way and its symbolic role in the protests.
Unfortunately, not all libraries in Egypt were so well protected. An article in American Libraries Magazine highlights the damage two libraries sustained in Egypt during the protests. Books, computer equipment, and even furniture were stolen from one library before it was set on fire. Over 19,000 books were lost. The day after this attack, locals helped to save 13,000 books by moving them into their homes. The other library was also looted and lost 1,200 books and some equipment. Luckily, police, local residents, and security officers were able to prevent the building from being burned.
As for Christchurch, there are several libraries in the city that have sustained damage along with the rest of the buildings. This article looks at the damage sustained and people's experiences in buildings across the city, including the library. The Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa posted a blog entry about the effects of the earthquake to the various libraries in Christchurch. As with damage to any library that houses not only contemporary books and sources but also historic items, these libraries and the cultures of this community have felt a great loss.
The Wisconsin protests also have connections to libraries. The most obvious reason is because many librarians are union workers. While I fully admit that unions do have some flaws, I do not think that eliminating bargaining rights is the answer. The whole purpose behind bargaining rights is to attain fair wages and working conditions for workers. The ALA headquarters is in Chicago, only a hop, skip, and a jump away from where this legislation is being proposed. ALA President Roberta Stevens issued a statement regarding the issue stating that "the ALA supports library employees in seeking equitable compensation and recognizes the principle of collective bargaining as an important element of successful labor-management relations. We affirm the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively with their employers, without fear of reprisal. These are basic workers' rights that we defend for thousands of academic, public and school library professionals." A post on the Union Librarian blog says that employees from the Library of Congress have joined a rally in Washington DC--it seems that union rallies are popping up all over the country to address this issue and protest Governor Walker's proposed legislation (here's a list of nation-wide locations of rallies).
Whoever thought that libraries merely witness history in the making have gotten the story wrong. When the world moves, the libraries move with it.
It is being shaken by protests and people crying out and voicing their needs/wants/demands for betterment and acknowledgement of their rights. We all watched in awe as, day after day, the people in Egypt went to the streets and demanded change in their country, change to make their lives better. I was amazed at the dedication and responsibility that the protestors exhibited. Far from being a mindless mass, these people had a purpose and took steps towards reaching their goal. They remained mindful of the situation, creating checkpoints to deter those with violent intentions, because nothing causes more havoc in a crowd than an armed assailant shooting at anyone nearby. They impressed me, these people that showed an uncanny sense of duty to their fellow citizens. Things there could have been so much worse than they were. And in the end, the people got what they wanted: their president is president no more. (A perspective of the protests from Bibliotheca Alexandrina Director can be seen here.) Now the people in the neighboring countries are looking at this model of human achievement and thinking that maybe things could be different for them too.
An earthquake has razed the town of Christchurch in New Zealand. For this, the earth has literally moved. Buildings are down, people are dead or still missing, and the town has suffered billions of dollars in damage. Growing up where I did, earthquakes are a fact of life; but that doesn't lessen the impact that this natural disaster has on the community where it occurs. It's always a trajedy. It is in Christchurch; it was in Haiti and Chile too.
Even here in the US, there is unrest. Wisconsin especially is a current mover and shaker. The governor is trying to ban collective bargaining rights. This situation is troubling at best; mostly it has me scratching my head wondering "is that even legal?" What I find remarkable is the overwhelming support the opposers of this bill have received, from every thinkable source. Fire fighters, police, university students, teachers, nurses, electrical engineers, sheet metal workers, iron workers--public sector, private sector, people from all walks of life are joining together to show Governor Walker that he needs to re-think his bill. (One article on the protests can be found here.)
I'm sure you're thinking "what does this have to do with the topic of your blog?" Most people wouldn't think that these three world events have a common thread, but they do: libraries.
Remember those protests in Egypt? Well, Cairo is the city where the Alexandria Library (Bibliotheca Alexandrina) is located. There are thousands of items in there that, if destroyed, would be a great loss. Not only are those items still safe even through the protests, but many of the protestors themselves were barring the way with a human chain around the library. Throughout this time of unrest, the library sustained not one fingernail's worth of damage (for more, you can read this article). A library by its very nature is a symbol of democracy; the information it holds is available to any who want it. The Alexandria Library embodies democracy both in this way and its symbolic role in the protests.
Unfortunately, not all libraries in Egypt were so well protected. An article in American Libraries Magazine highlights the damage two libraries sustained in Egypt during the protests. Books, computer equipment, and even furniture were stolen from one library before it was set on fire. Over 19,000 books were lost. The day after this attack, locals helped to save 13,000 books by moving them into their homes. The other library was also looted and lost 1,200 books and some equipment. Luckily, police, local residents, and security officers were able to prevent the building from being burned.
As for Christchurch, there are several libraries in the city that have sustained damage along with the rest of the buildings. This article looks at the damage sustained and people's experiences in buildings across the city, including the library. The Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa posted a blog entry about the effects of the earthquake to the various libraries in Christchurch. As with damage to any library that houses not only contemporary books and sources but also historic items, these libraries and the cultures of this community have felt a great loss.
The Wisconsin protests also have connections to libraries. The most obvious reason is because many librarians are union workers. While I fully admit that unions do have some flaws, I do not think that eliminating bargaining rights is the answer. The whole purpose behind bargaining rights is to attain fair wages and working conditions for workers. The ALA headquarters is in Chicago, only a hop, skip, and a jump away from where this legislation is being proposed. ALA President Roberta Stevens issued a statement regarding the issue stating that "the ALA supports library employees in seeking equitable compensation and recognizes the principle of collective bargaining as an important element of successful labor-management relations. We affirm the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively with their employers, without fear of reprisal. These are basic workers' rights that we defend for thousands of academic, public and school library professionals." A post on the Union Librarian blog says that employees from the Library of Congress have joined a rally in Washington DC--it seems that union rallies are popping up all over the country to address this issue and protest Governor Walker's proposed legislation (here's a list of nation-wide locations of rallies).
Whoever thought that libraries merely witness history in the making have gotten the story wrong. When the world moves, the libraries move with it.
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