The Process Continues!

Oct. 3

“Boys are Reading, but their Choices are not Valued by Teachers and Librarians”

Evidence Based Library and Information Practice

This article had some interesting information about a study done that surveyed boys and their reading collections. The study found that boys often read video game manuals and other materials (computer magazines, comic books, graphic novels, etc.), but these are not valued in society or even by the boys themselves as “real” reading material. The conclusion of the study is that “By keeping what boys are actually reading in mind when it comes to collection development and library programming, children’s librarians can ‘play a central role in legitimizing the reading practices of boys’ (66)”  (47-48).

Oct. 12

I am realizing after reading this previously mentioned study that one of the biggest questions or hypotheses I have is about how people understand the purpose of libraries. What should a library be? Should libraries have collections that include “entertainment” or “unreal” material like video game manuals or video games themselves? Should libraries, specifically public libraries hold materials that both entertain and educate? Ever since libraries began lending books that people deemed to be too entertainment based (fiction!), this question has arisen – what role should the library play in its community?

What is the best way for me to discover whether video games would be right for Newton Free Library?

First I think that it would be good to find out what the community thinks! A survey would be one way to find this out. And who would I survey? Should I simply survey young adults because it seems as though the specific reason for getting video games would be to encourage this demographic to use the library? Or should this be given to a wider/broader group of individuals. Perhaps giving a survey to the entire community on their opinion about the matter would be more fruitful, but then also conducting some interviews with young adults to discover how they think about the issue. One group specifically that I had in mind is the Newton Youth Board for the Library (NYBL). NYBL is quote, “an advisory group made up of teens interested in contributing ideas and having a voice about teen programs, teen book collections, and YA services. Basically it’s you telling us how best to serve you.” (http://newtonya.wordpress.com/join-nybl/)

Note: NYBL meets once a month from 5-6 in the Trustees’ Room. Next meeting is Oct. 21, 2010 (then Nov. 18, Dec. 16). Maybe I could attend or this could be a possible good forum for conducting a group interview.

Evidence based practice also seems like a really good angle for me. I think that articles like this one (about the boys’ thinking about their own reading) could really help to develop my own theory or hypotheses about our library collection. Looking at previous studies, theories, and hypotheses out there could really reinforce the hypothesis that I am arriving at that adding video games into the Newton YA collection would better serve the YA community. Though I am not sure whether this is the case, this is a presumption I am going off of and trying to be very open-minded about the way I approach finding out more about this idea. I realize that I am definitely conducting a flexible design and hope for my hypothesis to change/shift as I get further along into this.