Libraries and Librarians
A Listicle
January 20, 2024, Vol. 2, Issue 3
Cite as: Coleman, Anita S. (2023, December 23). Libraries and Librarians: A Listicle. Infophilia, a positive psychology of information, 2 (3).
Welcome to Infophilia, a weekly newsletter about the human love of information and connections. This is one of the places where I'm passionately pioneering the foundations of a dynamic positive psychology of information—an avant-garde research pursuit! I’m glad to have you here. As always, thank you for reading.
If this is your first time, here’s a link to writings since Sept. 2023: An Infophilia Roundup: Plus Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's 'Decolonising the Mind' and 'The Perfect Nine'.
Weekly essays have been ~2,000 words each with Notes that are sometimes longer than the essay - that’s how much I love research writing! Today, I take you on a very different journey as I present a library-themed listicle (~650 words) tailored to readers across diverse fields, spanning architecture, business, computers, health, history, the military, and beyond. Whether you find yourself in slow or fast-paced environments, inside or outside the library realm, this list offers delightful discoveries. Whether you're seeking a leisurely pace for relaxing information consumption or aiming for deep learning experiences that challenge and inspire, there's something here for everyone to explore. Enjoy!
1. Libraries and Librarians in the News. The New York Times has 4,894 stories about libraries and librarians in its online archive. The earliest story is from Aug. 1860, The Woman’s Library. The most recent one is Jan. 15, 2024, about the British Library Back Online (after its cyberattack last year). There’s already five stories this year and it is simply great to see the increased and meaningful coverage of libraries and librarians! You need a subscription to read them but the subject browse is free and available here.
2. Fictional Librarians. I love LitHub and it turns out they love librarians! There’s an excellent list of pop culture’s 50 Fictional Librarians, Ranked. You won’t find librarians created after 2019 and the list covers film, literature, television, and the internet, only. The list and the reader comments are a treat.
3. Presidential Libraries. Presidential Libraries are a big deal. Initially, like many others, I too was disappointed when I first heard that President Obama had decided to break with the tradition of a physical library and no research library either but I understood. He has a digital library and a Presidential Center. The whole thing is explained in LitHub. Visit the Obama Presidential Library. The complete list of Presidential Libraries is here.
4. Destination Libraries (Library Buildings). There are many stunning destination libraries and one of the more unusual ones is on the ancient Timbuktu caravan route: Libraries of Chiguetti (Mauritania). The striking Community Bookshelf in Kansas City may be just a façade for the garage of the Central Library, but don’t you love the look and the apt name? One of the newest libraries opened in Dubai in 2022 and is spectacular in the shape of an open book. Dubai is an unbelievable city as well!
5. Some Public Libraries Let You Borrow Video Games too! Gaming on a budget? Try your local library. Article is in Wired Magazine, usually no subscription is required to read. The Video Game Library is a one stop resource on books about games.
6. Some Libraries know the Flag Code. Ohio County Public Library Gets Commendation for flying the American Flag properly. There is a flag code and the video in the link explains that! I included this because I am currently reading a book and wanted to sneak that in: Matthew J. Clavin, Symbols of freedom: slavery and resistance before the Civil War. NYU Press, 2023. Clavin’s study of early nationalism and patriotism on the part of the free and the enslaved is timely for election year 2024. Clavin explains the role of symbols in national identity. The American Flag is a cultural symbol of our national values like freedom, and our nation’s hopes. The stars and stripes have historical significance, representing the original thirteen colonies that declared independence from Great Britain and the subsequent states that joined the Union. They symbolize the unity of the diverse states and territories that make up the United States. The flag is a visual presentation of national identity. It makes sense that the flag would be claimed by free people in early US history. But it turns out, that the American flag was also used by the enslaved and their abolitionist allies to represent and bolster their cause! Clavin’s stories are striking and unforgettable. Goodreads Community Reviews for the book are here.
This has been a whirlwind exploration through libraries, flags, commendations, and we've traveled across different landscapes. Now, it’s time to set our sights on the horizon of our next inquiry. Next week I’ll share the plurality of cultures and their impact on occupational identity formation. In particular, the worlds of information culture and knowledge culture. Libraries help people encounter culture. Librarians have many cultures. Just as libraries hold worlds, our quest for understanding infophilia is extensive as well. Until next week, stay curious and keep exploring!
Notes
Listicles were a big part of the Internet and information cultures that emerged more than a decade ago.