Uncensored Librarians: Brave New World

College is a time for new experiences, new understandings and new perspectives. During my own post-secondary education, I encountered Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, and it opened my eyes to a whole world of dystopian images and repressive social control systems. The class was 20th Century English and American Lit., and my young, impressionable mind had already been bombarded with offensive language and insensitivity, so I was ready for anything.

Huxley began his most notable title with a tour of the "Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Center"--a thirty-four story factory specializing in the creation, incubation and modification of human beings. Chemically engineered and divided into five castes based on their intelligence and physical growth, these human beings make up the majority of the world's more efficient population. This doesn't sound like too far of a stretch from the purposes of the Human Genone Project of the 90s. It's interesting how sometimes an author's imagining of how certain aspects of current society will affect the future is spot on.

Ranked #16 on the American Library Association's list of most challenged books, Brave New World is most often cited for offensive language, insensitivity, racism and for being sexually explicit. That's not too surprising, considering recreational sex is an integral part of the novel's society, encouraged by The World State as a social activity rather than a means of reproduction. Contraception is conditioned, individuality is abhorred, and citizens are controlled by pleasure. It's probably for these reasons that the novel found itself at the top of the list of the most challenged books even as recent as last year.

Reading Brave New World as a twenty year old college student, though, I was more fascinated with the imagination that Huxley presented in the novel. Even then, I understood there was something we could learn from the story--something more than what the challengers of the book fear.

William - Reference

Uncensored Librarians: Anaïs Nin

“How wrong is it for a woman to expect the man to build the world she wants, rather than to create it herself?” - Anaïs Nin

Although on the surface they might just look like naughty little stories, Anaïs Nin's Delta of Venus and Little Birds represent a breakthrough for women's lib and a reclamation of female sexual identity. While still often considered a serious taboo in American culture, Eros -- sensuality, erotic love -- is an integral facet of the human experience, and I believe that we risk losing a core piece of ourselves when we begin challenging and suppressing these voices.

Nin, a French-Cuban author who lived in Paris during most of the 1940s, is hailed by critics as one of the first women to explore fully the realm of erotic writing; before her, erotica written by women was rare, with a few notable exceptions. The story goes that an anonymous patron paid Nin and her friend Henry Miller $1 per page to write erotic vignettes, and that the pair continued writing the stories as a little joke. Whatever the true genesis of Delta of Venus and Little Birds, the income sustained one of the most mysterious, sensual, and feminine voices of the 20th century.

What I admire most about Anaïs Nin as a writer, and these two volumes in particular, is that she had the courage to challenge a masculine construction of the female experience and instead offer something wholly female. She believed in sharing her own unique voice, and then used that authorial voice to create a world all her own. Fearlessly, Nin plunged the depths of an American taboo, staying true to her view that "The role of a writer is not to say what we can all say, but what we are unable to say."

Rachel - Programs

Delta of Venus and Little Birds are not currently in our catalog, but if you'd like to check them out, you can request them through interlibrary loan by clicking here.

In our holdings:  Anaïs Nin

Parked In Front Of The TV

Do you know what I hate?  Trees.  Who do they think they are?  Just standing there, all haughty and obtrusive, housing all manner of vermin and shamelessly littering the landscape with reproductive droppings and spent leaves.  To top it off, they're the cause of 100% of forest fires. 

And do you know what else I can’t stand?  Slides.  What’s the point of climbing a flight of stairs just to zip back down?  It is idiotic behavior and an irresponsible allocation of time.   What kind of message is that to send to the children?  As a taxpayer, I’m aghast that we fund either of these boondoggles.

Of course those are ridiculous assertions, but I’m preparing my opening salvo in case our Parks and Rec department takes any cues from the show that bares the same name.   If you don’t watch the series, NBC’s Parks and Recreation goes out of its way to malign the noble profession of librarianship.   For instance, here’s a quote from the show made by the Parks department’s deputy director Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler):  “The library is the worst group of people ever assembled in history. They're mean, conniving, rude, and extremely well-read, which makes them dangerous.”  This running gag depicts Pawnee, Indiana’s library as the darling of public institutions, and it is the contention of the Parks department that the esteem is hugely undeserved.  Here’s another gem:  “Pawnee's library department is the most diabolical, ruthless bunch of bureaucrats I've ever seen. They're like a biker gang. But instead of shotguns and crystal meth, they use political savvy... and shushing.”

Aside from slandering libraries, the show is pretty outstanding.  It is shot in the same mockumentary-style as The Office and on first blush has the feel of a spinoff (which in some ways it is, as the show’s creators had both been writers for The Office).  But it is really more of a scrappy younger cousin.  The series centers on the earnest and optimistic-to-a-fault deputy director, Leslie, who deeply believes in the power of public service.  She is balanced by her libertarian boss, Ron, who only works in government to undermine it.  The supporting cast is phenomenal, including hilarious young comedians like Aziz Ansari and Aubrey Plaza.  Parks and Recreation just started its fourth season this week - a middle-aged milestone for a sitcom - and should be hitting peak funniness any time now.  I’d suggest tuning in.  And if you need to play catch-up, we have the first three seasons here at your diabolical library.

Ransom - Reference

A brand-new Shel Silverstein book!

Wait a minute--didn't he leave us some time ago?  Not to fear.  His family selected from his archives & Everything On It: Poems & Drawings by Shel Silverstein, was released just last week, on Sept. 20, 2011.  This poetry collection includes more than one hundred and thirty never-before-seen poems and drawings. The second original book published since Silverstein's passing in 1999 (Runny Babbit was completed prior to the poet's death in 1999, and published in 2005), this collection follows the tradition and format of his previous poetry classics.

Now a new generation of readers & listeners will be encouraged to dream & imagine the impossible--where does a sidewalk end?  And a previous generation can share the poetry & characters of memorable delight.  This book does not disappoint--the cover format even continues the tradition--and carries on the magic that still is Shel Silverstein.  If you have all the other titles in your collection, you will want this one as well, imho.

Cecilia - Tech Services

Take Charge and CHANGE 5!

What will the new Library’s energy story be? In the final event of the Library's Take Charge Challenge series, architects for the Library renovation project will unveil design updates and images, and talk about ways the project will incorporate environmentally friendly energy upgrades. Mayor Cromwell will make a guest appearance too!

Also, today the City of Lawrence is launching the #CHANGE5 campaign which asks every single resident of Lawrence, students included, to change just 5 more bulbs in your home to CFLs, and then register them here. It’s one of the ways for us to win the $100,000 energy efficiency grant that’s up for grabs, and probably the most important at this stage in the game (the challenge ends next week).

And even better yet, Change5 helps you save money! Did you know that if you change the 5 most used bulbs in your house to energy efficient CFLs, you'll save $75 per year? That's $75 you save on bills and $75 you can spend on other things. Why not Change 5?

Short on light bulbs?! No problem! We'll be giving CFLs away for free at tonight's presentation! While you're here, we've got a great list of resources on energy efficient living. Hope to see you tonight! But if not, do make sure to at least #CHANGE5.