Comments on: "The Library" and Other Grand Unifications http://pegasuslibrarian.com/2009/04/library-and-other-grand-unifications.html Learning in Libraries and Loving It Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:39:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Radical Patron http://pegasuslibrarian.com/2009/04/library-and-other-grand-unifications.html/comment-page-1#comment-1308 Radical Patron Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:04:00 +0000 http://pegasuslibrarian.com/2009/04/the-library-and-other-grand-unifications/#comment-1308 Iris - IMHO, these fundamental questions are the root of effective advocacy. See "It's not about the books"... http://www.radicalpatron.com/its-not-about-the-books/ Iris – IMHO, these fundamental questions are the root of effective advocacy. See “It’s not about the books”… http://www.radicalpatron.com/its-not-about-the-books/

]]> By: Iris http://pegasuslibrarian.com/2009/04/library-and-other-grand-unifications.html/comment-page-1#comment-1301 Iris Fri, 10 Apr 2009 03:22:00 +0000 http://pegasuslibrarian.com/2009/04/the-library-and-other-grand-unifications/#comment-1301 Oh, John... my previous masters thesis was on a theory for reading the modernist short story, and on one Irish author's stories in particular. The Romantics didn't grab me quite as much, but high modernism... MMmmm.... I could go on for a long while. :-)<br/><br/>For a more Romantic take on things, go read <a HREF="http://www.newrambler.net/lisdom/294" REL="nofollow">Laura's eloquent take on things</a>. She says much of what I wanted to say, only better.<br/><br/>And thank you, Kathryn and Sheck. Thank you very much. Oh, John… my previous masters thesis was on a theory for reading the modernist short story, and on one Irish author’s stories in particular. The Romantics didn’t grab me quite as much, but high modernism… MMmmm…. I could go on for a long while. :-)

For a more Romantic take on things, go read Laura’s eloquent take on things. She says much of what I wanted to say, only better.

And thank you, Kathryn and Sheck. Thank you very much.

]]> By: John http://pegasuslibrarian.com/2009/04/library-and-other-grand-unifications.html/comment-page-1#comment-1300 John Fri, 10 Apr 2009 03:15:00 +0000 http://pegasuslibrarian.com/2009/04/the-library-and-other-grand-unifications/#comment-1300 Ah ha! It's not often I run into someone who shares a passion for the Modernists... I don't suppose you like the Romantics too? Ah ha! It’s not often I run into someone who shares a passion for the Modernists… I don’t suppose you like the Romantics too?

]]> By: The Sheck http://pegasuslibrarian.com/2009/04/library-and-other-grand-unifications.html/comment-page-1#comment-1299 The Sheck Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:16:00 +0000 http://pegasuslibrarian.com/2009/04/the-library-and-other-grand-unifications/#comment-1299 This is a glorious post, asking the kinds of questions and making the kinds of connections that we rarely make time to consider. The idea that meaning is contextual is an important one, I think, in terms of understanding the context of the web as a source of information. And to think about how Libraries are not so very different. Thank you for this. It's a great thing to think on. This is a glorious post, asking the kinds of questions and making the kinds of connections that we rarely make time to consider. The idea that meaning is contextual is an important one, I think, in terms of understanding the context of the web as a source of information. And to think about how Libraries are not so very different. Thank you for this. It’s a great thing to think on.

]]> By: Kathryn Greenhill http://pegasuslibrarian.com/2009/04/library-and-other-grand-unifications.html/comment-page-1#comment-1298 Kathryn Greenhill Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:35:00 +0000 http://pegasuslibrarian.com/2009/04/the-library-and-other-grand-unifications/#comment-1298 Hi Iris. Beautiful! Thank you. I think you understand what we were getting at better than I do :) <br/><br/>I like your description of current actions being influenced by previous actions ...but then also enriching previous actions.<br/><br/>I think this kind of very grand, general idea *can* have a simple expression in our day to day, particular, tasks. Seems to me that when we are weeding and look at whether there are other copies of an item in other universities, we are keeping in mind that there is a Library beyond our user population...and that we have an obligation to keep this copy because we are a repository for human knowledge - not just in case Prof X wants it in a couple of years.<br/><br/>I wonder whether the explosion of library blogs is partly to do with many librarians realising that if we share our knowledge and start communicating outside our libraries, not only can we serve our own individual populations better, but enriching the skills of other librarians enriches the Library.... which in turn makes the individual library better too.<br/><br/>Hmm..it could get very circular. Like you I don't 100% understand my stance, but am enjoying the conversation. Hi Iris. Beautiful! Thank you. I think you understand what we were getting at better than I do :)

I like your description of current actions being influenced by previous actions …but then also enriching previous actions.

I think this kind of very grand, general idea *can* have a simple expression in our day to day, particular, tasks. Seems to me that when we are weeding and look at whether there are other copies of an item in other universities, we are keeping in mind that there is a Library beyond our user population…and that we have an obligation to keep this copy because we are a repository for human knowledge – not just in case Prof X wants it in a couple of years.

I wonder whether the explosion of library blogs is partly to do with many librarians realising that if we share our knowledge and start communicating outside our libraries, not only can we serve our own individual populations better, but enriching the skills of other librarians enriches the Library…. which in turn makes the individual library better too.

Hmm..it could get very circular. Like you I don’t 100% understand my stance, but am enjoying the conversation.

]]> By: Iris http://pegasuslibrarian.com/2009/04/library-and-other-grand-unifications.html/comment-page-1#comment-1297 Iris Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:49:00 +0000 http://pegasuslibrarian.com/2009/04/the-library-and-other-grand-unifications/#comment-1297 I'm so glad you liked it, John.<br/><br/>I think the tension that most interests me is that age-old particular/general relationship. Why is it that I find grounding in the General to be empowering and motivating while others find it didactic and constraining? What about the General augments the Particular, and how can the Particular be so much more interesting (to me) when it is related to the General...<br/><br/>Yeah, I'll stop there. The modernist in me needs corralling. :-)<br/><br/>Anyway, thanks for the Statements and the way they're forcing me to actually think about this stuff. Sometime I might stop thinking High Theory stuff and actually get to the bullet points you listed. ;-) I’m so glad you liked it, John.

I think the tension that most interests me is that age-old particular/general relationship. Why is it that I find grounding in the General to be empowering and motivating while others find it didactic and constraining? What about the General augments the Particular, and how can the Particular be so much more interesting (to me) when it is related to the General…

Yeah, I’ll stop there. The modernist in me needs corralling. :-)

Anyway, thanks for the Statements and the way they’re forcing me to actually think about this stuff. Sometime I might stop thinking High Theory stuff and actually get to the bullet points you listed. ;-)

]]> By: John http://pegasuslibrarian.com/2009/04/library-and-other-grand-unifications.html/comment-page-1#comment-1294 John Mon, 06 Apr 2009 01:52:00 +0000 http://pegasuslibrarian.com/2009/04/the-library-and-other-grand-unifications/#comment-1294 This is a beautiful post, Iris. Incidentally, there are two poets who have shaped my notions of creativity and the sublime more than any other--one is Wallace Stevens and the other is T.S. Eliot.<br/><br/>I'm going to read through your post again and let <i>it</i> sink in. The timelessness of a Platonic Library appeals to me on a number of levels, not the least of which is that it does connect us. The desire to serve the Library is a responsibility that anyone who enters the profession should feel, I think. This is a beautiful post, Iris. Incidentally, there are two poets who have shaped my notions of creativity and the sublime more than any other–one is Wallace Stevens and the other is T.S. Eliot.

I’m going to read through your post again and let it sink in. The timelessness of a Platonic Library appeals to me on a number of levels, not the least of which is that it does connect us. The desire to serve the Library is a responsibility that anyone who enters the profession should feel, I think.

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