Technology: note taking

I've really started sorting and sifting through sources.  I'm using a note-taking tool on my computer called "stickies."  They're virtual sticky notes and will stay open even as you're scrolling through webpages.  It's pretty easy to use, and you can change the colors. =)  Use if you have a Mac!

Evolution

In our readings for this week, Callison discussed the idea of question evolution.  I read an article on The Golden Compass called "How a Community, a Bunch of Librarians, and Students Saved “The Golden Compass." Concerned parents in a school district tried to remove The Golden Compass from the shelves of a middle school.  The library staff removed the book without following library policy, and the school administration sided with the parents, without following the adopted procedures.  


Callison writes about the evolution of research questions.  Just from my limited research, I've discovered that I'm more interested about specific incidents involving adolescent and teenage literature.  Some of my questions need to be readdressed...


My subsidiary question was..."What are some specific incidents of book challenging?"


What are some specific adolescent and teenage books that have been challenged for political reasons, religious reasons, social reasons?  Why specifically? How did the librarians react?  What was the result?  


I'm sure my questions will continue to evolve as I read.  


Joshua 

Narrowing

The book I'm skimming through right now has several chapters: "A Survey of Major Bookbanning Incidents," "The Law on Bookbanning," Voices of Banned Authors,"and "Banned Books in the '90s."  The survey chapter is definitely interesting.  The first incident is about a school district in West Virginia where a book challenging incident became so heated that there was a boycott of the school district and a plot to bomb cars by a fundamentalist group.  Wow!  So book banning can get pretty heated.  That's interesting.  




I started going through the IUPUI databases looking for censorship + school libraries.  Got way too many results.  Decided to narrow results to this decade.  Down to 100!  Not bad.  I'm definitely starting to find a focus here.  So should I say I'm feeling optimistic?  =)


Joshua

Webbing...Exploring information

When I put together my chart on Saturday, I wanted to consider all possible angles for finding information.  Then I started looking at all the possibilities and realized that my topic was much bigger than I thought it was.  I mean...I thought I'd narrowed it down quite a bit.  I quest not =0


In the Exploring Information stage of Kuhlthau's ISP, the task is to investigate information.  So I started to do that.  I started skimming through books that I'd identified in my Webbing.  The books not only discussed specific books that have been banned, but also the legal theories and repercussions relating to the 1st Amendment. The book had whole chapters on specific reasons for books being challenged and banned. Now, I'm looking back on the Exploring Information stage...I'm looking at the task:


TASK:  To investigate information with the intent to FOCUS.  So what exactly is my focus?  That's what I'm trying to figure out.  What exactly do I want to research regarding censorship and school libraries....I talked to our assistant librarian about incidents of censorship.  She had no idea what their collection policy was (LOL), and our librarian is MIA for the week, apparently.  


THOUGHTS:  Callison describes this stage as "unable to always express precise information needed. Identify several possibilities."


Okay...I need to do a little more research on these ideas:


1)  specific challenges and banning of books in school libraries


2)  court cases involving challenged books


3) Library Bill of Rights


4)  explanations and theories as to reasons for book challenging


Actions:  I need to reexamine my options


Feelings: I'm confused as to where I want to go from here.  Yes, I'm doubtful.  Yes...I'm uncertain since this is due in TWO WEEKS! =)


Joshua  

Webbing