Booksology There are very few school librarians in New York City schools.
The New York City Council is currently asking the city’s Department of Education to provide data on the status of school libraries and their use. The first report was released last month, and its contents were grim. Most of the city’s 1,614 public schools (1,016) have on-campus libraries, but fewer than 15% employ full-time or part-time librarians. There are 273 full-time librarians and only 12 part-time librarians. This is a dire situation, and this report is one of the most powerful advocacy tools New York City residents can and should use to advocate for more school librarians. Jenny Fox, a New York City public school parent and founder of Librarians = Literacy, said, “Physical space means nothing. They’re not just checking in and checking out books. They’re teaching kids about media literacy, online safety, and how to scrutinize articles for truth.”
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Which canonical authors are readers looking for?
We can argue endlessly about what does and does not constitute a literary canon. One tool that has shortened this is Norton Anthology. If you majored in English in college, you’re probably familiar with these books. We know that Norton Anthologies collect what they believe to be the best and most representative of great literature, but which of the authors included in such anthologies are further read by the general public? That’s what the University of Washington wanted to know. Extracting large amounts of anonymized data from the Seattle Public Library, they found the top 10 most borrowed authors whose works appear in the Norton Anthology of American Literature. The top three are a pleasant surprise. Ursula K. Le Guin, Octavia E. Butler, and Louise Erdrich. What are the top three books by canonized authors? Fable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler, Lincoln of the Bardo by George Saunders, and The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin. This is a fascinating study of the evolution of what is considered canonical and what it can tell us about more genres. — And what attracts readers? — Diverse perspectives.
6 science fiction and fantasy short stories to read online for free
Speaking of genres, how about some great free science fiction and fantasy short stories?
Train your brain by reading short stories to get through this winter. Short stories are a great palate cleanser for readers who are having a hard time with dark days or who are reading in between reading sessions. You don’t have to worry about reading a book that you’re not sure you’ll enjoy. Short stories are a great alternative to doomscrolling on social media.
Use your time wisely. Read more Short stories.
