Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Tips and Tricks for Using Listservs

Know that people on the list are trolling for ideas to use in their own work

How to use a listserv to your advantage

Use a listserv to your advantage, do not get used.

A listserv is a public forum, treat it as such. Big Brother is Watching.

Listservs in Cyberworld

It's happened before, I've observed something like this once before I was on the list. I think the last time it happened it was a Caldecott. I'll have to check the archives. In 2007, several librarians were completely surprised that a certain title won the Newbery medal. You can imagine how these librarians were speculating before the announcements at the winter ALA. They'd been busy getting the kids to read all the books that were published throughout the year, holding mock Newbery trials.

It really came as no surprise several librarians were completely miffed and lively discussions ensued after they heard the announcements. Several people had expected "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" by Kate DiCamillo to win the medal and they expressed their dismay. Few came to the fore to disagree.

What's so special about the book that won medal? Must every Newbery include a death of some sort? A Newbery Panelist enlightened the group about the process.

The book that did win the Medal continued to generate attention, just because a book receives a Newbery Medal must a library purchase it? Regardless of the public nature of the forum, several librarians came out of the woodwork to entertain their views of the book. They were using the listserv to openly discuss their views of the book and whether or not it was a book appropriate for the particular population of children they serve. What's wrong with that? Apparently, plenty.