I subscribe to two listservs. It seems that the one for school media specialists has more postings that makes me wonder what in the world these people do all day. For instance:
What four books would you wish that most high school students read sometime during their education? I realize this is extremely broad and I appreciate your thoughts.
Is this person’s library about to be condensed to four measly books? Is her language arts department trying to find the best books to teach each year a student is in school? Or, perhaps s/he is just musing?
What’s even more frustrating than the post itself is that you think about it and attempt to answer it! Imagine the variety of responses! How many will want students to read those four gems they read in high school? or the four Big Classics? or the four recent bestselling YA books? How do you list four books for every highschooler?? Nonetheless, here is my response:
- One book that evokes emotion
- One book that helps you to understand someone different from you
- One book in which you come to better understand yourself
- One book that is pure enjoyment
Cotton Quilts Edi 
Couldn’t have said it better myself. I know I couldn’t have said it like you did Edi. My choices are the same as yours. Thanks
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Seriously.
I could see if someone posted something like:
“I have completely run out of vampire novels to give my teen girls. Here is a list of 25 books I’ve already come up with by searching the archives and googling. Can you think of anything I’m missing?”
But usually it’s like “Though I’m a professional librarian, I know nothing about books or teenagers or this internet thing. Could you just tell me what I need to know? kthanxbye.”
I’m not on the school librarian list, but YALSA-BK can make me crazy. I’m on adbooks which is GREAT for actual book discussion and when people try to do list building on there I just can’t take it.
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Keri,
I’ve been so tempted to respond to the requests with a short tutorial on how to use Amazon.
I think I may give adbooks a try. I’d love to be on a list with professional level discussions.
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I sort of agree, though the lists I belong to do offer some really useful information sometimes…I’ve learned to sign up for the DIGEST, though, so I get ONE email per day with a synopsis, and I can decide whether or not it’s worthwhile to read through all the posts…
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