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15 Apr 02 - 10:19 PM (#690915) Subject: folkie librarian experience From: Hollowfox I had a small, strange epiphany, for lack of a better word, at work. I think the 'Cat is the only place where at least some people will understand it, as it touched on the two main aspects of my life, folk, and librarianship. The 'Cat has both, and enough scholar folkies who love to get that *special* song or bit of lore to the person who really needs it can also see what I mean. I was reading a back issue of a professional magazine on my break when I found an article on the difference between something being humorous and something being funny. I hadn't even finished the first page when I thought enthusiastically, "This would be perfect for Marshall Dodge and his work on the philosophical underpinnings of humor!" I could see the look of delight on his face when he got it...and then I remembered suddenly, with a jolt, that he'd died. It was a little bit like starting to mourn for him all over again, and it was a little bit scary, because he died in a hit and run accident about twenty years ago. For those that aren't familiar with his work, he was a storyteller and monologuist who was instrumental in what is now thought of as the storytelling renaissance in the USA. He truly was "a scholar, a gentleman, and a fine judge of women", and he was a very funny performer. I'm still chewing on what this all means. Thanks for listening. |
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15 Apr 02 - 10:35 PM (#690931) Subject: RE: folkie librarian experience From: Deckman Your opening 'kinda reminds me of the difference between a comedian and a comic: A comic says things funny, a comedian says funny things! CHEERS, Bob |
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16 Apr 02 - 12:26 AM (#690990) Subject: RE: folkie librarian experience From: wysiwyg Yes, this is a good place to tell it. But if it were a Mudcat story it would turn out that the guy had actually written the article, perhaps under a different screen name before getting a cookie, or after giving up the cookie, or just for the hell of it! ~Susan |
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16 Apr 02 - 12:43 AM (#690994) Subject: RE: folkie librarian experience From: Stephen L. Rich I know exactly the kind of experience that you describe. It has happened to me once or twice. It is part of the nature of surviving your friends. Sadly, as one ages and finds oneself attending an increasing number of funerals, the experience becomes less alien. |
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16 Apr 02 - 09:18 AM (#691217) Subject: RE: folkie librarian experience From: Peter T. One of the advantages of being a librarian, or at least among books, is that you can introduce Tolstoy or some other dead writer to someone they would have liked who is also dead. They get to meet in your head: that is what you are there for. yours, Peter T. |
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16 Apr 02 - 06:27 PM (#691538) Subject: RE: folkie librarian experience From: Burke Hallowfox, how can you mention a tantalizing article like that & not give a citation. As a librarian, I'm constantly putting 'footnotes' in my conversations. When I started at my current library right out of grad school, my fellow cataloger let me know about a local folk venue, the Old Songs Festival especially the Sacred Harp sessions there. I'm immensely grateful to her. We also shared a strange interest in certian fantasy, especially David Eddings. She died shortly after retiring & I really missed her when a new book in the Belgariad world came out. I hope she's got a celestial copy. |
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16 Apr 02 - 06:54 PM (#691563) Subject: RE: folkie librarian experience From: SharonA Burke (re celestial copies): Either that, or she and Eddings will have a lot of catching up to do when he gets there... |
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17 Apr 02 - 05:36 PM (#692359) Subject: RE: folkie librarian experience From: Hollowfox All right, all right, Burke. I'm reading bound back issues of Hornbook on break. (that's children's literature, not G. Legman, the rest of you licentious folkie scholars!) I'm working at a differen branch today, so I can't cite month and page, but it was a 1961 issue. Burke, I know you can find it at SUNY Albany, probably at the "downtown campus" library, since that's where the School of Information Science is based (or whatever they're calling the Library Science Department now. And unless they've moved it again.). As for your friend, she probably catalogued it for the heavenly Main Branch. I hope to link up with you at Old Songs this year. Maybe I'll just stay up for all of the Saturday night Sing at Creature Comforts so I'll be awake for Sacred Harp this year! Stephen, thanks for your thoughts. I've had this sort of thing happen before for those who've passed on, just not so far in the past. (I ain't dead yet, and I ain't that old...yet.*g*) I guess there are some folks it takes a long time to get over, like him, and Gamble Rogers. |
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17 Apr 02 - 06:17 PM (#692393) Subject: RE: folkie librarian experience From: RoyH (Burl) I'm so happy to see a thread that mentions Marshall Dodge and Libraries in one. Reasons? Some years ago, I forget exactly when,I shared a concert with Marshall Dodge for the FSSGB, in which I sang and told a few stories and Marshall told a lot of stories and did some readings. The FSSGB did a great job on publicity which, along with Marshall Dodge's popularity, brought a good crowd to the hall. The evening was a total success and is one of my treasured memories, albeit tinged with sadness to know that Marshall is no longer with us. I still have my 'Bert & I' albums to remind me of the wonderful artist that he was. As for libraries, well, let me tell you. My parents had little interest in reading other than a daily paper. I grew up in a house with very few books. However, I was an avid reader. I would read the paper the chips were wrapped in, or the labels on sauce bottles. Somehow, and I have no idea how, I learned to read before I went to school. My mother told me that I looked forward to going to school because I knew there would be books there. At the age of ten I discovered the library system. My home place didn't have one but the next town along did. I went in there one day and found heaven. The endless rows of bookshelves looked like Aladdin's cave to me, and I was well aware that I was in the best place on earth. Twice a week I would walk the four mile round trip with my bagful of books to return and replenish. Once at the library I would linger as long as possible, dipping into as many books as I could before being forced by imminent closing time to make my choice. All this took place nearly sixty years ago. I have held a library card ever since. I now have many books of my own but I still hold a card to my local library. When I step across the threshold into that enchanting world of books I become again a ten year old boy in the 'best place on earth'. I hear that many disillusioned librarians feel themselves and their work to be undervalued. Not by me Ladies and Gentlemen. Not by this 70/10 year old. Thank You, Librarians. |
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17 Apr 02 - 10:18 PM (#692539) Subject: RE: folkie librarian experience From: Stephen L. Rich Hollowfox -- I just re-read my post and read your response to it. If I seemed unduely harsh or gloomy on the subject it is because I'm still working through a somewhat more recent loss. The clarity of my thoughts on this subject is not what one might like it to be. |
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18 Apr 02 - 07:02 AM (#692700) Subject: RE: folkie librarian experience From: GUEST,Lascivious Librarian Just curious--how many of the American librarians are members of the Progressive Librarians Guild, an affiliate organization of the Social Responsibilities round Table of the American Library Association? Their website is here: http://www.libr.org/PLG/ |