Comparative Analysis of Professional Journals

Publishers Weekly

and

JMLA:  Journal of the Medical Library Association

a.  Publishers Weekly is aimed at people who are purchasing books.  This could be public librarians, but could also include publishers,individual booksellers, and/or large bookstores.  JMLA is compiled specifically for Medical Librarians.     

b.  Publishers Weekly publishes book reviews about the newest books, awards and prizes given out to books and/or publishers, financial information about book publishers and other general information about the world of book publishing.  JMLA publishes peer-reviwed articles relating to medical librarianship.  These articles could include case studies, editorials, research papers and some book reviews, that all relate to the field of medical librarianship. 

c.  Publishers Weekly is not peer-reviewed.  JMLA is peer-reviewed.  To be peer-reviwed in the case of JMLA means that the journal articles were examined by experts in the field of medical library science before they were published in JMLA.  This is very important in for medical journals.  I am asked many times a day by nursing students to help them locate "peer-reviwed" journal articles.  It is like fact-checking for these journals.  It is the best way to make sure articles are accurate and free of misinformation.      

d.  One thing I found interesting about the Publishers Weekly was their service called PW Select.  PW Select is a supplement to Publishers Weekly.  In it you will find information about the self-publishing community, including reviews of self-published titles and author interviews.  PW Select offers self-published authors the opportunity to promote their book through Publishers Weekly. 

 
Both journals are in some way marketed to librarians.  Publishers Weekly can be a great journal to find book reviews for public librarians who are looking to add titles to their library collection. JMLA also shares book reviews but they are specifically for medical texts.  JMLA largely consists of scholarly information while Publishers Weekly has a more "entertainment" look and feel to it.  These differences tell me that there the field of library science is wide and varied.  I hope to learn the general basics of the library science profession so that even if I do not find a career as a medical librarian, I will still have marketable skills that I can put to use in another type of library job.

Banned Book: The Awakening by Kate Chopin

I chose to read The Awakening by Kate Chopin for our week on intellectual freedom and censorship.  In the early years of my undergrad education of I was assigned to read a short story by Kate Chopin entitled The Story of an Hour.  This story really affected me.  From that moment on I became a fan of feminist literature.
I had never read The Awakening, but I knew it was written by Chopin so I would enjoy it. The story follows Edna Pontellier.  It focuses on her "self discovery".  Edna has never had the chance to be "just herself".  Her role in life is to be a wife and mother, and to be happy with that.  The story follows the time when Edna discovers she is more than a wife and mother, she is a human being with her own thoughts and desires.  Chopin tells us that Edna had existed in a dual life since she was a child; "that outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions." (Chopin, 1899)
I am happy that I live in a time in history when society has less expectation that I be a wife or a mother.  I am free to just live as a human being, to fulfill my own desires and aspirations.  For the most part in our current America society it is no scandal if you never marry, or have children.  I enjoy being able to decide on my own what path in life I will chose, to not know that I MUST get married and produce children.  Personally, I would like to have children and get married, but it takes pressure off when you know you have time to yourself before you choose.
Edna Pontellier's story reminds me of the Carly Simon song, That's the Way I've Always Heard it Should Be.  The song is sung from the point of view of a woman, in the 1970's, who wants to be free to find herself.  However, she is feeling pressure from her boyfriend to get married.  My favorite line of the song is "You say we'll soar like two birds through the clouds, But soon you'll cage me on your shelf -I'll never learn to be just me first. By myself" (Simon,1971).  I think Edna Pontellier has experienced the same feelings as the woman in the song, but Edna Pontellier was not permitted the opportunity to give credence to her personal desires.
During my research on the story The Awakening I found that ,even though the book was written in 1899, it was listed on challenged/banned book list in 2011.  It is obvious to me why this book would have been shunned in the past.  It focuses on a Edna Pontellier finding herself.  However, in the process, she leaves has an affair, leaves her husband and children, and eventually commits suicide.  Conservative people would want to keep thoughts of this nature out of the minds of the "easily influenced".  You can often find censorship when the topic of suicide is brought up.   

Description:  Library Walk New York City
Original image can be found at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Library_Walk_30.JPG

 

Mid-Semester Analysis and Reflections

As we commence the mid half of the semester I am happy with how much I am learning in this class.  My initial thought was that I already knew where I was headed in my career and this class would not benefit me.  However, I have learned a great deal about the field of library science.  The work I have done in this class so far has also led me to change my mind about going into archival studies.  I originally wanted to work in a hospital archive.  After recently visiting a hospital archive I have changed my mind.  While I am still interested in the learning how to accurately archive data, I feel I would not thrive in that environment.
Working in a medical library on a daily basis has revived my interest in the field of library science.  I think the work we do here is so valuable.  I found that while I would love to preserve information for future generations, I have more of an interest in providing the most up to date research for academics. 
I am also happy to learn about the many other library theme jobs.  Being enrolled in the MLIS program has provided me with a fantastic way to review many LIS job listings in my email.  It is fantastic to see that there are many different job openings and opportunities to intern.  I find myself wanting to apply for every internship opportunity that arises (even though I know this is not possible).  
I have taken the opportunity to apply for the British Study abroad program offered through the University of Southern Mississippi.   I discovered this opportunity from Wayne State.  I am really excited about traveling to England and Scotland touring their various libraries.  I would never be able to visit these libraries on my own.  I am really looking forward to meeting other library science students from other states and making connections with them.  This will help me to expand my network.  I am open to the possibility of having to relocate out of the state of Michigan to find a job in library science.  This study abroad opportunity will help me explore that possibility.