Sunday, December 05, 2004

Booked Here's another list for you:  the "Top 1000" titles owned by OCLC member libraries. Why am I interested in this particular list?  Because it gives us an idea of what the United States considers essential reading -- or at the very least, reading to have on hand in case someone decides to do any reading.  Libraries are the foundation of the educational framework for the entire country.  What a nation puts into its libraries are the very seeds for what it shall reap in the future. Top three:  U.S. Census, The Bible, and Mother Goose.  In that order. You know, that really does say quite a bit about our country right there.  First let's keep tabs on everyone.  Who is where?  How much do they make?  Which way do they vote?  What color are they?  What do they believe? Secondly, let's make sure they have a nice, big helpin' of Christianity.  And speaking of fairy tales, let's wrap-up the top three with a little "Jack and Jill went up the hill..." Other interesting stats from this list: First book on the list authored by a woman:  Wuthering Heights at number 29! The Constitution ranks in at #257.  Shows just how important it is these days. Most represented author:  William Shakespeare with a whopping 40 titles to his name. First currently living author on the list?  Jim Davis, who cranks out Garfield, comes in at 18 on the chart.  That's our current culture's highest representative.  Yes, our culture sucks.  Stephen King doesn't make the top 1000 at all, but several things written by Sue Grafton do. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is the title that just beats out The Constitution by 20 libraries. Now I have no idea how many of the books in the top 1000 contain gay characters or were written by gay authors, but you can bet Gerald Allen, Republican from my favorite state of Alabama, is looking into it. 3:39:38 PM     |

Icon Story Ever wondered what your desktop icons did while you went off to work or school? Me neither. Still, you never know.  They might just be up to quite the shenanigans.  Recommended by Nicole, here's Icon Story. 11:14:47 AM     |

© Copyright 2005 Alex L. Mauldin.