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December 21, 2005
Music Hath Charms...
Just about everyone loves some kind of music. Christmas carols, in particular, claim a special place in many peoples' hearts. So, why not get a cup of hot chocolate, find a comfortable spot, and tune in to some Christmas carols. It's time to enjoy "the most wonderful time of the year."
Posted by RMLibrarians at 4:25 PM | Comments (0)
December 14, 2005
Apology and Irony
Recently these books were stolen from our library: The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines, Guide to Fiction Writing, Writing the Novel, and The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them). Despite the fact that we take measures to guard our resources, it is unfortunate that people sometimes find ways to circumvent that protection. The thief left irrefutable physical evidence that the books were stolen, and the modus operandi was the same for all four books. Library book theft is not only an offense against the library, it is an offense against the entire campus. We offer an apology to any aspiring writer who may have intended to use those books and to all library users.
The irony of the situation becomes apparent when one considers the choice of books stolen and the thief's probable motive: becoming an author of fiction. Although fiction is not real or factually true, good fiction writing must have the ring of truth to it to be good. The characters must be believable, and the storyline plausible and coherent within its individual milieu. A thief by his/her very actions is not honest, so how could he/she write truthfully when he/she cannot behave truthfully?
Furthermore, Webster's defines hero/heroine as a man/woman "of distinguished courage or ability," admired for his/her "brave deeds and noble qualities." On the other hand, Webster's notes that a thief is one who "takes the goods or property of another by stealth without the latter's knowledge." In short, a hero has integrity--something that a thief lacks. Perhaps the thieving would-be writer will someday have his/her own work stolen. That would be poetic justice!
Posted by RMLibrarians at 12:59 PM | Comments (8)