Art Encourages an Enthusiam for Learning

I don't often quote people without adding something original. But a two-year-old article from the newsletter of the Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island has stayed with me which I'd like to reproduce - if only for my own use. The original is here on page 9: http://bit.ly/yUQRB
or:
http://www.statenislandarts.org/newslettr-downloads/Newsletter_Sept-Oct-07.pdf

The author, Carolyn Corbo of Public School 50 directs this (apparently) towards parents of young children. But I feel there's much to be learned even for adults in these 10 maxims. For librarians - or advertisers, or anyone for that matter - the key is getting the individual engaged. This is more possible in a non-judgmental environment where art is exercised ("arts" is not restricted to graphic arts).

It also challenges what I feel is a very American notion (and erroneous one): that "arts" or "entertainment" are an add-on that can easily be jettisoned or placed on a very low priority in times of economic or other difficulties. If arts lead to all the things Corbo suggests, then they are as important as any other subject or occupation for psychological health and communication.

Here is Carolyn Corbo's:

Art Encourages an Enthusiasm for Learning
The Importance of Art Education for Every Child

1. Art develops fine motor skills when we use a scissor or thread a needle.
2. Art develops organizational skills, the 'how to', step-by-step in making a weaving, building an armature or painting.
3. Art making promotes critical thinking--your children look closely at great works of art, analyze and make inference about what they see. We learn about people from distant lands, different cultures and traditions.
4. Art making promotes independent thinking. Your children make decisions about what colors to make, shapes to cut, how to change their work.
5. Art reaches children of all learning styles--it levels the playing field.
6. Art making promotes focus and attention to detail. Even the most active children are engaged when painting a picture or making a sculpture.
7. Art nutures the spirit and stimulates the imagination.
8. Art builds self-esteem.
9. Art making provides our children an opportunity to express their feelings and ideas about their world.
10. Art making is process oriented where children explore different art mediums. Children are encourages to take risks, think for themselves and become problem solvers.
    

What would I learn from this?

Several months ago I was informally interviewing a someone for a position. I emphasized archival collections and mentioned some famous names that would be recognized. After acknowledging these collections, the prospective interviewee's response took me off guard:

"What would I learn from this?"

I was so flabbergasted I repeated the question in case I had misunderstood it. Here we were, a world-famous library, and a college student was asking what could be learned from working in it. In retrospect, the interview was over at that moment, and I should have told the prospective intern directly and sent them on their way. (If a person can not understand that working with people's personal documents has tremendous value, then there's no point in going on.) But I was nice and continued on for a few minutes.

I still feel justified in wanting to end the interview, but now I see the question is a useful one. Here was a typical college student who had very limited experience using a library. It was an potential opportunity to expand the mind of someone that was clearly limited. (Having worked on an elevator speech several months ago, I supplied what I felt was an appropriate response.)

How many countless other college students are like this? Students who've had all that they need or wanted in their textbooks, and never had to research anything that wasn't already known in their personal libraries or space.

I guess I'm spoiled in that I've always been curious about the world around me and have gone sometimes to great lengths to find out more about it. So maybe we have to get rid of the notion that a library is for "books" and start remaking and marketing ourselves as places to obtain knowledge, a space where one can not only relax but let one's mind expand - and that this is a healthy and necessary endeavor for life. Experienced researchers know how to do this. It's those who don't know and don't care that we must reach and move.

Why I joined SLA

Trained as a musician, I always thought I was going to be an academic. Once I decided to be a librarian, I worked (and still work) in a public library. So why did I recently join SLA - the Special Libraries Association? I'm sure I'll develop more as time goes on, but for now, in no particular order:

1. I wanted to take advantage of their Leadership & Management library of 998 (count 'em - 998) ebooks.
2. I wanted to network with an incredibly wide variety of individuals
3. In this ever-shrinking world, I wanted to get a view of how libraries function in a for-profit environment
4. I want to learn more about how special librarians are able to deliver product to their customers
5. I want to see what is Knowledge Management for myself
   
6. Finally: I don't want to feel guilty the next time I hear Stephen Abram speak.