ACRL College & Research Libraries News

Association of College & Research Libraries

Letters

Kudos for keeping current

To the Editor:

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed Ellen Metter’s article “Madonna in the hallowed halls” (November 1995). While I do consider myself somewhat “au courant” with the popular media, I confess that my first (and second) thought was that of the Peanuts comic strip—not a rap singer! In fact, even now, only very faint bells are tinkling. To redeem myself, I hurriedly confess to a strong liking for The Simpsons. Anyway, congratulations on the article. It was interesting and appropriate.—Suzanne Jones, University of Prince Edward Island

Thank you to Ellen Metter for reminding librarians to keep up with popular culture. I can now “come out of the closet” and admit that I channel surf and like rap thanks to her article. There are many good reasons for staying in touch with the popular media that many of our patrons prefer. Here’s a personal example: I recently had a student come in asking for information on Lane Frost. Huh? Turns out he’s the rodeo star Luke Perry played in the movie 8 Seconds. He was a very important influence on this student, and he could not believe we didn’t have a book about him, let alone that a librarian might not know who he was! If we’re supposed to serve our patrons we really can’t be ignorant of the stuff that’s part of most people’s lives. And considering Greeley [Colorado] hosts the Independence Stampede Rodeo. I should have known who Lane Frost was!— Lynne M. Fox, Univ. of Northern Colorado

Fleeting fame

To the Editor:

In reading the obituary of Leslie M. Oliver (November 1995), I came across an egregious error. Who is W. A. Jacobson? Perhaps your writer means the late William A. Jackson, the first librarian of Harvard’s Houghton Library and one of America’s greatest institutional book collectors and bibliographers. Ah, how fleeting is fame!— Marcus A. McCorison, Worcester, Mass.

Ed. note:Mr. McCorison is right. It is W. A. Jackson and we regret the error. ■