to think a school librarian should have heard of Wolf Hall and actually read books?

Doesn’t this thread prove we’re all just reading AIBU threads on Mumsnet? 👍🏻

Didn’t she write a book about two footballers wives?
I read about it in The Sun.
I’m a TA so I’m very well read 👍🏻

I work in publishing. A lot of YA publishing is publishing by numbers - is it written by a queer, disabled, black, non-binary schizophrenic, or feature the same? (I exaggerate, though only slightly, for effect.) Brilliant, let’s publish it regardless of quality. Are you a white, straight man who can write well? No, not interested.

That’s what the gatekeepers of YA are doing, the agents and publishers. End result is some good work and a lot of formulaic, substandard rubbish.

This is not serving teenagers well. And refusing to stock excellent adult literature isn’t serving them well either. Ignorance never serves children, a culture of low expectations doesn’t serve them.

Yes, we all enjoying reading fluff. But you can have well-written fluff, and you can read more than just fluff.

I loved talking with the children about the books we were all reading. It was the best part of that job. I'd recommend to them, and they would do the same in return.
There is some really good fiction in the YA range, and a heck of a lot more choice than when I was that age.

Someone pointed out further up the thread that recent research has shown that a considerable proportion of Year 8/9 students are still saying that Wimpy Kid is their favourite book. Now there’s absolutely nothing wrong with Wimpy Kid- love Jeff Kinney- but isn’t it a bit dispiriting if your favourite book- not just your comfort read, but your favourite book- is the same as it was when you were 9? Isn’t it a good idea to have someone in school, in the library or the classroom, who can suggest something else you might try? I don’t think it’s literary snobbery to believe this is a good idea.

You’ve said this much more eloquently than I could, I agree with every single word

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with YA. There are some excellent books out there- I’ve read quite a few. There is also a fair amount of formulaic dross, but that’s true of any genre. The point is that a librarian/ library assistant should be sufficiently familiar with the wider range of books to be able to recommend them to students and encourage them to try different things. It doesn’t have to be Wolf Hall!

It’s not snobbery, it’s treating literature as the art form it is. Literature is art, just like painting or opera. Literature as art is what kids study at school.

Books may also offer us entertainment or information or self-help or ‘representation’, but that does not mean they are of value as literature. They might be ‘good’ as self-help (for example) but ‘bad’ as literature. Of course some literature will do all these things.

The focus at school should be on the quality of the book as an art form. That is the whole point of English Literature as a subject. I think you do children a disservice if you think some can’t appreciate great art. I believe anyone can with the right teaching or support. The fact that a book can engage us in something that is completely unfamiliar is part of what makes it so enriching.

That’s certainly not what I’m saying. I can’t attest to the quality of much of it because I’ve not read particularly widely in it. My point is only that it’s damaging in that it seems to now have the frequent effect of becoming an endpoint for many readers, who get ‘stuck’ there and don’t then read more widely. And it’s not ‘they don’t read classic novel’, more they don’t read outside YA. (And I wish I liked graphic novels. I’ve tried, but I can’t get past feeling shortchanged because there aren’t enough words.)

I'm really rankled by the many posts here suggesting all YA and NA is trash and "porn soaked" and that children can only better themselves by reading literary fiction or modern classics. YA can be so empowering for children in their formative years - providing representation, opportunities to explore relevant issues and difficulties and also explore empathy for other teenagers experiencing different coming of age journeys to them. The number of LGBT teenagers whose lives have been changed by Heartstopper are innumerable but I suspect many of the literary snobs here would quite happily put it in the bin as a graphic novel.

Just because you personally do not value it, does not mean it is bad. Literary snobbery puts people off, alienates those who don't enjoy reading classics (which isn't because they are thick, or uncultured, or don't want to be stretched, but sometimes just because they don't enjoy them) and frankly, makes you sound like a dick. Being widely read is supposed to engender empathy, thought for people with different life experiences to your own, and widen your mental scope for different possibilities. I see none of that from people who have jumped on this post to make themselves feel good because they are so "well read" and can't possibly conceive of someone being so without having read the same sort of literature as themselves.

The job of a librarian is to support people to enjoy reading, not to make them feel bad for reading the "wrong" thing.

I think they adapted the script first and companion books later

I imagine that's because school kids can also access public libraries. And bookshops. And little free libraries. And charity shops. And the internet, with an ereader. Unlike prisoners.

What do you read? I'm interested to know what English teachers are reading if they're not reading modern classics.

Not many schools even have qualified library assistants nevermind librarians. Outside universities they seem to be a dying breed, public libraries are being staffed by volunteers and those on community service, school libraries are run by admin staff or TAs.

My Mother, who had a career in libraries used to despair.

Our school librarian told me off for reading in the library, because libraries aren't for reading books!

😱

Get thee to a library!!!

If Wolf Hall isn’t your thing try another of Hilary Mantel’s , Beyond Black. It’s a very dark story about a professional clairvoyant. And it’s much shorter than WH.

You're off to reread who? 😉

Yes indeed. I am very fortunate that my London borough values libraries highly and has refurbished and opened new libraries.

A massive postcode lottery, again public libraries are supposed to be statutory but it is a real mix now. A lot of the rest of Europe views the UK as having essentially destroyed its public library services even if some buildings are open. There was a huge loss of staff during austerity that the public didn’t see.

Also with the cuts to opening hours, and branch closures it really isn’t a comprehensive service. Especially in deprived areas where they’re most needed, or in rural areas.

I never realised Hilary Mantel had so many hardcore fans! Keep fighting the good fight, @MasterBeth and @Pluvia. I'm off to reread Agatha Christie.

Surely you realise that @Bogginsthe3rd was winding you up?

Ah, yes, the two categories of literature: Wolf Hall and 'dreadful YF books' (did you mean YA books, incidentally?). No other books exist outside of these two categories!

But well done you for being such a clever 16 year old!

To be fair, it’s not like school libraries are the only libraries children have access to, unlike in prisons, so I don’t think that’s a good comparison.

However, plenty of councils have had to close libraries or reduce opening times so it’ll be a postcode lottery.

Not sure if the point has been made before but worth noting that prisons are required by law to have libraries and Librarians and schools are not. Which I personally think is a travesty. Libraries should absolutely still be in prisons btw too.

I am a Librarian in another field and know a few school Librarians or former school Librarians. The former school Librarians would all have heard of Wolf Hall and have a passion for introducing new books to their students. All are not school librarians anymore because there is little support from SLT, budget cuts and appalling pay. Those that are still working as school Librarians are in private schools, they would also have heard of Wolf Hall.

Is the person in question a librarian and paid a librarian salary or are they hired to run the school library and operate a computer and tidy away books?