This week the literary world lost one of its giants, Ray Bradbury. A man dedicated to literature and the freedom to read it, his own words form the most fitting epitaph:
"Give the people contests they win by remembering the words to more popular songs or the names of state capitals or how much corn Iowa grew last year. Cram them full of non-combustible data, chock them so damned full of 'facts' they feel stuffed, but absolutely 'brilliant' with information. Then they'll feel they're thinking, they'll get a sense of motion without moving. And they'll be happy, because facts of that sort don't change. Don't give them any slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy . . .
If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war..." (61)
Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451
We are dedicated to the life of the mind and to instruction for our students that promotes thinking and not simple fact gathering. Thank you for supporting library information fluency instruction at NEST+m. It will make all the difference in your lives.
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