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IASL Research Abstracts: 147
Findings: The library in current fantasy fiction functions as a storehouse of knowledge of the community but not truly operating as a place where community members are welcomed., thus it is not always a receptive place for the adolescent main characters. While they might need information resources, when the place that houses those tools and represents its intermediaries is cast in not only in negative terms, but ones which distance it from the rest of the community, it is inevitable that even fictional adolescents will find themselves, with Ron and Harry, "looking longingly out of the library window" (Rowling, 1997, p.229).
Abstract: This paper uses qualitative, textual analysis of selected prominent contemporary young adult fantasy stories. These books -- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Artemis Fowl,and Garth Nix's Lirael -- in addition to creating captivating magical worlds, also depict a part of our every day world in their use of libraries as settings (in the case of Harry Potter and Lirael) and the use of computers for information seeking (as seen in Artemis Fowl). These images are examined for their portrayal of library use and other information seeking behaviours. See:
Pierce, J.B. (2004). What's Harry Potter doing in the library: Depictions of young adult information seeking behaviour in contemporary fantasy fiction. In P. Moore, E. Howe, R. Lonsdale, R. McChaon & D. Singh (Eds). IASL Reports: From Aesop to e-book: The story goes on (pp. 73-82). Erie, PA: International Association of School Librarianship.
Subject Categories: 15
