Special Topics Paper Summary

            I focused on the topic of the role of donated items in libraries in my paper. Specifically, I centered on discussing how donated items can play a pivotal role towards connecting with a public library’s local community by operating as a tool and a component of passive reader’s advisory. I began the paper with a relevant beginning paragraph with indirectly listed points in my thesis statement to help guide readers through the paper and to smoothly coordinate the individual components of the paper. I also finished with a relevant ending paragraph to reflect the beginning paragraph and the thesis statement in a pertinent manner.

            In relation to the role of donated items as a tool, I discussed four main elements and developed paragraphs around these elements for this first half of the role of donated items. The four elements related to the role of donated items as a tool were: augmenting the number of books in public libraries through the participation and charitable acts of wealthy celebrities and organizations, increasing the number of donated books by appealing to specific and meaningful causes, utilizing books for a public library’s collection or for personal use by the public, and further educating foreign countries through certain ideas or the use of materials and connecting these countries to the United States. I discussed these elements in the first half of the body of my paper.

            In the first half of the paper, I discussed the element of augmenting the number of books in public libraries through the participation and charitable acts of wealthy celebrities and organizations. I cited the charitable acts of Dolly Parton and the novelist Doris Lessing to prove my point about wealthy celebrities. Also, I cited the Friends of the Library organization and the Charles Taylor Foundation to support my point about the charitable acts of organizations.

            In addition, I addressed the aspect of increasing the number of donated books by appealing to specific and meaningful causes. I cited the example of local donations of books that were given to the Algiers Regional Branch in New Orleans to prove my point. Also, I discussed the element of utilizing books for a public library’s collection or for personal use by the public. When I was discussing this aspect, I cited examples and sources from library websites and documents to support my points. Also, I discussed the element of further educating foreign countries through certain ideas or the use of materials and connecting these countries to the United States by citing an example of an American Embassy’s impact of donating books to the Maun Public Library in Botswana, an instance of the First City Monument Bank donating books to the Bethesda Nursery and Primary School in Lagos, and an example of the United Kingdom creating an exchange program in Nairobi to donate books at a local library.

            Also, in relation to the role of donating items as a component of passive reader’s advisory, I discussed four main aspects and developed paragraphs around these elements for the second half of the role of donated items. The four elements associated with the role of donated items as a component of passive reader’s advisory were: transcending identification of genres, encouraging impoverished individuals to read and learn skills by allowing individuals to receive free books for personal use, focusing on the impact of the unique stories of donated items, and centering on the transformative elements associated with the escapism and leisure reading provided by donated items. I addressed these aspects in the second half of the body of my paper.

            In the second half of the paper, I addressed the aspect of transcending identification of genres by citing the course’s textbook. In addition, I discussed the element of encouraging impoverished individuals to read and learn skills by allowing individuals to receive free books for personal use. When I addressed this element, I did not cite any sources. Instead, I utilized logic and my own observations to create a reasonable argument to support my point.

            In addition, I discussed the aspect of focusing on the impact of the unique stories of donated items by citing relevant snippets of text from the course’s textbook. In addition, I addressed the element of centering on the transformative elements associated with the escapism and leisure reading provided by donated items by utilizing one of the course’s online readings.               

            Also, I cited at least fourteen sources to support all of the elements of the role of donated items in the main body of the paper. Specifically, I utilized sources from databases, library websites, the course’s textbook, one of the online readings from the course, and documents or webpages associated with library websites to prove the credibility of my paper’s points. In addition, the primary database that I utilized was Opposing Viewpoints in Context. I decided to use this database, since its sources can be easily accessed in relation to other databases that require more precise queries. I also preferred utilizing the database, since it often gathers information from a wide variety of newspapers, magazines, and other sources.

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