Unit 2 books and libraries

Reading

Read the texts below attentively in order to immerse into the atmosphere of the topic under discussion and be able to use information and ideas from them in the activities following afterwards.

Text 2.1

Books in Our Lives

It seems that books have always been in our lives. For centuries they have represented and reflected human culture and constituted an integral part of human life.

The history of books goes back to about four thousand years before our century. Initially, books were hand-written on special boards made of clay, wood or ivory. The second stage was making use of papyrus and, subsequently, parchment. Then there was the era of wood-engraved books. The first half of the 15^th century saw the invention of printing and since that time books have become very popular and accessible.

Nowadays, books are indispensable in everyone's life. They broaden the mind and they are an important source of information and knowledge about the world. They perform a useful service to people, teaching and entertaining them. Furthermore, they communicate the feelings, experiences and provide important evidence of human thought. They also record past events and make history more vivid and alive. Finally, they preserve cultural bonds and this is probably the most significant of their advantages.

Books are helpful in a wide variety of situations. They not only inform but also protect people from boredom. Whenever we are ill or when we have to spend long hours on a train or bus, books seem to be irreplaceable. We may also take them on our holidays and enjoy the pleasure of getting involved in them while lying on a beach and sunbathing. Sometimes during lonely evenings when there is nobody to talk to, books become good friends. Furthermore, they may be helpful when one has a serious problem and is looking for a possible solution or wants consolation. Books are also a way out for those who want to escape from the real world into fiction and forget about their everyday problems and stresses.

There are many kinds of books that satisfy every age and taste. The first group is colourful books for children; fairy-tales, stories, comics and so on. The second large group is books for grown-ups. They may be roughly divided into scientific books and works of fiction The aim of scientific books, such as encyclopaedias, lexicons, guides or professional books is to inform, while works of fiction, such as novels, detective stories, adventure books, sagas, diaries and so on serve to entertain. The great variety of books means that everyone may find something interesting.

Some people say that books are our greatest friends. They are right. Books have served us for centuries and they have never let us down.

Text 2,2 To Read Or Not To Read: that is the question!

Television, computer, audio-visual instruments in general, are all gradually taking over what used to be the domain of literature. Is reading a vanishing custom, or will it remain an important means of gaining knowledge? We asked some of your contemporaries from all over the world how they get on with the printed word. Here's what they said.

“Yes, I quite like reading, as long as it's something short. Otherwise, I can't follow what's happening, I don't understand anything, and I get bored. I prefer short stories: you can finish them quickly.” Buky, Tel Aviv (Israel)

"I love reading funny books, books that make me laugh. At the moment, I'm reading 'Three men in a boat' by Jerome K. Jerome and it's really entertaining! I always look forward to the moment when I can curl up in an armchair and go on with the story. I like it a lot when my mum comes to find out why I'm laughing so much and she can't understand why." Nieves, Badajoz (Espana)

"I wish someone could tell me why it is that as soon as I've been reading a book for a bit, I fall asleep. I always start off with the best intentions, but after a few pages my eyelids come down and I'm snoozing. When I start reading again, I don't remember where I was, so to pick up the thread, I've got to go back a few pages. So I read, and then I snooze again! It means I'm always in the same place!" Billy. Perth (Australia)

"I like reading books where the main character is like me, with problems similar to mine. I want to see how they manage to solve their difficulties. But it isn't easy to find writers who know how to handle themes that are both everyday and universal. Only the real greats can do that!" Jürgen, Graz (Österreich)

"One thing I really can't stand reading are descriptions: they're always so long and boring! I get the idea that the writer just puts them in to show how smart he is and how much he knows about life. I prefer action scenes and a lot of dialogue. I usually just skip the descriptive bits and go on where the story starts again." Dwight New Orleans (USA)

"The teacher we've got at the moment makes us read a lot He says, if you want to write well, you've got to read a lot like all the great writers did. He also says that knowing how to write well can help you in a lot of areas in life. I agree that the more I write and read the easier it is to study other subjects. Heading can teach you how to reason."Romina, Alessandria (Italy)

"I've got to go to school everyday as well as doing my homework; in the afternoons, I do some sport, and on Saturdays I have swimming competitions. In the evening, I'm tired, and I don't feel like reading. So, when I want to relax and enjoy myself, I prefer watching a film on TV, or going to the cinema with some friends." Marianne, Auxerre (France)

“Reading is like a great adventure for me. Starting a book is always a great thrill, and I want the writer to carry me off to new, unknown places, places I've never been to before. That's why I love the descriptive passages, because, if they're well done, they can make me feel that I'm in a particular landscape, make me feel hot or cold, make me see the people in the story with such detail that I feel I could reach out and touch them.” Pearl, Taipei (Taiwan)

And what about you? How do you feel about the world of literature? Do you agree with some of your contemporaries, or have you got your own opinions?

Text 2.2

LIBRARIES. TYPES OF LIBRARIES

Library, collection of books and other informational materials made available to people for reading, study, or reference. The word library comes from liber, the Latin word for "book." However, library collections have almost always contained a variety of materials. Contemporary libraries maintain collections that include not only printed materials such as manuscripts, books, newspapers, and magazines, but also art reproductions, films, sound and video .recordings, maps, photographs, microfiches, CD-ROMs, computer software, online databases, and other media. In addition to maintaining collections within library buildings', modem libraries often feature telecommunications links that provide users with access to information at remote sites.

The central mission of a library is to collect, organize, preserve, and provide access to knowledge and information In fulfilling this mission, libraries preserve a valuable record of culture that can be passed down to succeeding generations. Libraries are an essential link in this communication between the past, present, and future. Whether the cultural record is contained in books or in electronic formats, libraries ensure that the record is preserved and made available for later use. Libraries provide people with access to the information they need to work, play, learn, and govern.

People in many professions use library resources to assist them in their work. People also use library resources to gain information about personal interests or to obtain recreational materials such as films and novels. Students use libraries to supplement and enhance their classroom experiences, to learn skills in locating sources of information, and to develop good reading and study habits. Public officials use libraries to research legislation and public policy issues. One of the most valued of all cultural institutions, the library provides information and services that are essential to learning and progress.

Libraries fall into six basic categories (1) public libraries which serve all members of the general public, (2) school libraries, which serve students and faculty through the high school level, (3) college and university libraries, which serve students and faculty in higher education, (4) research libraries, which serve the needs of advanced scholars, (5) special libraries, which serve various organizations, industries and governmental agencies, and (6) government libraries, which serve governmental departments and agencies, and often the general public as well. Each type of library develops its mission statement collections, services, and facilities to satisfy the needs of its particular clientele.

Almost every town in Britain and the US has a public library. Many libraries were built in the 1800s with money given by Andrew Carnegie, a US businessman originally from Scotland.

Public libraries are often open until late evening during the week, part of Saturday, and in the US even on Sunday. There are around 5000 in Britain, with an average of 45 000 books in each. Librarians manage the libraries and advise people how to find the books or information they need.

Public libraries contain fiction (= story books), non-fiction (= books containing facts), children's books, and usually magazines, CDs and videos. Many now have a computer with access to the Internet. Every library has a catalogue which shows where books on a particular subject can be found.

Many US libraries use the Library of Congress system for arranging books in order on the shelves. In Britain the Dewey decimal system is the most used.

Libraries are often divided into a reference section and a lending section. Books from the reference section, e.g. dictionaries and directories, as well as newspapers and magazines, can only be used in the library Books from the lending section can be borrowed free of charge for a period of two or three weeks by people who are members of the library. Anyone living in the local area can join a library and obtain a library card. If a book is returned late, after the due date, the borrower has to pay a fine. Public libraries are also a source of local information and a centre for community activities. Many have special programmes for children to help them feel comfortable using a library. In school holidays they organize storytelling and other entertainments.

Travelling libraries (= libraries set up inside large vans) take books round country areas for people who cannot easily get to a town. In the US travelling libraries are called bookmobiles. Schools, colleges and universities have their own private libraries for the use of students and teachers.

In both Britain and the US public libraries receive money from local and national government but, increasingly, they do not receive enough for their needs. In Britain some smaller libraries have had to close. In the US people believe strongly that information and education should be freely available. Libraries are important in achieving this but, as in Britain, they do not get sufficient money and depend on the help of volunteers who work without pay.

The biggest library in Britain is the British Library in London, which has over 18 million books, 1 million CDs and 55 000 hours of tape recordings. Other important libraries include the National Libraries of Scotland and Wales and the Bodleian Library in Oxford. These libraries are called copyright libraries and are entitled to receive a free copy of every book that is published in Britain. The largest library in the US is the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, and it receives a copy of every book that is published in the US.

Text 2.3

Film adaptations are never as good as the books they are based on by Carlo Pontiilo

I believe that the argument about books versus films very much depends on the quality of the book, A film adaptation of a bad book might improve on the printed version, but, in my opinion, a good book is always better than 'the film of the book'. Many people who have enjoyed a book are tempted to go to the cinema to see the film adaptation or watch it on video, but I'm sure most of them are disappointed by the exрегіепсе.

I think that there are three good reasons why films of good books are generally disappointing. Firstly, a film is comparatively short (perhaps just ninety minutes long) whereas the book it is based on may be several hundred pages long and take many hours to read. This means that whеn you go and see the film, you often find that some of your favourite characters or scenes are not included because the screen writer has had to simplify and cut the story. Secondly, books can give you important information that is difficult to present in a film. For example, a novelist can tell us what a character is thinking as well as what he or she says, while in a film wе usually only hear what the character says. But the third and most important reason is that when wе read a book, wе imagine, for еxаmрle, what a character is like and our mental picture of that person is very different to how he or she is represented on the screen. When wе watch the film, wе find ourselves thinking things such as 'that actor is much too small' or 'that actress should be younger' and that stops us enjoying the film.

For these reasons, my opinion is that while it might not be such a bad idea to read a book after you have seen the film adaptation, it is never good to see a film adaptation after you have read and enjoyed a book.

Text 2.4