A Humble Background on Library Service to the Amish

Articles discussing library service to the Amish are few and far between. It is clearly an under-examined topic in the study of rural libraries. Part of the difficulty is due to the fact that the Amish lead such private, isolated lives. It can be difficult for outsiders from "the English world" to understand their needs if they aren't articulated. Therefore this blog draws on many different sources Amish -- journal articles, news items, personal experiences, etc. -- to present as detailed a picture as possible of their lifestyle, in the hopes that through a better understanding of them as a people, library services to them can be improved.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Library Services for the Amish

The purpose of this blog is to explore library services for the Amish: the background; the research; the present state; what works and doesn't work, and why; and how libraries can go about implementing services. These topics shall be explored in a series of articles over the coming weeks.
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4 comments:

  1. Amy AreySeptember 17, 2009 at 9:28 AM

    I look forward to seeing what you come up with. I find the Amish facinating and visit Holmes County, Ohio yearly.

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  2. readbooksSeptember 23, 2009 at 11:44 AM

    So many people see the Amish as backward seeking. Think about it, they must work in the English world, adhering to their strict rules of behavior. They are savvy and can use English technology, but can't own it. They balance between both cultures. I look forward to reading the articles.

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  3. Madam LibrarianSeptember 24, 2009 at 11:36 AM

    I've lived around and worked with the Amish for so long. They do have a delicate balance and I always enjoy their visits to the library. I am interested to see what services we could be offering that we don't.

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  4. Kate Enge October 19, 2009 at 12:51 PM

    I'm excited to see what you have to say. The Amish are a group I know so little about, I would love to learn how they receive library services.

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