The “Library Science” Course

Like all courses at Wake Forest, its respective classes never fail to surprise me, or at the very least disengage me. Every single course I have taken has taught me something valuable. And with this Library science course I’ve learned the meaning of “free” doesn’t exist.

Knowledge is Power

As a senior at Wake Forest, every single class I enter comes with my own formed ideas taken from past classes, and I continually build my thought-process, philosophy, and overall ideology. One particular topic that left me surprised was uncovering the amount of money that publishers charge to read scholarly articles that should be free. At that moment of discovery, my thoughts went back my freshman year Human Rights class. Education is a human right! I became infuriated. How could such access be limited to those very few that were eager to pull out their American Express and Mastercards? What was wrong with our society? Profit over education! This is what it all came down to — money!

Money is power?

I then realized, that those with money actually do have power. They are the movers and shakers of this world…they can easily maneuver in and out of society. They determine the knowledge that is recieved. The publishing companies — thriving on billions of dollars of profit — they determine our access. We are barred! As I learned this, I became emotionally fiery — as most things make me feel. I realized that this class is not only about research. But about being “honest” with oneself. Recognizing the privileges we face. And learning from those privileges to assure others — as many as possible — can benefit from our doings.

Ultimately, the 1.5 Credit Library Science class taught more than just research. It taught me about myself — and my stance in society. I have a moral obligation…It starts with me.