2008 Woodie Awards
Exploration of diversity through literature
Instructors unite in order to discuss cultural novels
Uyen Vo
Issue date: 12/14/06 Section: In Focus
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The Chabot Book Club, now called "Library Readers" is a group that gathers to discuss books that reflect the diversity of the school and current events or exhibits on campus.
Originally started as a part of Staff Development, the book group is now loosely affiliated with the school library. As the organizer, Chabot librarian Carol Baumann reads a variety of books and offers suggestions for interesting titles. At the moment she is reading Lost in the City, a book of short stories by Edward P. Jones, which she will recommend to the group for reading over winter break.
"Currently only faculty members attend," Baumann said, "but it's really just a club so anyone would be welcome."
When she was on the Staff Development committee, she was reminded by nursing instructors that there was an abundance of students and patients from different cultures. They realized the importance in understanding the different cultures in the community and so established the book club.
"There would be basic meetings or we would only read basic texts," Baumann said about prior efforts toward multicultural awareness. "It wasn't enriching and substantial enough," she said. "Reading books about different cultures is more satisfying." Some cultures addressed have been Iranian, Indian, Native American, Chinese, and Vietnamese, examined through works of both fiction and nonfiction. Early Childhood Development instructor Barbara Ogman said, "(We) focus on books that explore the reflected cultures of students at Chabot and look deeper into the diversity we teach in, and live in."
A Vietnamese faculty member came to a meeting to share with the group about her own heritage and experiences when they read Catfish and Mandala by Andrew X. Pham, a memoir examining the author's voyage across the country by bicycle.
For their Indian segment, Chabot College Research Analyst, Rajinder Samra talked about his experiences coming here as well as his values and changing generations.In concurrence with the current quilt exhibit in the library, the group has read Circle of Quilters: an Elm Creek quilts novel.
Originally started as a part of Staff Development, the book group is now loosely affiliated with the school library. As the organizer, Chabot librarian Carol Baumann reads a variety of books and offers suggestions for interesting titles. At the moment she is reading Lost in the City, a book of short stories by Edward P. Jones, which she will recommend to the group for reading over winter break.
"Currently only faculty members attend," Baumann said, "but it's really just a club so anyone would be welcome."
When she was on the Staff Development committee, she was reminded by nursing instructors that there was an abundance of students and patients from different cultures. They realized the importance in understanding the different cultures in the community and so established the book club.
"There would be basic meetings or we would only read basic texts," Baumann said about prior efforts toward multicultural awareness. "It wasn't enriching and substantial enough," she said. "Reading books about different cultures is more satisfying." Some cultures addressed have been Iranian, Indian, Native American, Chinese, and Vietnamese, examined through works of both fiction and nonfiction. Early Childhood Development instructor Barbara Ogman said, "(We) focus on books that explore the reflected cultures of students at Chabot and look deeper into the diversity we teach in, and live in."
A Vietnamese faculty member came to a meeting to share with the group about her own heritage and experiences when they read Catfish and Mandala by Andrew X. Pham, a memoir examining the author's voyage across the country by bicycle.
For their Indian segment, Chabot College Research Analyst, Rajinder Samra talked about his experiences coming here as well as his values and changing generations.In concurrence with the current quilt exhibit in the library, the group has read Circle of Quilters: an Elm Creek quilts novel.
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