Enoch Pratt Librarian, Deborah Taylor, visits Bryn Mawr

Enoch Pratt Librarian, Deborah Taylor, spoke at upper school Convocation last week about the importance of libraries and reading in the age of technology. "There are two questions that inflame life-long readers and librarians, two groups to whom I happily belong:Does anybody read anymore?

And why do we need libraries when we can just 'Google it'?" I’ll start with the second. No, you can’t just 'Google it'.”  Ms. Taylor explained that although she uses Google as much as anyone, we must be aware of its limitations.  She cited author, Neil Gaiman, who once said "Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one."

In responding to the question of whether people still read Ms. Taylor said that not a week goes by that she doesn't see a Netflix movie that is based on a book. "Somebody's reading!" She reminded us that graphic novels and comics count as books too. "Books come into being in all kinds of ways because we can become readers in all kinds of ways." Ms. Taylor's grandmother told her stories aurally, and that sparked her love of books and reading.  She shared some of her favorite books throughout the speech, and they are listed below.  Ms. Taylor will be retiring from her position as the Coordinator of School and Student Services at Pratt next week.  We are very thankful that she took time out of her busy morning to visit Bryn Mawr.

Books that Ms. Taylor mentioned during her speech:

Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Harry Potter series by J. K . Rowling

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.

All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness (A Discovery of Witches is first volume)

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

The Hemingses of Monticello by Annette Gordon-Reed

Belle: The Slave Daughter and the Lord Chief Justice by Paula Byrne
The Library Book by Susan Orlean