Tutor profile: Laura M.

Why is weeding important and what are some things to consider when weeding?

Weeding is maintaining the health of your collection. When patrons see out-of-date or damaged books on the shelf, it causes them to lose confidence in the library's collection. Some things to take into consideration when trying to decide whether to toss or keep a book: timeliness--is the book about a trendy subject that no one cares about any more? relevancy--are there more current books that better address the topic? circulation--is anyone still checking the book out? and physical condition--is the book torn or water-damaged? Toss it!

Ralph Ellison's novel Invisible Man is a seminal example of the modern American novel, discuss its themes.

Invisible Man takes on a number of subjects throughout the course of the novel, as the unnamed narrator makes his way through life. African American migration from the South to Northern cities, education, Marxism, Black Nationalism, and perhaps most importantly, personal identity. Each chapter touches on a different aspect of African American life in the 1940s and 50s, from sharecroppers to city dwellers, educated and uneducated, politically active or living entirely underground.

What is an Oxford comma and why should I use it?

An Oxford comma is a comma used after the penultimate (next to last) item in a list of items. While it is not technically required, it often clarifies the relationship of the items to each other. For example, the title of the book by Lynne Truss is called "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves." A panda bear eats shoots and leaves, but a person "eats, shoots, and leaves." An oxford comma makes clear what you are talking about.