"Internalizing A Librarian's Altruistic Value: A Self -Witnessing Report on Book
Conservation
By Derrick M. Yamane
June 20, 1983
Introduction
My name is Derrick Yamane, I'm in Dr. James' Social Psychology class for this
first summer session. The class has been revealing. It has exposed the "self"
more to ourselves.
This paper deals with altruism. To explore this area we will focus our attention to
book conservation.
My first recollected memory of visiting a library was when I was a third grader.
On the way home from the swimming pool, my friends and I would stop in the
library. Sometimes I would borrow a book or two, which I really did not complete
reading, and return them. Probably, because of the limited amount of books at
home, I thought I gave them sufficient care. But I didn't realize the effort the
librarians go through in preserving each book until now.
Procedure
On the 15th of June, the class viewed a slide show presentation by the University
of Hawaii on book conservation. It was presented from the librarian's view point.
Even though it was short, a lot of information was given.
I didn't know books had to be exactly upright on the shelves, if not the binding is
damaged. Nor did I think about books out of print, what would happen if you lost
or damaged a book and you couldn't replace it. That book with all it's information,
ideas and/or creativity will be lost forever. (Forever is eternity) Presently if we
run out of something we just buy or get a new one, it is very easy for us to do. The accessibility of Items in our society makes us lose sight of the value of things.
The losers are ourselves and the future generations. Books offer a wealth of
knowledge, wouldn't it be a shame to start all over again without the use of books.
Results
Considering all the information from the slide show presentation, I have followed
those suggestions when at the library. With summer vacation upon us and
attending classes, I have the opportunity and responsibility to go in the library and
study or to find information.
I tried to take a book out of the shelf using the proper way. As demonstrated by
librarians, you push back the books on both sides of your book then you draw it
out by grasping the middle. This method was not acceptable to me. My reflective
self or my reasoning was in conflict with the proper way". What about the other
two books that were pushed back, I thought it was a lot of trouble to place them in
their original position when you don't have to move them to begin with. Instead
of drawing down the book from its binder, I would tilt it down by flipping the top
of the book. In this situation, it is a rational drive because it's reasoned out.
Some of the suggestions of book care by the librarian, I have always been doing.
I carefully turn pages and not mark them. I'm not sure if I do it because I'm
thinking of others, probably it's because I have respect for things. In this
situation, it reflects the spiritual self. Your response to situations or stimulus is
due to your natural and rational drives but dictating or controlling those drives,
whether consciously or not, is your spiritual drives.
Discussion
The results reinforce the Ennead Matrix. The spiritual drive in the spiritual self
level has internalized axioms and concepts. So response is with total freedom, not
forced in anyway.
Altruism is in zone 7, spiritual drive, so it is internalized. You can not convince
yourself by rational drives to be altruistic, it must be you already. The A world of
drives, in the matrix, influences each other in a downward direction, from
spiritual to rational to material. The Spiritual drive also stimulates the spiritual
cognitive to respond.
No matter what the reasons formulated by the rational drive, it cannot change the
spiritual drive. If it is in disagreement then a conflict within the self will develop.
Afterthought
This paper made me seriously contemplate the "true" intentions of myself and
other people. Can we, the most knowledgeable about ourselves, do a service for
others and call it altruism? Is it altruism or selfish motives? Probably, we must
attain the enlightenment level of life to answer these questions. Are these
enlightened people in zone 7 or are they beyond that, if then is there such a level?
Another area to look at is other ways to become aware of values. Besides the
"teacher-pupil" method, I think "modeling" can transmit values. Everyone wants
to imitate their idol, but to truly internalize the value is difficult.