Prepare yourself for an argument at the library

To avoid an argument, popular advise has always been to keep the conversation away from politics, religion or money. But disagreeing need not be a negative thing. A good, healthy argument about issues can serve many purposes. It can clear the air. It can eliminate misconceptions about the opposite way of thinking. And it can, often, lead to consensus, or at the very least, a better understanding of what the other side is thinking.

Now what has this to do with the library? Well, the library, of course, is the first place to turn for information. And if one is to support a particular viewpoint, it is better to be informed than to spout aphorisms by rote. And it is always important to get the facts right, even if they may be interpreted from different viewpoints.

Which brings us to the specific point today and that is to bring to your attention to a fairly new database we have available for the customers of the Newport Beach Public Library. It is called “Opposing Viewpoints” and can be found on the website by clicking on the bar marked “Articles and Databases.”

If you search them alphabetically, it is on the lower left-hand side with the picture of a graduate on the icon.

The graduate signifies that the database was organized for students who have to engage in debates or write position papers.

There is actually a set of books under the series, “Opposing Viewpoints, “ and the database draws on those Greenhaven Press publications, but goes beyond them to include much more data. So, students, if you are reading this, please make note.

But it can also serve another purpose for the layman or the life-long learner. The topics cover a lot of ground. The homepage, for example will lay out the issues that are presented and by clicking on the issue, you have access to a wide variety of opinions by scholars and journalists, all written in an accessible style. As an expansion on the book set, the database includes other features like statistics, photographs, other websites to investigate, etc.

The issues are very topical and controversial. Otherwise there would be no need to explore opinions on a subject. Just a few of the issues covered include abortion, bioethics, censorship, drugs and athletes, health care reform, right of privacy, and war crimes.

It is also possible to type in a subject of interest and articles will be culled from all of the “Viewpoints.”

In this case, one could type in arts, for example, and articles would pop up from the “Issues” sections on Free Speech, Censorship, Culture Wars, Teen Violence, and Pornography.

So if you are on the outs with your brother-in-law about Global Warming, or your next door neighbor is being completely irrational about Media Violence, take a minute or two when you are on your computer to look at what other people are saying from all different viewpoints.

It might not change your mind, but it will make you more sensitive to that blockhead you have to spend the holidays with, just because he’s related to your spouse.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public Library. This week’s column is by Sara Barnicle. The database can be accessed from home or office computers by accessing the Library homepage at https://www.newportbeach library.org. For more information on the Central Library or any of the branches, please contact the Newport Beach Public Library at (949) 717-3800, option 2.