As scholars and professionals, we should be the people who treasure the English
language and its power to communicate exact ideas. We should not be the people
misusing the language! I know it's one of those things where someone misused a
word and others did, too, without thinking about what they were saying.
>From Webster's 3rd: "media pl of medium"
"medium 3. something through or by which something is accomplished, conveyed,
or carried on
3c.esp. a channel, method, or system of communication, information or
entertainment"
The word "media" encompasses many things from paint and stone to CD-ROM. To
call a department housing only some of these materials "media" is a misnomer,
a misuse of the English language. Let's leave "doublespeak" to the
politicians! (By the way, there is a magazine called "The Quarterly Review of
Doublespeak" that is great fun.)
Audio-Visual is a graphic, understandable description of the department.
Maria Koehmstedt
Reference and Audio-Visual Librarian
Clatsop Community College Library
1680 Lexington Ave.
Astoria, OR 97103