Q&A

Why did you make this?

I’m a strong believer in making information accessible. Over the years, I’ve developed a profound dislike of the academic habit of locking knowledge behind expensive paywalls and then acting surprised when the public doesn’t engage with scholarship. Strange, that.

I eventually began the quest to earn a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science, partly because I grew tired of discovering that “interested patron” and “information professional” were apparently different species. These days, people are at least willing to entertain my arguments, which I consider progress.

I also enjoy being a gadfly. Somebody has to ask awkward questions.

Is this a peer-reviewed journal?

Good heavens, no. If it were, I wouldn’t get to say half the things I say here, nor would I be able to wander freely through the odd corners of research that catch my attention.

That doesn’t mean I’ve embraced total intellectual anarchy. If anything, I’m more of a weary academic who would like to conduct research in peace and stop being encouraged to pursue a doctorate and accumulate additional debt. Unless someone intends to fund the venture, they are kindly invited to keep such suggestions to themselves.

I’ve increasingly found that meaningful work can happen outside institutions. Sometimes people change systems from within. Sometimes the system changes them instead. Sometimes it simply swats them like a beetle and carries on. I’ve seen all three.

Why do some posts have in-text citations while others don’t?

Sporeshelf isn’t an academic journal, though I do borrow from APA 7 style whenever it makes information easier to follow.

If a post discusses several sources, quotes specific information, or compares different viewpoints, I’ll usually include in-text citations. However, if an entire post revolves around a single book, article, or video that is clearly identified and cited in the references section, I may keep the prose citation-free for the sake of readability.

In other words, I try to strike a balance between transparency and making sure you don’t have to trip over “(Author, Date)” every other sentence.

Do you do research or writing for other people?

Yes. Sporeshelf is primarily my own garden of curiosities, but I also enjoy collaborating with others. If you need research, writing, editing, or simply another pair of eyes on a project, feel free to get in touch and we can discuss what you’re trying to accomplish.

No grand sales pitch. Sometimes interesting people find each other, compare notes, and grow something worthwhile. That seems reason enough.