Feedback

By Staff -- Library Journal, 8/15/2006

Creating irrelevance

Chris Anderson’s article on the Internet’s “long tail” effect struck me as seminal when I first read it in the October 2004 issue of Wired (Katherine Mossman, “Serving the Niche,” LJ 7/06, p. 38–40). That coupled with copyright and digital download issues made me wonder if libraries haven’t placed themselves in the unenviable position of creating our own irrelevance. We find ourselves in a market position similar to manufacturers of music CDs. The patron/consumer can locate virtually whatever he/she wants and download it immediately for listening and manipulation. The current distribution system of physical CDs is no longer needed, wanted, or necessary.

Libraries have been in the business of providing information to patrons/consumers as rapidly as possible and priding themselves on the creation of sophisticated interlibrary loan networks. Interlibrary loan now represents a tiny fraction of circulation; a fraction I anticipate will whither because of the inevitable movement toward digitization of all content. That digitization will soon eliminate the need for libraries, as they currently exist. The patron/consumer will be able to go online using sophisticated search engines and retrieve content immediately. The library as distributor will be as irrelevant as the middleman currently is in the music market.

The issue we need to face is how to reinvent ourselves as brokers and how to support an environment that does not stratify patrons into those who can afford access and those who cannot. The traditional, massive library building as repository of physical materials will be as irrelevant and quaint in 20 years as the horse and buggy.

—Eric C. Welsh, Dean of Learning Resources, Highland Community Coll., Freeport, IL

Fubar Public Library (Michael Rogers, “When in Doubt, Throw Out,” How Do You Manage? LJ 6/1/06, p. 82ff.)? What were you thinking—how did this get past the editors?

—Hali R. Keeler, Dir., Bill Memorial Lib., Groton, CT

[Ed. Note: An acronym for “fouled up beyond all recognition,” it seemed innocuous to us.]

I read the letter from Sally Hawkes regarding plagiarized novels (“Stolen words,” Feedback, LJ 6/1/06, p. 12). Hawkes apparently refers to the recent novel by Harvard University student Kaavya Viswanathan, which plagiarized passages from several popular young adult or chick-lit novels.

Hawkes proposed that librarians should discard such offending works in order to show solidarity with writers.

I disagree for several reasons. First, the publisher in this case made no offer to reimburse libraries for the cost of the offending book. Second, it could be argued that discarding the offending novel would amount to self-censorship. Certainly librarians have a responsibility to weed nonfiction titles that contain outdated information, but in the case of a plagiarized novel, how does the presence of the item on our shelves harm the patron? Third, librarians are already targeted by every nut in the United States who wants to participate in the culture wars by getting a book on or off the library shelf. Don’t we have enough to deal with without looking for more work?

I would even argue that Viswanathan may not have been well served by her publisher. It’s a shame, because I read the book and felt that she may have had potential. She will probably have no second chance, and so be it. But let’s not kick a dead horse.

—Chris Wiegard, Appomattox Regional Lib., Hopewell, VA

Thank you so much for your attention to New Orleans, our beloved city, in its time of need (Francine Fialkoff, “Mission Not Impossible,” Editorial, LJ 6/1/06, p. 8). You have not only filled our hotel rooms, restaurants, shops, and museums, but you have lifted our spirits more than you know. Your backbreaking labor to restore our libraries and the special work you’ve done to resurrect the Alvar Street Branch is a gift you are giving to our community for many years to come.

I grew up on Alvar Street in the Ninth Ward in the 1950s. That library was my refuge from a difficult home life. For many years, I went there almost every day. I know there are still children in the neighborhood whose lives it will positively impact.

Yesterday, I went to the dedication of the Alvar Street Branch. While listening to the speakers, I looked down at my key ring and saw the attached cardholder that the Holyoke Public Library, MA, had given me when I signed for a card last fall. We had evacuated to Western Massachusetts following the storm, and the library was one of the first places we sought. We used the libraries in Holyoke, Springfield, Northampton, South Hadley, and Hadley, as well as the one at Mount Holyoke College. Every librarian we encountered gave us time, direction, and good advice.

Don’t ever underestimate the importance of what you do.

—Joanne Hilton, New Orleans