Feedback | Letters to LJ, April 15, 2011 

No outlets, no support
In response to Harold N. Boyer’s “No free electricity” (Feedback, LJ 3/1/11, p. 10), I can understand budgetary concerns pertaining to the digital generation’s use of outlets at the library. I am a member of this newer generation and a future librarian. I own a laptop with about an hour of battery life. If you want me in the library, using your resources and helping your numbers, you have to consider my needs for my laptop not to die in the middle of a project. You don’t have to provide me with free electricity. Not providing a digital generation some access to a basic necessity of work on a laptop guarantees that generation has one fewer reason to support your library. You mentioned a user who used her computer for hours and left without checking anything out. Maybe that person did not come and personally thank you for providing a safe, quiet, supportive workspace, but if she was asked to support the library by signing a petition or writing a quick letter, I am confident she would do so. Please do not assume that because people are of the digital generation they see the library as a giant electrical outlet. If they do, it is our responsibility as professionals to engage them...and show them the additional services the library can ­offer.—Tracy Gossage, MLIS Student, GSLIS, Dominican Univ., River Forest, IL

Plugs and all
Oh, please, cry me a river (Harold N. Boyer, “No free electricity,” Feedback, LJ 3/1/11, p. 10). Oops, better not—might accidently stand too close to a precious power outlet and get electrocuted. Think of the cost of all that electricity! Our library, in a small town of 5000, has a budget that falls short of $80,000 (and that includes my salary). I am the only paid employee. I have my MLIS and almost 30 years’ experience in libraries. More than 30 volunteers serve as my staff. Our library provides five Internet public access computers as well as wireless service. Our holdings, around 20,000, include DVDs, books on CD, and music CDs, as well as new fiction and nonfiction and a decent retrospective collection. Our space is small, but we are delighted to provide any space possible, plugs and all, for our patrons to use their laptops. During tourist season, it’s practically standing room only. Why have wireless if it’s not going to be used? —Jane Mitchell, Libn., Indian Rocks Beach Lib., FL

Victory in L.A.
It’s great to hear that public support is rallying for public libraries (bit.ly/gr1Aiw)! Common sense has begun to prevail.—Jacqueline Seewald, author (e.g., Stacy’s Song, Tea Leaves and Tarot Cards, The Drowning Pool), Old Bridge, NJ

Wrong on Wisconsin
Just read John Berry’s “Solidarity in Wisconsin” (Blatant Berry, LJ 3/15/11, p. 10). Can’t say that I agree, and this is why I do not belong to ALA.—Mary Tygett, Reference Libn., Spartanburg Cty. PLs, SC

Open source ERM
Maria Collins and Jill E. Grogg’s “Building a Better ERMS” (LJ 3/1/11, p. 22-26) is a great article. I am just a bit disappointed that Trueserials is not included in the open source providers section. Trueserials is a hosted electronic resource management service that is powered by Simon Fraser University Library’s open source reSearcher software (CUFTS). Trueserials offers a flexible interface and highly customizable output for a simple annual subscription that includes a hosted ERM, E-journal aggregation, Knowledgebase, A-Z list service, OpenURL Link resolver, and integration with Google Scholar. We began hosting in 2008 and currently have customers in the United States and Europe. Most of our customers use at least some of our ERM functionality. Check us out, at trueserials.com—Lauren Pinsley, Trueserials, Troy, NY

Horse of a different color
While I appreciate the overall favorable review of our film Wild Horses in Winds of Change (LJ 4/1/11, p. 65)...I made a decision not to cover solutions in this film because there are no large-scale sustainable solutions yet.

The reviewer must have missed the narrative that speaks to the millions of dollars needed to hold horses in captivity compared to managing them in the wild. She also says the film is flawed by not stating how many horses should be allowed on the range. The question I address...is how can fair, unbiased assessments be determined while so many myths and prejudices prevail about the status of wild horses on the range.

Greatly opposing points of view are included...as three interviews with Bureau of Land Management affiliates are highlighted. The main storyteller is an equine ecologist who was once employed by BLM and the rest of the cast are wild horse and experienced people who love and work with ­mustangs.

I appreciate the recommendation of the film for public performances in large libraries, horse lovers, and animal activists groups. I believe its ecological basis and uncanny horse sense make it desirable in rural communities and college classrooms.
—Mara LeGrand, Skydancer Productions, Durango, CO