My contributions to this discussion.
1. Probably "forums" rather than "fora" in current English. (Query: Is
there a discussion Group in Latin?)
2. The most heated debates in these discussion groups are always about
what they should be used for, which is all a bit depressingly
introspective.
3. There is currently no finer way than LIS-PUB-LIBS of getting
information fast. The responses to my recent query about sources of
disposable headphones gave me just what I needed and enabled me to sent
out the summary of responses after 3hrs 30 mins.
My current query about joint school/public libraries has so far pulled
in 28 replies and they are still coming.
4. The stated purpose of supporting "Implementing the Internet into
public libraries" may have been the intent of the originators, but the
group would be pretty useless if it confined itself to that purpose now.
Implementation of the internet in public libraries is so dominated by
the People's Network Project that [log in to unmask] tends to
be used for that purpose as well. Certainly many of the most useful info
disseminated by this Group lately has been non-internet related, and the
Group needs to be officially re-focused.
5. A major obstacle to keeping a discussion going in these Groups is
that people are understandably cautious about what they can say in open
forum, especially if what they have to say implies a less than glowing
endorsement of their present employer's policies. This tends to lead
people to reply "off-line" (even by phone on a "don't quote me basis").
It should therefore not be assumed that a query has fallen on deaf ears,
or a discussion has ended, just because no responses are appearing in
LIS-PUB-LIBS.
6. I don't at all mind receiving advertising over the Group, and see no
point in objecting to it any more than objecting to advertising in
newspapers, magazines and websites. All I would say is that it needs to
be relevant - courses on librarianship issues "Yes"; On-line casinos and
hot tips for Newmarket "No".
Peter Marshall
Project Development Librarian
Bexley Council
Thamesmead Centre
Yarnton Way
Erith. DA18 4DR
Tel: 020 8320 4135 (Direct Line)
email: [log in to unmask]
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