It's all about interpretation, isn't it. The bottom line is we are
advocating CHARGING companies to insert their junk mail into books. That
means people with wealth have access to people who go to a library to simply
borrow a book, not be sold something.
The fact people in the profession think that is simply progress beggars
belief!
I was waiting for the first person to use the old "do nothing and living in
the past" line of persuasion. The old classic, I don't really have a
positive argument, but I will paint you as old fashioned, etc.
This is clearly not about moving services forward at all, it is a cynical
revenue raising gimmick that is an insult to users and the service. It is a
wonderful sacrifice at the altar of managerialism, though, which is why I'm
sure many obsessed with that mantra think it a wonderful idea.
The money raised from this will do little or nothing to stave off closures
other than make our current commercially obsessed government smile from ear
to ear. Frankly that is typical of the scare stories people use to justify
the unjustifiable. You don't sacrifice your values to curry favour with
people who detest the concept of what we do in the first place.
But then I'm old fashioned.
--------------------------------------------------------------
David McMenemy
Department of Computer and Information Sciences
University of Strathclyde
Glasgow, Scotland
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-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Richard Aird
Sent: 06 November 2007 08:27
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Library books get insert adverts
My interpretation of the Carnegie quote is that he was talking about the
public we serve, rather than income generation.
As for "more utterly needless chipping away at a proud heritage", I
would suggest that doing nothing and living in our past is having a
greater effect than just merely chipping away.
I'm not in support of this advertising scheme in particular, but some
library authorities are sure to be forced into such routes as the
consequences of not doing so may be unthinkable. Where councils are
facing extreme financial pressure (in some cases, the most difficult
settlements for 10+ years), there is a real threat of public library
closures (70% proposed closures in some *known* extreme cases). This
completely overshadows the whole debate, as such measures would
completely destroy our 'proud heritage' so there would be virtually
nothing left to chip away at.
I'm sure authorities facing difficulties next year, given a choice
between up to 70% branch closures or income generation to offset that,
would of course consider 'selling out' and choose the corporate ads
every time - to safeguard this 'proud heritage' that faces becoming a
thing of the past.
Let's not judge all who go down that route without knowing their
circumstances or reasoning first.
Richard.
-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David McMenemy
Sent: 05 November 2007 23:44
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Library books get insert adverts
Carnegie summed it up best when he said:
"There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free
Public
Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor
WEALTH
receives the slightest consideration."
You may not think it is a big deal, but it fundamentally changes the
relationship the public library has with its community and with its
history.
Unlikely to lead to planetary apocalypse, indeed, but more utterly
needless
chipping away at a proud heritage, you betcha!
--------------------------------------------------------------
David McMenemy
Department of Computer and Information Sciences
University of Strathclyde
Glasgow, Scotland
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