Comments on: Technolust and Chastened Twopointopians

By: Raynor

Raynor — Thu, 13 May 2010 11:02:20 +0000

@uhohtopian

You mean weeding and responsible collection development? By Jove!

By: Just Because

Just Because — Thu, 13 May 2010 08:51:48 +0000

When the bean counters come, you better have some good statistics and reasons why you should be funded.

Being a de facto homeless shelter and refuge isn’t going to get you many of those beans.

By: UncleJack

UncleJack — Thu, 13 May 2010 08:37:07 +0000

It is no fun to watch you lemmings march on to oblivion while your libraries slowly shrink and die!!!

By: Post Postmodern Librarian

Post Postmodern Librarian — Thu, 13 May 2010 08:05:12 +0000

People should read this article and change newspapers for technology. “One Cathedral More” or “Mere Lounging
Places for Bummers”? The Cultural Politics of Leisure and the Public Library in Gilded Age America”
Alexis McCrossen

The difference though is then books were still looked for in the library. Today people dont need the library!

By: soren faust

soren faust — Thu, 13 May 2010 07:42:30 +0000

“More and more, libraries are becoming spots for homeless and illegal aliens to congregate so that liberals can have one place to go find them to “help” their cause.”

There’s always one political simpleton in the group. Thanks, Just Because!

There are two sides to the technology spectrum, those who despise it and those who worship it; both are disconnected from reality and history. Isn’t it true, however, that most librarians are somewhere in the middle of the spectrum? I use a pen to write, which means I’m employing technology as a means to an end to get my thoughts down in some manner.

Means to an end! A library is a means to an end, it is not the end in itself. People come into my library, some use pencils to do their work, while others use their laptops. They are both relevant technologies; they are both means to an end. I have to wonder, was there this much controversy when the first ball point pen was invented? The ballpointopians vs. the quill luddites?

By: Jouko Ahola

Jouko Ahola — Thu, 13 May 2010 07:39:16 +0000

An interesting aside, I saw this in the job requirements for a librarian.

Ability to carry 25 lbs. 200 yards.

Now you know why you don’t see many librarians in World’s Strongest competitions.

By: Just Because

Just Because — Thu, 13 May 2010 06:55:49 +0000

Yes, people may still want books, but the model is shifting.

Many more people are going to amazon to get their books because in the long run it is cheaper to do so. Plus, they can sell them later when they don’t want them.

More and more, libraries are becoming spots for homeless and illegal aliens to congregate so that liberals can have one place to go find them to “help” their cause.

Face it, as an intellectual institution, libraries are dying.

By: Yeah... right

Yeah... right — Wed, 12 May 2010 23:54:50 +0000

Er, Just Because? In case you haven’t noticed, digital stuff is still a drop in the bucket, and the people–despite the fever dreams of library admin–prefer books. Look at the protesters of the Boston Public Library closings, which are supposed to be done to increase techno-savvy libraries and cut down on brick and mortar book warehouses… the people are furious and demanding intervention from every elected official they can find. It’s not what they want.

By: Fancy Nancy

Fancy Nancy — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:44:23 +0000

Dare I print this out and hang it on the bulletin board in our staff room? Although I doubt our resident twopointonians can take a hint.

By: librarEwoman

librarEwoman — Wed, 12 May 2010 15:25:40 +0000

The library where I work actually does evaluate the effectiveness of our social networking presence. We have spreadsheets of usage statistics for each one of our social networknig pages. It’s not as if we just threw up a Twitter page and forgot about asking questions such as, “Is this worthwhile? Is it effective?” I think you underestimate the intelligence of many technology-savvy librarians out there.