Comments on: Judge Not, Lest Ye Be Judged, Unless It’s Convenient

By: ipsolibrarian

ipsolibrarian — Thu, 31 May 2012 23:05:59 +0000

They allow porn viewing at the Boston Public Library. It’s disgusting to look at that stuff in a public place. We find patrons wanking in public all the time. It’s horrible.

By: Smith444

Smith444 — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 16:22:48 +0000

Why is it unbelieveable that this site is one you can turn to for actual discussion of issues? It always has been. In general – here you will hear the lament of the library employee who works on desk dealing with patrons – putting up with poor polices etc.

By: me

me — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:21:28 +0000

“I ask this every time I visit a library and observe the majority of patrons using computers for email & Facebook, playing computer games, watching dumb videos.”

Firstly, the major difference between a library and retail establishment that provides wi-fi is the fact that we provide the computers as well for those that can’t afford their own laptops. Secondly, it’s ridiculous to try and police every single person on a computer and tell them they can’t look at Facebook or Youtube (Especially when so many libraries have Facebook pages and Youtube channels). That is just ridiculous.

However, I’m sure like many other libraries the internet use times are limited. In our case to 30 minutes and one hour with extensions only given for those doing research, genealogy, homework, resumes, job searching, etc.

By: Jean Costello

Jean Costello — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:02:18 +0000

Hi Joe – I’ve read tons of library mission & vision statements, SWOT analyses, list of BHAGs, surveys, etc. Most of ‘em are bureaucratic flotsam.

We don’t need 17,000 public libraries across the country and the hundred thousand others to be doing mission and vision statements. It’s a waste. What we need is some leadership to ‘get real’ and ask:
- What do we want our libraries to be?
- What do we want our libraries to do?
- What will it take to get ‘em to be what we want and do what we want?

I’ve been trying to get this dialogue going within the library community for 3 years without success. The dialogue is a very public one, but will gain absolutely no traction if the library community hasn’t seriously engaged it first.

The library community doesn’t have to answer the questions, but they do need to engage and inform the discussion. Haven’t seen a willingness to do that yet.

By: Joneser

Joneser — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:57:56 +0000

How many libraries are downsizing/outsourcing selection?? Too many.

By: Joneser

Joneser — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:57:12 +0000

Can’t serve the users we’ve got now with the budget we have.

By: Joneser

Joneser — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:55:42 +0000

RA 101 in a nutshell. Unfortunately, content seems to be of less import to the profession than the device on which it is to be read.

And as for “giving the public what it wants”, that is a double-edged sword. Readers want things for a variety of reasons, and it’s not always our place to decide whether that want is important or valid. So yes, we do “hide” behind that, if you want to phrase it that way.

By: Joe Schallan

Joe Schallan — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:33:56 +0000

Well, Jean, many public libraries have mission statements. At one place I worked they had theirs framed and hung in the staff breakroom. I found it, battered and dusty, where it had fallen off the wall and lodged behind a bookcase. Despite the long neglect, I bet it took a hundred hours of committee work and a great deal of high-mindedness to produce it.

In any case, public libraries have mission statements, but in practice most librarians want to be mission-free. Having a mission implies values, and having values implies making judgments. The modern librarian wonders “Who am I to be making a judgment about how public funds are spent? I’m here to be reactive, not proactive. We give ‘em what we think they want.”

By: Jean Costello

Jean Costello — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:47:02 +0000

Ben, your question “What if they are doing their banking?” brings me back to the question of what distinguishes a library from any old retail establishment with wifi. I ask this every time I visit a library and observe the majority of patrons using computers for email & Facebook, playing computer games, watching dumb videos.

It’s hard for me to continue supporting an institution that says “we’re going to spend public funds on resources (computers and internet access) without a clear purpose … and, we can’t be held responsible for how these resources are used”.

I know the lack of mission and boundaries is hard for library staff too. Andy Woodworth & numerous library commenters expose facets of the problem in A Reference Dilemma.

By: Formerprof

Formerprof — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 23:57:06 +0000

Ben makes some good clarifying points. But ask yourself this: Besides a few degenerates (including some librarians), who is going to complain that there’s not enough porn in libraries? Librarians have gotten themselves in this position because you’ve hinged your professional identity on being the protector of the 1st amendment and archenemy of censors everywhere (except Cuba).
Now you’re in a position where you have to defend the indefendable due to misplaced professional priorities.
Formerprof