tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024288667867836319.post3996267397259846597..comments2023-09-10T04:01:55.539+01:00Comments on Richard Herley: An execration of public librariesRichard Herleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06862800160590084612noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024288667867836319.post-19333696976018215552009-04-06T21:17:00.000+01:002009-04-06T21:17:00.000+01:00Quinn, thanks for your comment, and welcome! I hav...<B>Quinn</B>, thanks for your comment, and welcome! I have long ago given up on publishers and booksellers. And in fact from an author's viewpoint I have given up on libraries too, since I only have one (non-fiction) title in print and my fiction titles have all fallen to bits long ago.<BR/><BR/>My post was about <I>British</I> public libraries, which have declined so much that they may fairly be called abominable. But since they see fit to charge £2 to rent a DVD or 60p for a CD, the technology must be in place to make a reasonable charge for a book. If books are somehow culturally superior and to be exempted from such charges, then why are libraries lending out DVDs, CDs, and all the rest of it?<BR/><BR/>My suggestion of free access for students, etc., was made to the minister at the time of his "consultation process". These days there is even less case to be made for the system of public libraries we have in the UK. They are incredibly expensive and the money would be better spent on desperately needed improvement to academic libraries -- in schools and in tertiary education --, access to which could be made available to those who truly thirsted after knowledge.<BR/><BR/><B>Mr Adkins</B>, welcome and thanks! As I mention above, the post was about British public libraries. I have no experience of American libraries except to have heard that they are better than ours.<BR/><BR/>I don't claim that libraries are bankrupting authors, just adding to the general notion that writing is valueless and doesn't need to be supported financially. As for the "showcase" aspect of libraries, please read that part of the post again.<BR/><BR/>Alas, I have tried using my local library for research and found both the facilities and the staff inadequate. Again, this may be a failing unique to British libraries. No doubt I was spoilt, and given false expectations for the future, by the librarians at the university I attended. As for the stock of books in public libraries, in those few areas where I have expertise I have found the choice to be generally ill informed.Richard Herleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06862800160590084612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024288667867836319.post-25659735248177068102009-04-06T19:55:00.000+01:002009-04-06T19:55:00.000+01:00I must say this is a disappointingly short sighted...I must say this is a disappointingly short sighted argument. You seem to be blaming libraries for every ill in society short of the Iraq War. As a librarian at a private university in the United States i must tell you that my local public libraries do wonderful things to promote recreational reading and literacy education.<BR/><BR/>These local libraries also loan (freely) video and audio recordings to patrons. They provide free Internet access that is often made use of by individuals playing games or chatting online. Other individuals are using the computers to find jobs, do genealogy work, or complete school assignments.<BR/><BR/>In regards to the charge that libraries are bankrupting authors you are sadly mistaken. It is a logical error to equate each loan with a potential purchase. In fact without libraries, many new authors would never be purchased at all since each reader would have to take the risk of purchasing the book individually. Libraries instead take that risk instead with the idea in mind that some patrons might enjoy the work. <BR/><BR/>As a librarian who purchases tens of thousands of dollars of books each year there is a subjective element to purchasing decisions. Each librarian tries to purchase the books that are needed by the patrons they serve without bias to political or other prejudices. These principles are key to our professional practice.<BR/><BR/>Moreover, as the information realm of books, journals, databases, websites, and the like becomes more and more complicated; librarians are the people's guides to assist them in finding the solutions to their varying information needs.<BR/><BR/>It is clear you are a literate and educated person but you are off the mark here. I urge you to go to your local library and speak with the librarians. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the results. Cheers.John Adkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02384518690778786742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024288667867836319.post-80952839235166295662009-04-06T03:29:00.000+01:002009-04-06T03:29:00.000+01:00I think you would be more successful attacking the...I think you would be more successful attacking the publishers and booksellers, instead of the libraries, as the cause of author poverty.<BR/><BR/>Libraries serve, first and foremost, communities and peoples that cannot afford even negligible costs. Hiding behind some policy that gives free access to those that can <I>demonstrate</I> that they cannot afford the fees is a wash---why even have libraries at all then? <BR/><BR/>There are, in fact, libraries that charge fees for use, typically for premium services. This, predictably, creates barriers and shuts out the poor.Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18155241693830749047noreply@blogger.com