Library Politics
I always say that no matter what you try to do in local politics 1/3 of the people will support the proposal, 1/3 will oppose and 1/3 won't care one way or another. I'm starting to get an earful over a City Council decision a couple of years ago to join a Shared Integrated Library System. This online system allows our residents to have access to books from libraries across Northern and Central Wisconsin. It allows access to those books so that every library doesn't have to buy a copy. Shared expenses. Intergovernmental cooperation. You would think that would be a good thing, right? Not for everyone. My wife doesn't like it one bit.
It seems that she, along with many other citizens feel that "browsing" through the stacks at the library is half the fun of checking out a book. Reading the covers. Looking at the pictures. Feeling the book. It is almost like a religious experience. That is all taken away by going online.
What makes it worse is she is starting to apply the principles of Moving Mountains and Molehills/Local Politics 101. She is starting to identify "Friends" who also don't like this system and they are starting to make waves with Librarian Tom Booker and myself. I can't see CommonSenseville.US backing out of this system as the budget constraints continue to put pressure on all services. This online system does allow a far greater selection of books than going it alone.
What is your opinion of online library systems? Please post comments below or send an email to me.
Mayor Al
Al Arnold
4 Comments
Reader Comments (4)
When I want to read a certain book, I want it NOW. I guess I'm like your wife. I like to go through the library and feel,touch and see the book myself. Now, its not like I spend alot of time in the library, but when I do get into one of my "streaks", I get fixtated on a certain subject and don't want to have to wait for a book to become available. But, While I understand the reasoning behind the shared concept, doesn't mean I like it. Guess I'm selfish that way.
If I'm at the library just looking for something to read, I want it right then - that's why I'm at the library - I want something to read NOW! =) Therefore, I might be annoyed by the online thing, and go to the bookstore to buy a book, despite the fact that they're so expensive. If I were at the library for research, or for school, I'd be much more likely to appreciate the wider selection available online and be OK with the delayed fulfillment. Now, presumably, your library still has books on hand, yes? I'd actually be fine as long as the library had SOME books for me to paw through, got SOME new stuff on occasion (especially really popular titles), and continued keeping the old books on hand as well. If it got to the point, sometime in the future, where the library didn't really physically exist (old books not replaced, no new books bought), except as a pick-up/drop-off point for books from other libraries, I'd be REALLY angry!! =) Somehow I don't think that's quite what's happening, though.
If I'm lookng for a specific book, say Moving mountains and Molehills/Local Politics 101, and the one and only copy the library owns is checked out and I'm #32 on the waiting list, then I might be happy if the book arrived the next day through the Inter-Library System.
If on the other hand I'm looking for light, recreational reading I might just pick something off the shelf. Either way, I win...actually all three ways I still win...
the "third way"???
I'm getting a bigger bang for my tax dollar.
sky
#32 on the waiting list?
They had better purchase another copy!
Thanks for all the comments.