I ventured into my “opinions” section in Bloglines a couple of minutes ago on my lunch break while I nuked leftovers in the microwave, and found something else nuclear on Bayosphere, which I don’t read as often as I should: Steven Zenith’s reaction to the San Jose Public Library. He fulminates (often in upper case) about this “ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SEVEN MILLION DOLLAR new library” that doesn’t seem to have enough books.
I know the San Jose library two ways. I know it as an interesting edifice I’ve presented at a couple of times, a library with a neato huge blinking board showing current items checked out and study tables that looked pretty comfy, and far more intimately and profitably, I know it as one of the sharing libraries in the fruit-juicy-good Link+ consortium (which like many bad library acronyms is not easily findable in Google the way I phoneticize it, as “Link Plus”). I use Mountain View Public Library as my borrowing library for Link+, and books come from all over–it’s a delightful service, for those times when genuine dead-tree books are what I need. I love every library that has ever shared with me. I love you, I love you, I love you!
I’m puzzled by Mr. Zenith’s ire, but I’m wondering what we can say to him besides trotting out the materials budget, which he seems to have trouble deciphering: “So that we can get this clear. A massive concrete icon has been built in San Jose that salves the souls of those that DO NOT READ BOOKS. Or they simply NEVER USE A LIBRARY because either the scope of their reading is so limited that any book they would read is available and onsale at BORDERS…” That blinking circ board would suggest otherwise. (I tried finding circ stats on the website, but got a bit lost–and the microwave just dinged.)
He desperately needs some librarian intervention. He needs to find out what San Jose can deliver that he needs, how he can use it as a gateway to the world of information, maybe some tips on modern research methods, and perhaps a soothing tour of the children’s room. Or maybe he just needs a little time-out for a while and then we can approach him, gently, palm up, to let him sniff us and know we’re really ok, and that this library is better than he thinks–and that the library materials budget ultimately reflects the priorities of PEOPLE LIKE HIM.
Posted on this day, other years:
- A Basic Homebrewing Collection for Your Library - 2009
- - 2009
- Horizon 8.0 is the New Taos - 2007
Boy does that guy hate the new King Library!
I feel frustrated by his blog post because he makes some cogent points but completely ignores others – like the fact that a building is an asset for decades to comeand it takes a lot of money to build such a thing. A library collection of the scope he wants takes literally decades to build and we are talking about a library for a community that was barely a blip on the radar 40 years ago. We could spend millions more on books and cut staff so that no one would be there to answer questions and the books wouldn’t be on the shelf if he went to look for them. Or the building wouldn’t be open more than 40 hours a week – forget the Saturdays, Sundays and evenings.
You can’t please everyone. I just wish the pleased people would blog more often. I’d love a gush or two right about now!
Well, let me gush: getting a book from you is like a Christmas stocking and Easter basket rolled into one. It makes a huge difference to my research capabilities that I can use your library (even one step away, through Link+). And your presentation room is awesome!
Thanks for the reminder. Our “Library Facts and Statistics” page http://www.santafelibrary.org/facts.html
needs its annual update (even though the circ numbers actually [yikes] shrink a percent or two from year to year…) Not on reference until noon, so should be able to get to it this morning.
I am happy to be corrected in any misinterpretation, unjustified claim or missed benefit I may have regarding the San Jose Library budget – I speak as a user, not as a librarian. And while I recognize the point of you saying that the library reflects the priorities of meople like me – it is not the case that before my remarks that my priorities have been made known. It is equally unlikely that the Library reflect the priorities of the citizens of San Jose – but this is simply because our system of democracy is broken (and that is another story).