Quote:
Originally Posted by desertgrandma
Same here.....its a media center, not a library. We have vending machines with food and soda, tons of computers, 'meeting rooms' for teenagers, and the shelves are sadly lacking in books.
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My local libraries (I pass three on my way home from work) have a good selection of books (but I was raised in a small town with one library that wasn't connected to any other branches...). If they don't have something I want, I request it online and it's delivered to my library within a few days, no charge. They also have a decent dvd section that I use from time to time, though their music collections are a bit lacking. They also offer downloadable audio books, music mp3s and ebooks.
But they also offer a host of other community services, like teen study/tutoring rooms, internet access and computers, a nice playground, a new baseball field, computer classes for all ages. Can you imagine looking for a job without having internet access? Or writing a research paper without a computer? I live in a part of town that's nice, but just a few blocks away it's not so nice. It's downright poor. Many people there can't afford computers or monthly internet, and some kids need a better place to go to study. It's very presumptuous to imply these services are somehow less worthy than books, or don't service the community. Just because it's some sort of
new fangled media doesn't make it less valuable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by desertgrandma
In the center, are stacks of the newest books by currently popular authors. Go figure.
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Wait. Are you implying it's bad business to put the popular stuff in an easily accessible and visible place?
Quote:
Originally Posted by desertgrandma
They refuse to shelve fiction by genre. Only by author.
"Because its too hard for our volunteers to know where a book goes" 
Does anyone else remember finding wonderful new authors by browsing the 'mystery' or 'science fiction' or whatever section for hours? |
Ok, that's just
odd. And the volunteer excuse is pathetic. It's easy to put a sticker on the spine and know where to shelve it. Though I can certainly see why a library would have problems figuring out which genre to put a book into... many span genres and aren't easily categorized.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JeremyR
The trouble is, at least where I live, libraries have long ago stopped focusing on books, but renting movies, providing internet access (providing computers, not just a hotspot), renting video games and whatnot.
Why should a publicly funded place directly compete with video rental stores/services? Or internet cafes?
Every DVD bought could have been a book. Every video game 4-5 books. But when when you look at the book stacks, it's empty and bereft of classics. More titles from William Shatner in the SF section than Isaac Asimov or Arthur C. Clarke. Never mind past authors who have faded into obscurity, but who are well worth reading.
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Because those things all cost money? And it's good to give the community access to free entertainment, especially in poor neighborhoods or economically bad times? Sure, you COULD send your 8th grader to an internet cafe... wait, where's my local internet cafe? I've actually never even
seen one. Where's my local video store? Oh, right, they all went out of business and the nearest one is 4 bus rides away. But I pass THREE libraries on my way home from work. And they're always bustling and there are always community events going on (family movie night, knitting night, book sale, book readings, book discussions, etc etc).
Here's an example of something going on this weekend at my library:
Technology Fair
Learn how the latest technology can enhance your library experience. See the latest technology and try hands-on demos of new items, such as the Nook, and other products associated with reading and connecting.
I am very sorry to hear about the Shatner plight at your library...