Philosophy
Posting today from the local public library as I wait to go in to teach critical thinking to middle schoolers and looking at the rack of comic books in front of me brought back a story on NPR from yesterday. Apparently, over half of the books bought by women today are romance novels.
This leads to a question which has been a point of contention in Baltimore between the head librarians of the venerable Enoch Pratt library in Baltimore City and the upstart libraries in suburban Baltimore County. The county spends lots of money on such romance novels arguing that the library is a public service and ought to spend tax dollars catering to the desires of the population. The Pratt, on the other hand, spends its dollars on more erudite materials arguing that the library ought to serve as an intellectual beacon in the community, not catering to the lowest common denominator.
So, which do you think is right? The middle ground..."buy some, but not too many" is a cop out. The underlying question here is about the purpose of public libraries. So?
- Modern Mencken
Tomorrow is Mencken day at the Enoch Pratt Library, honoring one of the great intellects of Baltimore. Who would be the modern day version of H.L. Mencken? Is there a writer who is smart, ascerbic, conservative, and wry? P.J. O'Rourke? ...
- Library Fees?
"Rethinking Government: Why We Need Library Rental Fees" by Barry Greenfield July 21st, 2011 The Atlantic As a municipal official (selectman) and taxpayer, I often wonder why government evenly distributes taxes when there are clearly ways to lower...
- No Books For Newport Beach Library?
"Tomes' time might be up at Newport Beach library" The city is considering closing its original library and replacing it with a community center that would offer all the same features — except for the books. by Mike Reicher March 29th, 2011 Los...
- A Library...operate It Like A Business?
"They're in the business, fundamentally, of making money,"..."That's what drives their decisions — and that's not what libraries have been all about." "Private company to take over Camarillo's public library" The city hopes to spend...
- Fox Television's "library" Statement
Trashy programmer Fox Television should reconsider their onair thoughts. "US libraries hit back at Fox News" Chicago official 'astounded' after report on channel questions spending of public money on libraries by Alison Flood July 8th, 2010 guardian.co.uk...
Philosophy
The Purpose of Public Libraries
Posting today from the local public library as I wait to go in to teach critical thinking to middle schoolers and looking at the rack of comic books in front of me brought back a story on NPR from yesterday. Apparently, over half of the books bought by women today are romance novels.
This leads to a question which has been a point of contention in Baltimore between the head librarians of the venerable Enoch Pratt library in Baltimore City and the upstart libraries in suburban Baltimore County. The county spends lots of money on such romance novels arguing that the library is a public service and ought to spend tax dollars catering to the desires of the population. The Pratt, on the other hand, spends its dollars on more erudite materials arguing that the library ought to serve as an intellectual beacon in the community, not catering to the lowest common denominator.
So, which do you think is right? The middle ground..."buy some, but not too many" is a cop out. The underlying question here is about the purpose of public libraries. So?
- Modern Mencken
Tomorrow is Mencken day at the Enoch Pratt Library, honoring one of the great intellects of Baltimore. Who would be the modern day version of H.L. Mencken? Is there a writer who is smart, ascerbic, conservative, and wry? P.J. O'Rourke? ...
- Library Fees?
"Rethinking Government: Why We Need Library Rental Fees" by Barry Greenfield July 21st, 2011 The Atlantic As a municipal official (selectman) and taxpayer, I often wonder why government evenly distributes taxes when there are clearly ways to lower...
- No Books For Newport Beach Library?
"Tomes' time might be up at Newport Beach library" The city is considering closing its original library and replacing it with a community center that would offer all the same features — except for the books. by Mike Reicher March 29th, 2011 Los...
- A Library...operate It Like A Business?
"They're in the business, fundamentally, of making money,"..."That's what drives their decisions — and that's not what libraries have been all about." "Private company to take over Camarillo's public library" The city hopes to spend...
- Fox Television's "library" Statement
Trashy programmer Fox Television should reconsider their onair thoughts. "US libraries hit back at Fox News" Chicago official 'astounded' after report on channel questions spending of public money on libraries by Alison Flood July 8th, 2010 guardian.co.uk...