becoming

To follow up my previous post on our public library. Here is a piece from Cornell University on Who decides what to buy in a library.

In a University setting, the subject expertise worked with the corresponding faculty members and students to determine some of the purchases. But I doubt if our local public library systems have similar resources to work in the same way. Does anyone know?

And just who might it be the “subject expertise” of the “Wii games” section? Our kids?

Update: Here is the description of that process from Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

When books on new-atheism, daVinci’s code inspried conspiracy theories and alike, filled the “religion” section in the public library,

I feel sad.

I am sad not because I can’t tolerate different voices (I have no problems with books on Buddhism, Islam, or even other new-age “bibles”). I just don’t understand the logic on how a library determines what books to get (or not). Some books, which are pure attracts on other religions, are based on speculations or ill-informed research. I can think of a thousand titles to get on the same topic instead that one they shelved. But yeah, what do I know…

Think about walking into the “Cook-book” section of a library, yet all you can find are books with titles like “The REAL reason Jamie Oliver wants you to follow his recipes”, “Can we all eat crap and be happy about it?”, or “Good cooking is the source of all evil”.

You know what I mean?

Is there a difference between serving our community, and pleasing our community?

Should there be one?