[328] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Child of Computerspeak
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (ath@linkoping.trab.se)
Tue May 26 12:24:18 1992
Date: Tue, 26 May 1992 11:19:51 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
From: ath@linkoping.trab.se
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Kathleen Burnett (burnet@zodiac.rutgers.edu) writes:
>My
>feeling about this is that if public libraries are to support their
>"information access" mission, patron access to the networks is crucial.
>Otherwise, they will be just another social institution, and as such,
>I think we can expect to see their demise.
It seems that the raison d'etre for libraries is being forgotten.
Libraries should first and foremost preserve information in original
form for as long as possible. That is, libraries are archives. If
this means that the public won't get general access, fine.
It is only if the purpose of preservation can be maintained despite
public access that such access should be granted.
It seems that 'public access' is though to be more important than
presevation. If libraries change their role towards 'information
techology suppliers', book preservation must be done by someone else.
It isn't.
My not-so-very-humble opinion,
Anders Thulin ath@linkoping.trab.se
Telia Research AB, Teknikringen 2B, S-583 30 Linkoping, Sweden
