[342] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Child of Computerspeak
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Bill Drew-Serials/Reference Librar)
Wed May 27 17:28:59 1992
Date: Wed, 27 May 1992 16:21:37 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
From: "Bill Drew-Serials/Reference Librar. SUNY Morrisville" <DREWWE%snymorva.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Anders' comments on access and preservation show a clear dycotomy in the
library community.
>It seems that the raison d'etre for libraries is being forgotten.
Where is it stated that the library is for the preservation of material first
and the access to that material second. That is the role of an archive not a
library.
>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.
Preservation without access means that no one except the archivists have access
to the material. At least in this country the role of the public library is to
provide not access. Let the large university libraries and private libraries
act as archives. Libraries should not simply store information, they MUST
also provide access to everything in their collections. Access can be
restricted to inhouse use or to a copy of a work but the user MUST have access
to the information in a document.
>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.
Access is MORE important than preservation, at least in public libraries.
Preservation did not save books fro being burned in NAZI Germany but access to
books helped save the ideas put forth in the books that were destroyed.
Wilfred Drew (Call me "Bill") Serials/Reference/Computers Librarian
State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology
P.O. Box 902; Morrisville, NY 13408-0902
DECnet: SMORV::DREWWE BITNET: DREWWE@SNYMORVA
Internet: DREWWE@SNYMORVA.CS.SNYMOR.EDU or DREWWE@SNYMORVB.CS.SNYMOR.EDU
Phone: (315)684-6055 or 684-6060 Fax: (315)684-6115
