[356] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Child of Computerspeak
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Stu Weibel)
Thu May 28 10:29:51 1992
Date: Thu, 28 May 1992 09:23:56 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
From: Stu Weibel <stu@rsch.oclc.org>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> 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.
The library should first and foremost be a repository of ideas and
knowledge, and not objects. A small number of artifacts should, for
historical and aesthetic purposes, be preserved in original formats,
but this represents a tiny portion of most collections.
Public access IS the raison d'etre for libraries. To the extent that
libraries embody this mission, they will thrive. To the extent that
they fail, they become library museums, or worse, just plain irrelevant.
They don't call 'em *PUBLIC* libraries for nothing!
Stuart Weibel
OCLC Office of Research
