[371] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Child of Computerspeak
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Public-Access Computer Systems For)
Fri May 29 11:29:14 1992
Date: Fri, 29 May 1992 10:23:15 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
From: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
5 Messages, 128 Lines
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From: STRAUSS@UNCA.BITNET
Subject: Re: Child of Computerspeak
To give a perfect example of archive vs. use: there is a book I have wanted
to see for many years, one of my childhood favorites. Three libraries in
the US have copies. Not only will they NOT lend (ILL) the book, they won't
even photocopy the last page (my sister has the book, but the last page is
missing) to send me.
Two, I believe, are public libraries. Now, I ask you, WHAT are they doing??
Here, I am, a patron, who needs the information. But it is "being archived."
For whom? For when? For what? To my way of thinking, no book is so
precious that it has any intrinsic worth greater than the information
it contains--information that is meaningless without someone who needs
or wants it!
{flame off} --sorry I didn't put {flame on}, above.
Ah, Plato, where is a chair to sit on! I must sit down!
** Bob Strauss **
** Ramsey Library **
** UNC-Asheville **
** Asheville, NC 28804 **
** Strauss@UNCA.bitnet **
** Strauss@uncavx.unca.edu **
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From: Mary Molinaro <MOLINARO@UKCC.uky.edu>
Subject: Re: Child of Computerspeak
On Thu, 28 May 1992 09:26:07 CDT Pro Staff said:
>
>What resources will a public library patron use? Will they attempt to
>search for materials they want to ILL by telneting from one library
>catalog to another and doing the same search in dozens of catalogs? Will
>they be familiar with the NOTIS, DRA, DYNIX, INLEX, GEAC etc. search
>prompts? I think not.
>
>Will they use the public databases? The Oceanic Information Center? NASA
>SpaceLink?
>
Why not? It serves no useful purpose to sell public library patrons short!
There are MANY services available over the net which would be of great value
and interest to the general public. (Weather services, song lyrics, and general
info databases such as Cleveland Freenet to name a few). There is a great deal
of serious research that takes place in public libraries. Educating the public
on the nature and depth of electronic access of information only helps to
underscore the importance of public support for these ventures. The tax payers
after all, ARE helping to pay the bill.
Mary Molinaro
MOLINARO@UKCC.uky.edu
Head, Library Microlabs
University of Kentucky
Lexington
(606) 257-6199
*---------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Steven Kirby <SRKIRBY@UGA>
Subject: Re: Child of Computerspeak
The idea that libraries serve chiefly an archival purpose is not a new
one. Ranganathan used it as a foil in his "Five Laws of Library Science"
half a century ago. Even if the idea had any resonance in Ranganathan's time,
surely it must be a straw man (person?) by now. For Ranganathan, in his
later years, reformulated the first of his "laws" to say that information,
not just books, are for use. In other words, the format is secondary to
the intellectual content. It is true that libraries have been charged with
building collections of books but that is largely because there has been no
real competition from other formats. Maybe this is the time to make some
minor modifications to some of our professional cliches: it is the
librarian's job to get the right information to the right reader at
the right time and in the right format, whatever "right" means.
Steven Kirby
University of Georgia
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From: jaffe@ucscm.UCSC.EDU (Lee Jaffe, McHenry Library, UC Santa Cruz,
408/459-3297)
Since non-academics are less likely to have Internet access
(or to need it on a regular basis) the public librarian may
be their only access to important information tools and
resources. The tools are out there. While public librarians
(and academic and special librarians) can still afford to feel
they can get by without knowing and using these tools, does
"getting by" define the quality of service we want to give?
-- Lee Jaffe
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From: mcohen@stmarys-ca.edu (Martin Cohen)
I think the flames against Anders Thulin's view that
"Libraries should first and foremost preserve information
in original form as long as possible"
are excessive. In fact, maybe some cultural imperialism
(unconscious, no doubt) is at work.
To say that libraries should "first and foremost preserve
information" is to recognize that libraries have a unique
function, one not performed by any other institution.
Other institutions, including especially commercial ones,
do disseminate information. Schools disseminate information
as well. Broadcasting companies and book and magazine
publishers disseminate information. Libraries are unique
in their function of preserving and organizing the broad
spectrum of information. Archives, if one wants to draw the
line between libraries and archives, are for the most part
concerned with fairly narrow and special types of information.
However, to say that libraries must preserve information (because
no other institution will do it if they do not) is not to say
that they should not also make it available.
I think there may be in the minds of some of those who reject
the preservation function of libraries the notion that "somewhere
else" some other institution is taking care of preserving the
record of the past, of thought and artifact.
And for the record, as I understand it, books were chained to
shelves for the same reason that today CDROM workstations are
chained to tables: they are desirable and very expensive and
must be exposed if they are to be of much use. Not because a
curmudgeon wants to keep them out of the hands of users, but
just because we want to make them available to as many people
as possible.
Martin J. Cohen, Saint Mary's College Library, Moraga CA
