[Publib] RE: Pale Horse Pale Rider

[Mike Baldwin]

Regarding the discarding of classic books that are still highly relevant, I
must ask if we are doing what we should to promote the reading of them. We
have bought into the philosophy of "Give 'em what they want" without
questioning where that leads us as a profession and as an essential service
to civilization. Will we continue to be considered essential if we simply
fill the library with multiple copies of the most popular mind candy? Can't
we be a bit more proactive, a bit more professional, by promoting the
reading of real literature and essential information? Can't we both give 'em
what they want, and provide what they need? Certainly there are limits to
our physical capacity and our other resources. But have we thought thru our
objectives correctly or just capitulated to the easy, passive path of buying
what's hyped and throwing it to the multitudes in quest of ever growing
circulation statistics. Why is circulation considered the untouchable holy
grail of the public library when it is primarily the equivalent of junk food
(ten million Zane's served!)? "Who are we to say who should read what?" is
always the reply to this "elitist" argument. Well, we are a profession that
is charged by society with finding the best literature and information and
promoting it to society so people can become more literate, knowledgeable,
and intellectually capable as well as entertained. Maybe that's part of why
society has sunk to such a low level of literacy and social responsibility.
If we are only here to provide entertainment, I submit we don't need
master's degreed librarians to do the job. We can't have it both ways for
much longer. But that's just my opinion; I could be wrong. Mike Baldwin,
Benbrook (TX) Public Library.