[Publib] Attitudes in the Library.

[Backwage at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/27/2009 6:50:29 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
PTuite at co.hernando.fl.us writes:

As for computer use, everybody's entitled to do what they  want, as long as 
its legal. I do feel a bit frustrated when someone who needs  to find a job, 
apply for unemployment or take care of some other serious   business can't get 
computer access while kids are fooling around.  


Here you have it.  This is where the library's focus on the textbook  aspect 
of public rights collides with both common sense and the  commonweal.  A 
similar situation exists with regard to the situation of the  barely compliant 
patron and the rest of the users.
 
Librarians have gone over to a strict-constructionist definition of  
rights--heavy on the individual side, rather than upon the general.  All  uses, 
persons and pursuits are leveled to a common plane, and none preferred  over others. 
 Hence the child's video game is on a par with the job seeker,  and the 
homeless may encamp forever if they rave quietly.  Likewise, the  librarian never 
recommends or prefers, despite years of experience with  literature and other 
materials, she simply directs to sources.  There are  no bad books, which means 
that there are no good ones, either.  Likewise,  there is no bad behavior; 
only acceptable and unacceptable--and practically  anything is acceptable that 
doesn't burn the building.
 
The library is now on a par with the public beach, where all you can't do  is 
written on a sign.  So tell me, why would anybody who wasn't looking for  a 
warm spot to sleep want to visit the library?  To rub shoulders  with the 
barely compliant lunatics?  To compete with adolescents for a  space at a computer 
screen?  Perhaps to utilize the legally acceptable  restroom facilities?  
 
In my day, which I had never considered to have been ideal, far less  
halcyon, the librarian seemed to me a rather formidable figure, daunting,  
omniscient, strict; I wonder where she went, who dressed for church (of an  apparently 
severe sect) kept her seams straight, and yours too?  Where this  woman who 
would tell me, "Michael, you're a better reader than that" when I  checked out 
cheap novels; who went into the boy's bathroom to knock heads,  forced the local 
bum to the YMCA showers, and generally kept the library under  martial law?  
No wonder my folks didn't mind that I spent so much time in  that place--what 
could have gone wrong there?  Lord, you couldn't even chew  gum!  May the 
Almighty grace this earth with such places and persons  again.  
 
M. McGrorty
 
 
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