Ugh, not having books would be awful!! I like to read journals and such online, but I find it hard on the eyes to read anything of great length...and you can't curl up with a blanket in a chair with a computer. :(
I never heard of a library carrying art to check out before. Cool! You were very lucky to get some of the pieces they were selling!!!
My living room is also a library. I have book shelves covering two of the walls. :)
I've always wanted my own library. It's been a dream of mine to have one room devoted to my books. As it is now, they are scattered everywhere: in bookcases here and there, on shelves, on ledges, on end tables, and even stacked on the floor. The likelihood one could find a book in every room of the house, including the garage, is good. Only the exercise room is exempt!
Even the tiny, tiny library of Minneapolis, Kansas, used to check out art. Perhaps it was a Midwest thing?
Libraries are very different places. Part of the problem: they're supported (by and large) by tax dollars. That means that, in order to continue existing, they have to justify their existence...and to justify it, they have to have statistics. Those statistics are usually based on total circulation and total visitors to the library. If they want the community to come in, they have to offer what the community wants...and, sadly, what they want is vampires, trashy novels, urban lit, DVDs, and the like.
I realize the reality of needing to serve the community. It's just that it seems, in the past, we gave the public their dessert, but we encouraged them to eat their fruits and veggies, too. It seems we've forgotten that libraries were to be "secular cathedrals" of knowledge and a place to impart wisdom. We're throwing out the prime rib, lasagna, and salads to give the people a steady diet of Twinkies
( ... )
We've got 20 copies of To Kill a Mockingbird, and that's just the paperback edition. Five are checked out right now.
As to Will Ferrell, we do have 9 of his films. Unlike To Kill a Mockingbird, we probably won't be rushing out to replace them if they are lost or damaged.
I can tell you that the original thinking with movies and graphic novels was to use them as bait to get people through the door.
I think the art is a cool idea. We also have art, but we have it as displays. The displays are booked by artists and groups up to 2 years in advance. Wide range: local interest contest with significant prizes, teen art contest, individual artists:
I enjoyed the library's art collection and availed myself to a number of its prints a month at a time. I was disappointed to see the program discontinued, but I understand the limited space issue.
Our library has always been interested in art, and our walls are adorned with an original Birger Sandzen and pieces derived from our city's annual art festival. Those pieces were never a part of the rotating collection, and they remain on the walls. We also have a small gallery for highlighting visiting artists. Those displays are often available for purchase.
I love my library, and it does an admirable job of serving the community. I am hoping that serving patrons doesn't eventually mean catering exclusively to people who don't read.
I don't see the need for a half million dollar place with three televisions, eighteen Kindles, and a coffee machine. Wouldn't it be just as easy to give each student a laptop and a gift card to Starbucks?
Libraries are changing from quiet places of lofty reflection and learning to pandering to the least inspiring aspects of pop culture. Or I'm just a cranky fuddy-duddy.
Well then I'm one, too! It drives me crazy when we have meetings at work about "how to bring more people in" that all revolve around buying new flat-screen TVs and more video games, and the books are almost dismissed as a necessary evil that the people in charge would get rid of if they could. Like krikketgirl said, a lot of it is about proving that a library is a viable thing to give tax money too, but that doesn't make me any less irritated when good old books don't get replaced because we "needed" 50 copies of every new movie instead.
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I never heard of a library carrying art to check out before. Cool! You were very lucky to get some of the pieces they were selling!!!
My living room is also a library. I have book shelves covering two of the walls. :)
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Even the tiny, tiny library of Minneapolis, Kansas, used to check out art. Perhaps it was a Midwest thing?
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As to Will Ferrell, we do have 9 of his films. Unlike To Kill a Mockingbird, we probably won't be rushing out to replace them if they are lost or damaged.
I can tell you that the original thinking with movies and graphic novels was to use them as bait to get people through the door.
I think the art is a cool idea. We also have art, but we have it as displays. The displays are booked by artists and groups up to 2 years in advance. Wide range: local interest contest with significant prizes, teen art contest, individual artists:
http://www.librarypoint.org/arts
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Our library has always been interested in art, and our walls are adorned with an original Birger Sandzen and pieces derived from our city's annual art festival. Those pieces were never a part of the rotating collection, and they remain on the walls. We also have a small gallery for highlighting visiting artists. Those displays are often available for purchase.
I love my library, and it does an admirable job of serving the community. I am hoping that serving patrons doesn't eventually mean catering exclusively to people who don't read.
Reply
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Well then I'm one, too! It drives me crazy when we have meetings at work about "how to bring more people in" that all revolve around buying new flat-screen TVs and more video games, and the books are almost dismissed as a necessary evil that the people in charge would get rid of if they could. Like krikketgirl said, a lot of it is about proving that a library is a viable thing to give tax money too, but that doesn't make me any less irritated when good old books don't get replaced because we "needed" 50 copies of every new movie instead.
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It makes me wonder what a library will look like in ten years.
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