The other thing overlooked is that we are physical beings and we are physiologically programmed to respond to touch and the actions of holding a book, feeling it and even smelling it all contribute to the experience. When we built our house we chose to make most of one floor a library with comfy chairs and squashy couches. Technically the space is three bedrooms but we made it one space to contain both our large collections of books instead of having them all over the house in multiple bookcases. Any future owner would be able to easily convert it to rooms should they wish. 20 years on and we've never regretted it.
By throwing out books, especially old and rare books, libraries are failing in one of their most fundamental purposes. The ghost footnotes issue is very sad. Great troves of history and knowledge were lost when ancient libraries of Alexandria and the like were destroyed. This burning of books amounts to a very similar thing.
When my children were small I took to semi-collecting secondhand children’s books, especially historical fiction. Now many of those books seem to be completely unattainable, even in second hand shops. Sadly many are paperback and held together with book tape, but at least my grandchildren can still read them. They are well written, enjoyable, wholesome and educational in a way that most modern children’s books are not. And they’re irrreplaceable, unfortunately.
Three library stories from my current life..... Since coming to live in a small town I can find myself bemoaning the smallness and limitations of my local library, and have to remind myself that of course a small town will have a small library with limitations on stock. Imagine my complete surprise last year to discover a copy of the Emily Wilson translation of The Odyssey! Honestly, truly astounded. And a few weeks ago, was able to borrow Katherine Rundell's much acclaimed and prize-winning biography of John Donne - Super-Infinite. It's a marvellous read.
Second story - last year I asked a librarian if they were going to mark the anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, and the hesitant reply that they might wasn't reassuring. But they put together a good display for it in December. Very happy!
Third story - a few days ago I went into the library, just because I like being in a library and who knows what I might come across. On the new books stand was a copy of Ben Elton's biography. I don't have a great interest in Elton but I know and have enjoyed some of his works. So I found a comfy chair and spent an hour or so reading chunks of it, and looking at the photos, with many faces of British film and comedy featured. Such a pleasant interlude in my morning.
I could say more but that's enough for now. I love libraries.
Ah, the joy of browsing in a library. Rapidly becoming a forgotten art I am sad to say, but hope springs eternal that enough young ‘uns will discover it. The replacing with books that have a “special awareness of Mātauranga Māori and Māori authors” is pure brainwashing & an effort to rewrite history. Matauranga Maori is essentially a load of crap and “Maori” authors tend to sit in a rather different league of their own (not a good one either…). I guess the likes of Tusiata Avia will also eventually replace greats such as Burns, Kafka or CS Lewis… sigh.
Never discard history.
The other thing overlooked is that we are physical beings and we are physiologically programmed to respond to touch and the actions of holding a book, feeling it and even smelling it all contribute to the experience. When we built our house we chose to make most of one floor a library with comfy chairs and squashy couches. Technically the space is three bedrooms but we made it one space to contain both our large collections of books instead of having them all over the house in multiple bookcases. Any future owner would be able to easily convert it to rooms should they wish. 20 years on and we've never regretted it.
What a beautiful decision.
This comment from Wgtn CC should have been a red flag - too late now, but isn't it bordering on an oxymoron as well as evidence of extreme PC?
One reason for book destruction is because they "have obsolete factual information"
By throwing out books, especially old and rare books, libraries are failing in one of their most fundamental purposes. The ghost footnotes issue is very sad. Great troves of history and knowledge were lost when ancient libraries of Alexandria and the like were destroyed. This burning of books amounts to a very similar thing.
When my children were small I took to semi-collecting secondhand children’s books, especially historical fiction. Now many of those books seem to be completely unattainable, even in second hand shops. Sadly many are paperback and held together with book tape, but at least my grandchildren can still read them. They are well written, enjoyable, wholesome and educational in a way that most modern children’s books are not. And they’re irrreplaceable, unfortunately.
Your essay is so apt and instructive I have taken the liberty of forwarding it to the Tauranga Library. The librarians will be delighted. Thank you.
Thanks Russell. Glad you liked the piece.
Three library stories from my current life..... Since coming to live in a small town I can find myself bemoaning the smallness and limitations of my local library, and have to remind myself that of course a small town will have a small library with limitations on stock. Imagine my complete surprise last year to discover a copy of the Emily Wilson translation of The Odyssey! Honestly, truly astounded. And a few weeks ago, was able to borrow Katherine Rundell's much acclaimed and prize-winning biography of John Donne - Super-Infinite. It's a marvellous read.
Second story - last year I asked a librarian if they were going to mark the anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, and the hesitant reply that they might wasn't reassuring. But they put together a good display for it in December. Very happy!
Third story - a few days ago I went into the library, just because I like being in a library and who knows what I might come across. On the new books stand was a copy of Ben Elton's biography. I don't have a great interest in Elton but I know and have enjoyed some of his works. So I found a comfy chair and spent an hour or so reading chunks of it, and looking at the photos, with many faces of British film and comedy featured. Such a pleasant interlude in my morning.
I could say more but that's enough for now. I love libraries.
Thanks Sheryl - love the stories. And Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey. Brilliant!
Ah, the joy of browsing in a library. Rapidly becoming a forgotten art I am sad to say, but hope springs eternal that enough young ‘uns will discover it. The replacing with books that have a “special awareness of Mātauranga Māori and Māori authors” is pure brainwashing & an effort to rewrite history. Matauranga Maori is essentially a load of crap and “Maori” authors tend to sit in a rather different league of their own (not a good one either…). I guess the likes of Tusiata Avia will also eventually replace greats such as Burns, Kafka or CS Lewis… sigh.