Archive for May, 2007
Libraries aren’t just about information. So whilst this book is interesting, if a little frustrating at times, it is only dangerous if you think libraries are just about information. It is about one aspect of libraries, and all of its challenges can be met by a mix of genuinely new ideas and an application of [...]
Filed under: Libraries | 5 Comments
Everything is miscellaneous by David Weinberger
This book has caused quite a stir in library blogs, and beyond. It’s dangerous! We all need to read it!
I don’t know about dangerous. Reading it I often had a sense of deja vu; pomo, relativism, social constructivism etc all go by. And a great many of the ideas are familiar [...]
Filed under: Change, Futurology, The future | 0 Comments
CILIP subscriptions
Who pays yours? Michael has a vote open; register yours!
Filed under: CILIP, Professional bodies, Public libraries | 0 Comments
I finished reading Everything is miscellaneous last night.
Early feelings? Well, whilst it was interesting and quite engaging, I didn’t get the breathless thrill I was promised by some reviews
A lot of the ideas were quite familiar, from social constructivism to the ‘conversational markets.’ The ‘new’ ideas were interesting, sure, but not ‘oh my [...]
Filed under: Change, Futurology, The future | 0 Comments
On space, and words
Meatspace. What a horrible word. Simultaneously ugly, judgemental and smug. A word redolent of all our age-old fears of being physical, of seeing it as a limitation.
I know people who use it don’t necessarily espouse these points. Nevertheless, it’s a word I really dislike.
Filed under: Uncategorized | 4 Comments
Professional (?) associations
Once again, Tim Coates sets his sights on CILIP, second only to the MLA in his rogues gallery. Essentially, Coates wants both to be abolished and the money channeled into books and frontline staff.
How can you object to this? If you do, surely that ranges you against your customers?
I can see the point in a [...]
Filed under: CILIP, CPD, Customers, Librarians, Librarianship, Libraries, Patrons, Professional bodies, The future, Visitors | 0 Comments
Miscellaneity
All this information. “All good” we are told. Will we ever regain discernment? Is there never again to be a sense that some combos just aren’t that important?
Or will we just want more and more and more information, no matter how banal? Endless combinations, post-coordination-a-gogo?
Or is the answer in the middle somehere? (yes )
radix [...]
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Of “things”
Reading A splendor of letters this morning, I came across a passage talking about fathers handing on book collections to their sons- in the context of Walter Mehring. It put me in mind of William Wisner’s meditations on the same subject. The idea being that the libraries represent not only what was read, but the [...]
Filed under: Futurology, The future | 2 Comments
Library of Birmingham
I used to live and work in Brum. I was disappointed when the Library of Birmingham project was delayed owing to political changes.
Seems it’s back on track. The vision is comprehensive and does at least mention books I hope that money can be found to make good on its promise to be a ‘centre [...]
Filed under: Libraries, Public libraries, Visitors | 0 Comments
Departure of Blair
Will a new dispensation bring new public libraries?
Well, Gordon is the king of Prudence, so I can’t see a lot more money being pumped in. Unless it’s via the wonderful PFI, whereby we could literally mortgage our futures for shiny new buildings that may or may not be ‘fit for purpose’ but will look like [...]
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