23 December 2011

Contrary to what Libraries ACT says, RiotACT values reading very much

| johnboy
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Yesterday we had a poke at the appointment of “Reading Ambassadors” for the ACT.

This prompted Libraries ACT to this morning accuse via Twitter that we do not “value the importance of promoting reading”.

To be very clear, we value reading immensely. Without a literate population we have no audience.

We appreciate the promotion of reading as the creation of our future audience, quite aside from its value as a social good in its own right.

We just don’t think that a lame list of D-list celebrities and an entire roller derby league being appointed Reading Ambassadors is a very effective promotion of reading.

Instead I’ll go with Pliny the Elder on this:

True glory consists in doing what deserves to be written; in writing what deserves to be read; and in so living as to make the world happier for our living in it.

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johnboy said :

The historical mission of libraries is predicated on the scarcity of the written word.

Information Technology has ended that scarcity, so the historical mission of libraries is at an end.

It’s a shame because I have fond memories of the things. But the libraries frantic efforts to invent themselves new roles, and new historic missions, is a sadder thing still.

For me going to the Library is like a bath bomb. It is sheer enjoyment enriched by those you share it with.If you are a sensory and tactile kind of fellow you’ll understand the enjoyment of having a Library card and what that brings.As for the comment about how sad it is that Libraries reinvent themselves. I wouldn’t go that far. By far Libraries are such wonderful community entities in themselves. My only whine is going from staff operated loans desk to self serve. I use to enjoy having a chat with a Librarian. The machine just barks orders at me! Still it is a very inclusive kind of place to spend your time. The kids enjoy music and craft there too . All part of enriching peoples’ literary experiences as I see it.

Jethro said :

toriness said :

johnboy said :

The thing I like is the temerity of a glorified drop in centre for the elderly and insane to be appointing itself the guardian of literacy, something that should be the preserve of the vastly more important education system.

+1 to this & waiting for godot’s comment about libraries becoming museums the day the interwebs were born.

I like our libraries.

Ditto

johnboy said :

The historical mission of libraries is predicated on the scarcity of the written word.

Information Technology has ended that scarcity, so the historical mission of libraries is at an end.

It’s a shame because I have fond memories of the things. But the libraries frantic efforts to invent themselves new roles, and new historic missions, is a sadder thing still.

I think you should have a trip down memory lane.

fgzk said :

JB “Information Technology has ended that scarcity, so the historical mission of libraries is at an end.”

Last I checked “IT” isn’t a free service available to the whole community. Unless of course, your in an ACT library.

+!

shadow boxer7:49 pm 26 Dec 11

If libraries ACT considers this an impoertnat issue and not just a christmas present for its friends perhaps it could provide some details.

I think being a reading ambassador for the ACT might look ok on my resume, how do I apply, what are the criteria to get selected, what functions or meetings will I and the Roller Derby league be attending, what is the budget for this initiative and who is getting the money (will I be reimbursed expenses).

I look forward to my new role and putting my qualifications up against the CDRL for selection.

Lets not forget that a library provides a top place for study in a relative quiet atmosphere without distraction. Even if you BYO books, which I often do.

johnboy said :

The historical mission of libraries is predicated on the scarcity of the written word.

Information Technology has ended that scarcity, so the historical mission of libraries is at an end.

It’s a shame because I have fond memories of the things. But the libraries frantic efforts to invent themselves new roles, and new historic missions, is a sadder thing still.

Sorry JB, but I can’t agree with you on this.

Just as the Luddites are wrong for discounting the value of technology, I can’t help but think you are wrong for discounting the value of things such as libraries. Much better to live in a place with libraries than without.

JB “Information Technology has ended that scarcity, so the historical mission of libraries is at an end.”

Last I checked “IT” isn’t a free service available to the whole community. Unless of course, your in an ACT library.

The historical mission of libraries is predicated on the scarcity of the written word.

Information Technology has ended that scarcity, so the historical mission of libraries is at an end.

It’s a shame because I have fond memories of the things. But the libraries frantic efforts to invent themselves new roles, and new historic missions, is a sadder thing still.

johnboy said :

The thing I like is the temerity of a glorified drop in centre for the elderly and insane to be appointing itself the guardian of literacy, something that should be the preserve of the vastly more important education system.

What’s ‘wrong with the elderly and insane! Or elderly and insane. You should spend some time in a few different libraries. You may be pleasantly surprised. Do you want to turn our libraries into a hip and happening drop in centre for the young and ‘sane’? A dating service ? Get a life?

In May I had this to say:

PantsMan said :

When are people going to realise that libraries are a dead concept. No amount of blogging will change the fact that people just no longer use them; and if they need to, it’s to get something more difficult to find than Harry Potter.

My work has a library and all they do all day is email you things they have found and suggest you might be interested in them. I am way too closed minded to fall for that crap.

This guilt trip of telling me there are libraries and then trying to convince me I should go to them just drives me nuts. It’s their fault for doing librarian studies at uni.

I consider myself entirely vindicated by this crazed outburst by some faceless librarian.

PS: Yes, you are right. On Christmas Day I have nothing better to do than to continue my vendetta against libraries.

1. Tweet something negative about RA
2. Hope JB reads it and posts it.
3. Gain followers on twitter.
4. ….
5. ???
6. Profit!

Gungahlin Al7:15 pm 24 Dec 11

johnboy said :

a glorified drop in centre for the elderly and insane

You need to pay a visit to the Gungahlin Library John. This assertion couldn’t be more wrong.

Thoroughly Smashed2:56 pm 24 Dec 11

Other than the National Library of Australia, I don’t understand where this overlap is that some commenters assume exists between libraries and “the internet” (presumably meaning the WWW?). If I want to borrow a book, I can do that legally at a library.

toriness said :

johnboy said :

The thing I like is the temerity of a glorified drop in centre for the elderly and insane to be appointing itself the guardian of literacy, something that should be the preserve of the vastly more important education system.

+1 to this & waiting for godot’s comment about libraries becoming museums the day the interwebs were born.

I like our libraries.

whitelaughter1:12 pm 24 Dec 11

Primal said :

Corporate Twitter Management 101: don’t give free promotion to people who are saying your ideas are silly.

free publicity is free publicity – being widely mocked is better than not being talked about at all (which may explain the quality of our politicians). A decent flame war will benefit the library far more than any efforts by their D-list ambassadors!

There is no “functional illiteracy,” there is just no cure for stupidity. Yesterday I was abused by customers of the business next door for providing crap service. No amount of reading lessons can help people who fail to understand that situation even when it is explained to them.

creative_canberran11:26 pm 23 Dec 11

2604 said :

johnboy said :

The thing I like is the temerity of a glorified drop in centre for the elderly and insane to be appointing itself the guardian of literacy, something that should be the preserve of the vastly more important education system.

Unfortunately, the education system has largely failed at that task. My wife reckons that about 30% of the kids arriving in year 7 at the high school she teaches at are either fully illiterate or can barely read or write.

I recall one University reporting a couple of years ago that 1/3rd of new Undergrads required remedial assistance for literacy. That is 1/3 of people who managed to gain a UAI. So the statistics about literacy in the broader population are not surprising at all.

I was in a shop yesterday asking about a product’s price and availability.
I asked “What’s the ETA on new stock? Salesperson replied “What does ETA mean?”
I asked what is the usual price? They replied “Um, A thousand and… something.”

johnboy said :

The thing I like is the temerity of a glorified drop in centre for the elderly and insane to be appointing itself the guardian of literacy, something that should be the preserve of the vastly more important education system.

+1 to this & waiting for godot’s comment about libraries becoming museums the day the interwebs were born.

wish this thread had been going yesterday when i had a big box of popcorn!

matt31221 said :

Your disdain and ridicule of anyone that suffers from a mental illness is so very obvious. I am sure they would of appointed you a reading ambassador if it wasn’t for that deeply ingrained bigotry.

Matt, you might want to think about what your over the top reactions whenever anyone refers to mental illness and what that says about you and your fellow sufferers.

Waiting For Godot said :

What’s a library? Oh, that’s right. They’re those museums which were made redundant when the Internet started.

Free books for those who can’t afford to purchase them, a good place to take your young kids, and a better place for high schoolers to spend time after school than the mall?

johnboy said :

The thing I like is the temerity of a glorified drop in centre for the elderly and insane to be appointing itself the guardian of literacy, something that should be the preserve of the vastly more important education system.

The elderly and insane. Nice presumption there JB.

Your disdain and ridicule of anyone that suffers from a mental illness is so very obvious. I am sure they would of appointed you a reading ambassador if it wasn’t for that deeply ingrained bigotry.

Governments and twitter.

Not a good mix.

Government have their own version, called Twatter.

Waiting For Godot4:47 pm 23 Dec 11

What’s a library? Oh, that’s right. They’re those museums which were made redundant when the Internet started.

johnboy said :

The thing I like is the temerity of a glorified drop in centre for the elderly and insane to be appointing itself the guardian of literacy, something that should be the preserve of the vastly more important education system.

Unfortunately, the education system has largely failed at that task. My wife reckons that about 30% of the kids arriving in year 7 at the high school she teaches at are either fully illiterate or can barely read or write.

Corporate Twitter Management 101: don’t give free promotion to people who are saying your ideas are silly.

(Corporate Twitter Management 102: don’t promote silly ideas…)

The thing I like is the temerity of a glorified drop in centre for the elderly and insane to be appointing itself the guardian of literacy, something that should be the preserve of the vastly more important education system.

Clearly whomever the twat was s/he never visits RA.

The appropriate disdain with which illiterates are treated here should be a perfect indication of how much we value reading.

fgzk said :

I resent the way the literate always expecting us barley illiterate to default to their beliefs and rigid format.

True. More funding IS needed to address the literacy needs of grain farmers.

I resent the way the literate always expecting us barley illiterate to default to their beliefs and rigid format. I also resent having to read long posts with lots of big words. Twitter works for me.

My book recommendation: “WARchild” A boy soldier’s story by emmanuelJAL

There are some very decent ambassadors on the list, but to fill the list with other random people is what makes a mockery of it, especially as I bet that they have no idea about the reading or writing ability of those people.

What makes it worse, is the decision for the service to respond via twitter, a medium which probably contributes to the lack of reading ability amongst young people.

NickD said :

If you post snarky articles, don’t get upset if it prompts a snarky response.

I don’t mind a snarky response. A false and defamatory one on the other hand spoken in the name of a whole library service is a bit of a surprise.

I suspect we have here the endemic curse of social media in this town, the loser who couldn’t attract any interest for their personal twitter feed getting a rush of blood to the head when given control of the work account.

Obviously the promotion of reading does not extend to the promotion of critical thought.

“He understood HOW; he did not understand WHY.” George Orwell, 1984.

If you post snarky articles, don’t get upset if it prompts a snarky response.

And now Libraries ACT are tweeting about the digital TV changeover. How does *that* promote reading, unless you are stone deaf and need closed captions. Talk about shooting yourselves in the foot!?!?

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