--- Donald Keenan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On Monday, January 27, 2003, at 06:09 PM, Jeremy > Derr wrote: > > > On Monday, January 27, 2003, at 05:00 PM, Steve > Holroyd wrote: > > > >> I do not understand the point you are making. In > the UK, many > >> libraries have > >> CDs available for loan just as they have books > available. I do not see > >> any > >> link between borrowing a copyrighted work from a > library and the > >> illegal > >> copying of copyrighted works. > > > > dunno about elsewhere here in the States, but > music CDs aren't > > available at the libraries here in Houston (maybe > the main library > > downtown is different). > > > > > > > > What's scary is the fact that libraries are not able > to maintain back > issues of periodicals and journals. If they can > afford a vendor like > JSTOR which provides digital access to archived back > issues they're > lucky. Once they're unable to budget for vendors, > access is gone and the > collection "disappears". > More and more new content will appear electronically > and if it's not in > an open content/open source context, access for the > public at large will > be diminished. ><snip>
Yes. In addition to the problem of periodical access is the problem many public libraries face in insuring access to some classic books. Public libraries are under a certain amount of pressure to keep circulation statistics up, in order to insure decent funding from local government, and one way of doing this is by constantly getting new material, whether it is books, CDs, videos, etc. What�s scary is that when space gets tight in their collections, libraries often have to get rid of books through �weeding� of infrequently circulated books. Often these are just the potboilers of yesteryear, but sometimes these books can be classics of literature or poetry that just aren�t checked out that much. Usually the decision of whether or not to get rid of a particular item is up to either the director of the library or the department head of the department the item is in. Many smaller public libraries, particularly those in rural communities have precious little free space. It is hard for these libraries to expand their facilities because in many cases their budgets are stretched just paying their staff�s salaries, which are not that great. In the area where I live, director�s annual salaries at small rural libraries are maybe $37,000. Often it is hard to attract and keep qualified personal in key positions. One of the few good things Bill Gates has done has been to give grants to libraries to modernize their computer systems (all Pea Seas though wouldn�t you know) through the Gates Foundation. Hopefully in the future as e-book technology progresses there will arise some way to keep access available to less read books by keeping them in electronic form. This would be particularly helpful to the patrons of small rural libraries, which do not have the resources to maintain large collections. Edward (I�m sorry; I know this is probably OT) __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com -- The iMac List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | - Epson Stylus Color 580 Printers - new at $69 | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> iMac List info: <http://lowendmac.com/imac/list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/imac-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> --------------------------------------------------------------- >The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
