Carol mentioned a study that showed Minneapolis to be the most literate of the cities studied. After the way the Vikings have been playing defense the last few weeks, I suspect we will see an increase in our literacy rate, as we certainly can't bare to watch the Viking defense play and might as well read a book. At least when the defense is on the field.
Carol noted that the only area rated that we did not make the top ten was libraries. I think a good portion of the blame for that might lie in how the study was conducted. Apparently one quarter of the rating was based on public school libraries. They rated the support in terms of librarians and media specialists against the student population. Anecdotal evidence only, but my two kids have never done much in the way of research in their school libraries. The local community libraries are usually hit hard as well for certain books when a big report is due so we tend to take the trip to the Southdale Library or Central. The question is raised, how weak our the school libraries compared to other public school systems? How much did that pull down our cities rating for library services? Which raises the bigger question of could our Public Library work with the school libraries to provide a better learning environment in our schools? I believe the need to drive to find the right books for students is going to be taken care of by supportive families that have time, ease of transportation and knowledge of how to work a library. Poorer families, immigrant families and families without the history of higher education will not be as likely to provide this support. The inadequacy of the school libraries, coupled with this unequal access to public libraries, incorporates a great functional inequality into the library system in Minneapolis. I have heard rumblings that the new library administration is looking for ways to improve their relationship with the schools. I hope the rumblings are correct, and that their efforts are successful. The other three areas rated were volumes of books in the collection where we have one of the largest collections in the nation for our size; number of branch libraries where we rate highly and circulation, where we do not rate as high. Some libraries are able to show very high circulation numbers by running themselves like a video store. Whatever is the hottest book on the market, they buy a bunch. The concern is not so much research as providing popular reading materials. Minneapolis has taken, from what I have seen, a position that surly supports circulation but emphasizes the range of its collection. Hence a large collection, without the high numbers for circulation. I personally don't believe this study does anything to support the idea that we have substandard libraries, at least not in the public sector. Bob Gustafson 13th REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
