(Fwd) Packard Bell commercial

[atroncale at nypl.org]

     Joe and Ross: Thanks for this info. We all have to be extremely 
     vigilant about protecting our image in today's pirhana-pool of a 
     mediascape. What may begin as an advertisement to sell undependable 
     computers may then regress towards negative perceptions about 
     libraries and librarians (especially impressionable teens and 
     children) that can only hinder our ability to do our jobs: provide 
     access to information for those seeking it.  
     
     
     Let Packard Bell know about this outrage by emailing them at:
     
     sitesee at packardbell.com
     
     Anthony Troncale
     NYPL


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: (Fwd) Packard Bell commercial
Author:  Joe Schallan <jschall at glenpub.lib.az.us> at Internet
Date:    10/28/96 8:30 PM


     
>------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
>Date:          Mon, 28 Oct 1996 11:20:25 -0500 (EST) 
>From:          Ross Holt <rholt at ncsl.dcr.state.nc.us> 
>Subject:       * Packard Bell commercial (not a stumper) 
>To:            stumpers-list at crf.cuis.edu
>
>Writing with my keyboard warmed up in hell in hopes that someone who 
>subscribes to other library lists might cross-post this....
>
>Has anyone seen the Packard Bell computer commercial that encourages 
>people to access information from home rather than venture to the library? 
>It appears to be VERY anti-library. The library is depicted as a dark, 
>menacing place full of dusty books with spiders in them, lorded over by 
>red-jacketed, skinhead storm troopers marching in a rectangle and 
>uttering, "Shhh", in machine-like rhythm.  Outside, the New York Public 
>Library-style lions come to life to menace the poor patron, who is caught 
>in a furious rain storm.  Then the scene shifts to a sunny, bucolic 
>landscape with a cute cottage where life is cheery and pleasant, where 
>information can be accessed via home computer.
>
>I find all this very offensive.  I want people to have home computers and 
>search the web til their hearts are content.  That's great.  But don't 
>vendors like Packard Bell understand what libraries are all about?  Don't 
>they understand that we all work together on this?  Don't they understand 
>that libraries buy computers too?
>
>Just wanted to start some discussion, but if you are inclined to respond, 
>do it OFF this list (Stumpers).
>
>
>Thanks,
>
>Ross Holt
>Randolph County Public Library
>Asheboro, NC
>
>(Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the 
>North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources.)
>
>
>
>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joe Schallan
Reference Librarian
Glendale (Arizona) Public Library
     
jschall at glenpub.lib.az.us