[WEB4LIB] Libraries -- information or misinformation sources?

[Paul H. Gray]

> The New Zealand Skeptics >
>   I've been asked to challenge our local librarians with some brain
>   food this week, and am thinking about seeing how they reconcile
>   their mission of "informing the public with integrity and quality
>   resourcing" and having vastly more pseudo-science materials on
>   their shelves than any critiques thereof.

That's a good umbrella statement of the overall mission of libraries --
But individual libraries sponsored by individual governemental entities;
schools; corporations etc. have their own unique missions.

As already mentioned by others -- this mission will usually involve the
meeting of needs/desires of their specific 'community'

We  - for instance are an academic library with a mandate to support the
intstructional programs offered by the college.  So  - we do indeed have
more books on astronomy than astrology -- and almost none on medieval
clothing :-)

We might love to add other books - and do from time to time --
But -- funding being what it is -- we have to concentrate on those areas
that meet our primary mandate.

> . . .
>   And should we care?

We should ALWAYS care about the quality of the institutions we support
and/or are a part of

>   Do we have a right to complain?

We always have a right to complain - - one of our most treasured rights here
in the States.
Now - whether we have a right to expect our complaint to have any impact --
is another question and poses a couple of others:

Are you a member of the community being served by this libarary?
Do you contribute funds to support this library?
Are you a member of the staff of this library with responsibilities in the
area of collection development?

If the answer to all of these questions is no -- then you are, in effect
complaining about how someone else chooses to tend to their business --
a delightful pursuit -- but ultimately not really anything we have a right
to expect them to listen to.

Opinions are my own - and all other standard disclaimers -

Paul H. Gray
TCCD Northeast Campus Library
Hurst, TX