On the latest WSC thread there's a discussion about donating old magazines you libraries. I don't think they'd want them, but there you go.
However, that discussion reminded me of a very annoying run in I had with a library staff member a few years ago. I was looking into a relatively rare medical condition and want into our library hoping they had some books on it. I checked out three books. One of them was nothing more than a book-sized advert for the author's woo-based "cure" complete with regular details where to buy his snake oil.
When I took the book back I raised this discovery with a staff member who disdainfully told me that libraries had to stock a 'range' of views, and that they just ordered in books depending on the topics they listed and didn't review them when they got in. He then got snotty about censorship when I said some kind of quality control would actually benefit people.
I can feel myself getting annoyed about it while writing this years later. It was the attitude more than anything. I now wonder if I should have told him the library could be sued if someone followed the advice in the book, or taken it up with someone more senior. I'm sure whatever policy they have doesn't cover stocking books written solely to sell treatments.
The absence of quality control was disconcerting. The shitty attitude of that staff member made it much worse. It really affected my feelings towards libraries, which I know are under threat. It has meant when I've filled out the council surveys asking what the council should prioritise with funding I've probably selected the libraries below other things as a result.
Rant over.
However, that discussion reminded me of a very annoying run in I had with a library staff member a few years ago. I was looking into a relatively rare medical condition and want into our library hoping they had some books on it. I checked out three books. One of them was nothing more than a book-sized advert for the author's woo-based "cure" complete with regular details where to buy his snake oil.
When I took the book back I raised this discovery with a staff member who disdainfully told me that libraries had to stock a 'range' of views, and that they just ordered in books depending on the topics they listed and didn't review them when they got in. He then got snotty about censorship when I said some kind of quality control would actually benefit people.
I can feel myself getting annoyed about it while writing this years later. It was the attitude more than anything. I now wonder if I should have told him the library could be sued if someone followed the advice in the book, or taken it up with someone more senior. I'm sure whatever policy they have doesn't cover stocking books written solely to sell treatments.
The absence of quality control was disconcerting. The shitty attitude of that staff member made it much worse. It really affected my feelings towards libraries, which I know are under threat. It has meant when I've filled out the council surveys asking what the council should prioritise with funding I've probably selected the libraries below other things as a result.
Rant over.
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