January 11, 2008
U. of Pittsburgh Librarian Calls Library Medieval
Rush G. Miller, the University of Pittsburgh’s librarian, gave a speech this afternoon at the American Library Association conference about how libraries must embrace technology and constantly change to meet patrons’ needs.
Mr. Miller, who holds a doctorate in medieval English history, said that when he came to Pittsburgh, in 1994, he concluded that the library was a feudal society.
“I said, Whoa, I haven’t seen this since I studied it,” he said, as the audience broke out laughing. “You had kings and lords and people surrounded by moats.” —Andrea L. Foster
Posted on Friday January 11, 2008 | Permalink |Comments
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How accurate this remark is that
it really amused me, all this time (2004) after my graduation
in my work environment this is how I felt, now I can relate with another person’s opinion. Although efforts has been going on to go with the flow and need but Still lot is needed to change the situation, specially bring new faces with talent and ideas, will make the whole environment of library world focused and attract people more!
— Aziza Haque Jan 12, 03:16 PM #
Not only are libraries medieval in their politics, they are medieval in current design. Digital cataloguing renders obsolete over half the space now devoted to stacks. Those stacks are filled with books and journals rarely touched and far past citability. These books can be warehoused off site and retrieved when needed, thus freeing up space that could be used for more modern and innovative library initiatives.
— marci Jan 14, 11:59 AM #