One Clueless Author on Public Libraries

[dewline]

For a man so well-informed about so much else in the worlds today, Terry Deary seems to have lost a few clues about the value of public libraries, particularly in these days of Austerianism-enforced Precariat life.

Thanks to james_nicoll for this particular heads-up about this particular author...whom, I note, seems an anomaly amongst authors.

Update:

Two well-said counter-arguments I know of: scalzi's "Personal History of Libraries" essay, and seanan_mcguire's own defence of these halls of personal learning.

The latter is not a new posting, but it points to issues that still need the proper level attention to be given them, and it started a new friendship for me.

Comments

[shanejayell.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he's a bit of a idiot, in my opinion...

[mariness.livejournal.com]

I found this particularly bizarre since I am _always_ getting requests from authors to borrow their books from the library and/or ask the library to order their books, because they _want_ the library sales. And if enough people order/request the book....Well, about three weeks ago I requested Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright from the library. When I did I was one of 56 requests. Since it usually takes me months to get a book if there's more than five requests, I was pleasantly surprised to get the book last week -- after getting that many requests, the library had purchased two more copies, which probably didn't make THAT much of a difference to Mr. Wright, but, still, a sale is a sale.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Indeed!

Sidebar note: It's going to be some time before Going Clear makes it to any "first-sale" Canadian bookstore's shelving. Apparently, there's a libel chill intended to hang over any Canadian publisher daring to take up the local publication rights (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/new-scientology-expos-wont-be-published-in-canada/article7147307/).