The Myth of Browsing, a superb piece of writing and analysis by librarian Donald A. Barclay,1 thoughtfully examines opposition to plans by the Syracuse University Library to move some of its books to a remote location. This article is a “must-read” in my estimation for it gets at a key component of our library crisis and also shows the way forward.
Barclay persuasively argues that what we fight to preserve in our libraries is often based more on myth & assumption than reality. He concludes with wise advice on how libraries can help their constituents cling less tightly to myth and support their evolution as places “where people come to think and learn.”
Passion and talent like this focused on our libraries keep hope alive for me.
1A quick search revealed an impressive body of work on librarianship and the American West by Don Barclay.
