Losing libraries

RE: EPA libraries shut down.

I'm sure the individual libraries in the EPA had excellent relations with the people they were serving. However the people perpetrating the demise of their system are distant and out of reach, and since they are pursuing

[Picture courtesy of Dr. Susan Block Institute for the Erotic Arts & Sciences. http://www.drsusanblock.com/bookburner.htm]

an anti- intellectual agenda, are not open to argument or persuasion.

I'm beginning to wonder about a kind of collapse of library systems generally as we enter the millenium. This may accelerate faster than any of us are anticipating. I do not feel that there is anything that libraries can do to prevent this wave from hitting them. I am not particulary confident that academic libraries are protected. There is hope in some quarters that libraries will successfully transform to virtual librarianship, but most of us are already there and have been functioning in that capacity for a number of years. Virtualism will not be a defense, but a reason to kill the library.

I think that what what we are seeing is a continuation of the phenomenon of 'minimalism', which first presented itself in the 1950's in the art world, and then found its way into architecture (concrete is beautiful!), consumerism (pump your own gas!), government (less is more!), retirement plans (I know! We'll all retire early on stock winnings!), healthcare (I know! We'll pay our catastrophic hospital bills with - stock winnings!), and now intellectual research.

Has there ever been a defense against collapse when history requires that? Just how DID the Irish monks save civilization? By arranging to be out of reach? How do WE arrange to be out of reach? Politically and maybe even geographically? Will the only libraries to remain be the ones at sleepy unknown midwestern colleges?

>> Save EPA Libraries! --- Make one SIMPLE ONE MINUTE PHONE CALL TODAY!> Please!>> Did you know the EPA libraries are closing? They had an 80% cut in> budget (2 million dollars) and they serve 10,000 EPA scientists. You> can make a difference and STOP it, but only if you make a phone call> ASAP!!>> If you have never called a Senator's office it is SO simple, and a good> experience. It takes just one minute to do it. The 'staff' person will> ask you what you are calling about and your address. Call the Senators> for the state in which you reside, and/or work in, see list below.> That's it!>>

Things a young man ought to know

The words said by Michael Rene in "The day the earth stood still", that got the giant robot up and moving: "Klatu Barada Nikto". You just never know when this will come in handy.

Noble Dequavius

I was up in the stands at the Decatur High homecoming football game Friday night. One of the players, a Dequavius somebody, busted up the other team's play in a spectacular way. My poet self took flight and a poem began to come to me, but around a roman pronounciation of his name, something like: Deh-qua-vi-us [rhymes with buy us, try us, deny us, etc.]. Doggerel lines fought with each other in my mind as the game continued. My wife, totally unsuspecting, sat next to me. I felt an urge to stand up, and declaim. But didn't.

Something like:

Sing not of victory tonight
or the winning of this game
sing instead of Dequavius,
defender of our name

Oh noble Dequavius!
Throw not your gauntlet down!
But hold your gauntlet high above
For Decatur, your hometown

etc...