BIBLIOTECHNICAL PITFALLS

Where Did All the Books Go?

The mystery of the reduced collection in my library

Too many desks, not enough books. Image by me with Bing Image Creator

When I moved back to Australia a week ago, one of the first things I did was go to my favourite library to reactivate my membership. As I chatted with the librarian, he proudly told me about the changes they’d made over the past four years. And then he said something that made my book-lovin’ soul almost jump out of my body and fly back to Spain.

“We’ve reduced the collection.”

“Excuse me, you’ve increased the collection?”

“No, reduced it.”

The librarian spoke in a tone of voice like this was a good thing.

“It was to expand the study area,” he proudly continued.

I don’t give a fat rat’s clacker about the study area. The definition of a library is a collection of books. If students want to study, they can go to their school or university which are meant to be goddamn places of study.

The fiction collection of my favourite library once covered an entire floor. Much like forests once covered an entire Europe.

While I was waiting to meet friends, or escaping work, I’d browse my library’s copious shelves with wonder. I could find pretty much any book…