Now -> Boosting this with alt-text because #librarians rule! đȘ
I love the last panel. đ
ăȘăă„ăŒ (stop colonialism đ”đž)@Her_Doing TBH the first book I've read in college that wasn't fantasy or sf was "mein kampf" because I heard it was censored and "what the heck, how can a book be so important in history". It was poorly written and I abandonned halfway, but I'm glad I could do it (from a pdf ofc, not sure if the library would have allowed it - the truely complete libraries nowaday are online, sadly...).
It's so difficult for any brick-&-mortar library to be 'complete' - it simply takes up too much room, & there are practical, real-world costs of business/property taxes, utilities, salaries, cleaning, new equipment, maintenance, etc., to pay for.
Plus, what you & I consider complete would probably differ. đ
Some libraries are meant to be niche; there is one on photography in Accra I hope to visit one day. đ€©
I'm just glad books are available in so many formats around the world. đ
@Her_Doing I guess my favorite format might be electronic inc by far, because it permits to view text written by "normal citizens" instead of this "glorified symbolism of validity" glow around published books.
Part of me think that libraries are outdated- that they shouldn't be filled with books, but filled with empty rooms with internet and people willing to share or to discuss, having free reins to download or re-share more than ever.
Instead of this "download only from approved authors"
Historically, anyone wealthy enough could write, print, & distribute their own material.
Also, books formally published usually go through a vetting process for inaccuracies, fraud, or even outright malice.
I absolutely support brick-&-mortar libraries: books are free to borrow, totally portable, transferable, w no batteries/power needed, fairly indestructible, & in an accessible form even hundreds & thousands of years later.
I also believe authors should be paid for their work.
Anyone who wants to can create a website and write whatever they want.
Anyone is (broadly) free to write their own 'zine, pay to photocopy it, and distribute where they like.
But to say that books/information should *only* be in electronic form is incredibly privileged & limited to those who have a phone/laptop, easy, cheap internet access, or even electricity at all.
To say there should be free rein to download is *piracy* from people whose income is their writing.
Accessible books/info needs to be accessible for EVERYONE, available in whatever format they need, including large print, CD & braille, if necessary. (Which libraries provide.)
Those who called to write & are gifted/skilled enough to do it well, deserve compensation for that. Those who can afford it may want to buy their own books, but libraries in many countries cover that too, in the form of PLR (public lending rights) which pay authors a fee every time their books are borrowed.
As for 'people willing to share & discuss', you don't need to go to a special building 'filled with empty rooms' (honestly, what a WASTE) for that - there are in-person & online book groups galore.
There are entire *websites* dedicated to every author, theme, or subject you could want.
Find one and fill your boots. đ
I'm glad you have found a system that works for you - but everyone has different preferences and needs & a healthy society tries to accommodate as many as it can.
>But to say that books/information should *only* be in electronic
I don't know why you say that, I didn't suggest it. I just pointed out how limited was books to access most written data, and how more compact and cheap it is to maintain nowadays more data with a few cheap screen and computer in any room really.
>To say there should be free rein to download is *piracy* from people whose income is their writing.
One time you value access, then you say access is evil, make your mind
I was responding to your "libraries are outdated- that they shouldn't be filled with books, but filled with empty rooms with internet", which seemed to support your statement books in tangible form are limited in use or obsolete.
There is more to consider than just physical space needed for data storage. (Even at that, it involves more than a computer; at the back end is also the server farm somewhere & energy to power it, plus all the metal mining & manufacturing to create it all.)
the 2nd part was your "having free reins to download or re-share more than ever", which immediately made me think of of book piracy. If that's not what you meant, I apologise.
But piracy is vicious, and has already dealt deadly or even fatal blows to authors who will now never be able to finish series they started, or possibly ever be able to write again. Without the income from their writing, they have to take a more corporate job instead & it's very difficult to do both.
@Her_Doing >But piracy is vicious, and has already dealt deadly or even fatal blows to authors who will now never be able to finish series they started
Have you any example in mind.
I have dozens of example of small artist who never could make a living of their craft - no because lack of talent or "stealing". But because the art economy is hostile. Some star get all the visibility, and small ones have nothing.
I pay the second one, and steal the first when I get curious sometimes. x)
I could find out. I know of at least two who had their series cancelled b/c current sales weren't good enough - but people were DL'ing copies of their books fr pirate sites in greater numbers than their official sales.
Pirates had even listed their books before their pub date, so they didn't even get an opening day boost.
There are very, VERY few authors who are well off, even if they get a lot of publicity. But please don't steal their books. Buy from Amazon at 1.99 or borrow.