JessamynFeb 14, 2023
The Vermont State University has a remarkably short-sighted money saving plan to go "all digital" with their libraries. This is a terrible idea. Once announced, they've been back-tracking, changing their website to make this seem more palatable. The Vermont Library Association released a statement yesterday. It's not quite enough "Fuck this dumb idea!!" for my tastes but it's pretty strong https://www.vermontlibraries.org/vla-statement-regarding-vtsu-library-closures
VLA statement regarding VTSU library closures | Vermont Library Association

Show threadJessamyn

And let's look specifically on what this VTSU FAQ page looked like before and after the blowback.

Before (thanks Internet Archive): https://web.archive.org/web/20230208233740/https://transformation.vsc.edu/announcing-changes-to-vermont-state-university-athletics-and-libraries/
After: https://transformation.vsc.edu/announcing-changes-to-vermont-state-university-athletics-and-libraries/

Announcing Changes to Vermont State University Athletics and Libraries – VSCS Transformation

Feb 14, 2023 at 5:28pmWeb
Show threadJessamynFeb 14, 2023

Reading more about this, staying mad.

"University president Parwinder Grewal said, 'If more than 500 students could have responded, maybe we would have made a different decision.'"

Just a classic "We asked for your input in a way that didn't make you interested in responding and as a result of your non-response have decided to take things away from you" situation. How dare they.

Show threadJessamynFeb 14, 2023
Sorry, the citation for that bullshit comment was the very nice people at @bookriot https://bookriot.com/vermont-state-university-digital-only-library/
Vermont State University Gets Rid of Physical Library for Digital-Only, Despite Protests

Despite student protests, Vermont State University is donating most of the library's physical books and going digital-only.

BOOK RIOT
Show threadEira TanseyFeb 14, 2023
@jessamyn @bookriot this is bad and everyone who contributed to this bad decision should feel bad
Show threadNothingEspeciallyCleverFeb 15, 2023
@TeamMidwest @jessamyn @bookriot or at least go into another line of work. Jeez,,,
Show threadʎllnɔsFeb 14, 2023
@jessamyn WTAF!?
Show threadAaron OFeb 14, 2023

@jessamyn It's never too late to reverse a bad decision...

Such bureaucratic BS.

Show threadEmilyFeb 14, 2023

@jessamyn

“But the plans were on display…”
“On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them.”
“That’s the display department.”
“With a flashlight.”
“Ah, well, the lights had probably gone.”
“So had the stairs.”
“But look, you found the notice, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” said Arthur, “yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying ‘Beware of the Leopard.”

Show threadJessamynFeb 14, 2023
@Emilyy Best laugh I've had all day, thank you.
Show threadDavid MichaelsFeb 14, 2023
@jessamyn @Emilyy this was my exact thought reading that!
Show threadDavid MolesFeb 15, 2023
@jessamyn Haley “We get hundreds of emails a day. We don’t have time to read them all. And if we did open it, it definitely was not titled, ‘You need to take this survey to save your library’” Agan is my new hero
Show threadLis CareyFeb 14, 2023
@jessamyn Am I misreading, or did they actually not talk to librarians before deciding on this all-digital insanity?
Show threadJessamynFeb 14, 2023
@LisCarey I'm not certain. To my read it sounds like librarians were informed-not-asked about this and, surprise surprise, there are going to be union issues along with all the other ones.
Show threadLis CareyFeb 14, 2023
@jessamyn I do hope they have a strong union. Sounds to me like VSU admin thinks librarians are clerical help, not professionals with knowledge and experience in how this whole "useful academic library" thing works.