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| Start New | Message Index | Flat View |
| Tales of the City - Public Libraries |
| Author: | Emilce Rees |
| Date: | Saturday, 14th Jul 2007 17:26 |
| Views: | 1,332 (excluding Digests and RSS feeds) |
| Category: | People and Places | | URL: | http://www.freepint.com/go/b160152 |
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London, 2007:
a. First PL library approached has what seems to be 7 members of staff milling about - tried to google a "proper resource" from what seemed a working PC, only to be told that the filter wouldn't process my request. When asked for help (after being asked "what's an IT manager ?") it was explained to me that I couldn't use google because that was a catalogue terminal (there were exactly 3 people in the library, including a veiled girl sleeping on a couch at the back). No obvious reference section - not only do I ask "why block google" but why have PCs that do not serve the public.
b. Another PL on the same day. Another borough. After filling in the forms (there is no London card), waited for a PC which clearly wasn't working properly for the previous user. Lots of PCs reserved for "invisible" people (you know, make up a category and there would have been a PC saved up while other normal people queue). PC allocated had a badly working mouse, so I suggested swapping it with the PC next to it, reserved for the "invisible half an hour people". Oh no, we can't do that - so it's OK for me to have a crap mouse. As a reply, the library assistant switched off the PC and said now I would have to wait yet another x amount of time for another PC to become available. The books, just think of the Da Vinci Code as high brow standard.
Why can't we just close down public libraries, and use our taxes to serve us, or at least have private libraries where there is some understanding of what users want (in my case, an address and check my email, with minimum bureaucracy) ?
And the years pass, more and more scheme open up, and in 2007 I am told that I am only allowed one hour per day in the whole borough (a large one) - while people in Sweden email me saying they are running their freelance work from their public library. |
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| Start New | |
| Topic |
Author |
Date |
ID |
 | Tales of the City - Public Libraries | | London, 2007:
a. First PL library approached has what seems to be 7 members of staff milling about - tried to ... |
|
Emilce Rees |
14/07/07 17:26 |
160152 |
|
Lari Law |
25/07/07 21:08 |
163496 |
|
Ian Ramage |
25/07/07 12:41 |
163356 |
|
Katherine Ingham |
20/07/07 16:00 |
161968 |
|
Diana Nutting |
18/07/07 09:14 |
161273 |
|
Emilce Rees |
23/07/07 14:09 |
162758 |
|
Diana Nutting |
24/07/07 09:47 |
163042 |
|
Barry |
24/07/07 20:27 |
163161 |
|
Miriam Palfrey |
25/07/07 08:47 |
163296 |
|
Claire Roberts |
24/07/07 16:04 |
163117 |
|
Miriam Palfrey |
24/07/07 15:59 |
163116 |
|
Jacqui Grainger |
17/07/07 10:37 |
160992 |
|
Zena |
17/07/07 12:24 |
161016 |
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