Too many CDs

[altivo]

So I heard from the circulation manager today. I've been chewing away at a cataloging backlog, donated music CDs that have been piled on my desk for months. Now she says we are running out of shelf space for them and please stop. ;p

I have an equally large stack of DVDs (I *hate* cataloging video, it's a royal pain) and I guess I should start on those until the same complaint arises, which it will. Or not. Since the Blockbuster in town closed in January, our video circulation is through the roof, more videos than books many weeks. So I suspect that adding more titles to the collection will just mean that more are checked out at any one time. No problem unless they all come back at once. It makes me sad though, the large number of people who are willing to placidly sit like potatoes and watch the boob tube, compared to the small number who make the effort to read.

Should be spinning but I'm not feeling so great. I suspect I'm getting a cold. Hopefully not flu. Probably it's bed time for me.

Comments

[aerofox.livejournal.com]

hope you feel better soon *hugs*

I know how people are with their TVs... some can't go on living until its fixed! I don't know how many times I would get an irate customer at the shop insisting I fix it NOW!

Sometimes I would love to transport these people into the early 20th century when TV and radio didn't exist!

btw, did you see Casey's post about open weekends for possible visit?

[captpackrat.livejournal.com]

People can check out CDs from the library?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

At most libraries, yes. This surprises you?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Not better yet, but at least it's not worse.

I kind of agree that some people today would go totally mad if they had to actually entertain themselves instead of relying on external media.

I did see Casey's post and still don't know how to answer it. I'm terrible at planning so far ahead. I know Aug. 8-9 is not free for me, though. The library's 100th anniversary celebration is that weekend. Unfortunately I'm a captive to Gary's performance schedule at this time of year, because if he's not here I must be around for animal care. So I have to pin him down.

[quoting-mungo.livejournal.com]

If it makes you feel any better, consider that DVDs take ~2 hours to watch, while a book usually takes something like 6 hours to read. That, and reading while ironing clothes isn't really reccomended. ;)

Of course, that all goes out the window if you introduce audiobooks into the equation. I prefer to pretend they don't exist.


-Alexandra

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Alas it doesn't make me feel better. The DVD is no substitute for the book, even if it is in fact a movie based on the book. That transition simply ruins literature, there is no other way to put it.

And you can indeed listen to an audiobook while ironing. Or driving, or doing other things. I've known people who could read printed books while doing improbable things too, such as knitting.

Frankly I don't think the decline in literacy is related to "not enough time" but rather to "not enough interest." We have encouraged cultural laziness to the point where the vast majority of people never do anything that is creative or requires actual thought, throughout their entire lives. That's really sad.

[quoting-mungo.livejournal.com]

Oh, I didn't mean to suggest a DVD is a good substitute for a book, merely that if someone e.g. borrows three DVDs and a book, it could be argued that they're borrowing the same "active time" of both, and/or that the two don't come out of the same "time pool". (e.g. I'll often put on a movie when writing, because I like the background noise and I'll keep a cursory eye on the movie, but I can't well read and write at the same time.)

I just can't stand audiobooks; I need to have my hands occupied or I get very restless, and if I listen to an audiobook while ironing or driving or drawing or whatever, I start tuning it out pretty quickly because there's nothing about it that demands my attention. Not because it's not interesting, just because my brain thinks I'm listening even though nothing really goes into my head. Plus they take like three times as long to get through. :P

Not enough interest sounds right, especially coupled with how many books are made into movies. It made me cringe every time a classmate asked "can I watch the movie instead?" in school when we were assigned to read something. If I was their teacher I'd say "you can watch the movie as well and then come to me with a five-page essay comparing and contrasting the two", but I'm a bitch like that.


-Alexandra

[altivo.livejournal.com]

The trouble is, they don't check out even one book. The pattern is for a family of three or four to come in. There's a limit of three videos at once per borrower, so each of them takes three videos for a total of twelve. And that's all they take. Ever.

[quoting-mungo.livejournal.com]

Oh, that kind of borrower.
They are a sad sad thing indeed.

(Who the hell needs to borrow twelve DVDs at once anyway? Two or three maybe if it's a special occassion...)


-Alexandra

[ducktapeddonkey.livejournal.com]

While I think it's great that libraries have CDs and DVDs to lend to people. I'm not sure what I think about Hollywood stuff being on the shelves.

I do like to watch the Shakespearean productions, and I've found a bunch of obscure and interesting educational films and I think it's great they're available. But I wonder where, or if a line should be drawn.

[captpackrat.livejournal.com]

Quite. I knew about checking out videos, but I didn't think people could borrow CDs because of copyright concerns.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

The same copyright laws apply whether the material is print, audio, or video. No difference.

Anyone who copies the materials from the library is responsible for his/her actions. We don't have to worry about lending the materials, because that has always been legal. We don't copy. We own one item, we lend one item, only one person can use it at a time.

Now if we made digital copies and posted them to a website, that would be a violation.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

And I'm inclined to agree. If it helps you feel better, we don't buy much of this stuff. But when people give it to us, we select the best items and circulate them. The rest we sell.

I have repeatedly stressed my opinion that we should buy more PBS type material, and limit Hollywood products to the award winners. But we tread a thin line between being viewed as hopelessly stuffy and censorious and being viewed as just a lot of rubbish. We have to provide a certain amount of the material people want (including, alas, access to the internet and Stephen King novels) as well as Shakespeare and Jane Austen.

[saythename.livejournal.com]

Well, theres always Ebay, you can generate cash for books.

Books = Goodly.

A question I've often pondered, but never asked anyone...

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

It makes me sad though, the large number of people who are willing to placidly sit like potatoes and watch the boob tube, compared to the small number who make the effort to read.

Why is that, Alt? What is it that makes you feel sad about what they do/don't do?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

To put it bluntly, they are letting their brains rot. And that's a loss to everyone.

Bluntess is one of my favorite methods :)

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

Ah, but they will age and their brains will rot anyhow... *looks down and toys with a rock next to my hoof for a moment, then looks up again* How is it a loss to you directly?

Re: Bluntess is one of my favorite methods :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Because morons are a burden on society.

Because if they cultivated their intellect rather than wasting it, they might make who knows how much useful contribution to everyone.

Re: A reminder ^_^

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks... you reminded me of a blog I was meaning to write inspired by morons ^_^ I totally forgot, even though I made a note of it...

Yes, in a sense morons are a burden- but they are also essential to society, Alt... never underestimate their importance in the food chain. Society wouldn't be able to exist without morons. Morons maintain it, reinforce it's structures & reaffirm it's values whilst reinstilling them in others.

I'd ask you to think this over, but that would be letting the ball drop on my end- instead, I'll send you a link once I've had the proper time to write a decent "article" about the thing I need to put down in words. I will however suggest that a contribution is only appreciated if it's useful to the one it's given to.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

I rented out 5 movies this weekend because I wanted to take advantage of my HD telly. Problem was they all stunk...all of them O.O

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Proves my point, I think. In general, that sort of media just, well, doesn't measure up. It usurps the imagination rather than inspiring it.