Philip Pullman's Compass - 'there are things above profit' - NYT

[SpiralHawk]

In Defense of Public Libraries - from today's NYT

"This is a speech (by author Philip Pullman) worth pondering for its defense not just of the value of reading but of “the open democratic space” enshrined in public libraries.

Libraries, he said, remind us that “there are things above profit, things that profit knows nothing about ... things that stand for civic decency and public respect for imagination and knowledge and the value of simple delight...”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/opinion/01tue4.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha211

[LeftishBrit]

1. +1

This is happening right in my backyard! My own library is not being closed, but no doubt services will suffer from increased demand with no increased supply, when it becomes practically the only library in the city. A number of outlying villages are losing their libraries altogether. It's crazy - especially as the county is worrying about its education standards and test results at the moment; access to books is known to be one of the crucial factors in children's reading development. And of course important to us all! Great comments by Philip Pullman!

Our Tory County Council leader is suggesting that communities run their libraries on a volunteer basis - as if *that* is going to be a practical arrangement.

More on the topic:

http://oxfordsos.org.uk/?p=377

Interesting and encouraging to see that this scandal is going viral even internationally.

[SpiralHawk]

3. The Repubbies on this side of the pond are likewise determined to trash

public blessings such as libraries which keep citizens informed and connected.

It is DARK DARK DARK what they are attempting to do to civilization.

His Dark Materials, indeed.

[XemaSab]

2. I checked the third book of the "golden compass" trilogy

out of the Horry County library when I was doing field work in South Carolina.

Terrific book, and one of the few books where I was BAWLING at the end.