January 3, 2018

APPALLED



Zoe, paint roller, and books.  2017.

I was running around yesterday getting ready for the 1000 book donation.  Were the shelves emptier?  I drove down and counted shelves and books.  There was the thought that what was left was such an individual choice that no one wanted them.  Not even at a buck a book.  I watched while folks walked in and out of her space buying nothing.

On my way to buy boxes to put this collection in Thursday, I stopped at the local beach library.  Whole sections of the shelves were bare.  Totally empty.  The philosophy, social sciences, and religion section was a blank canvas. 

The clerk said gesturing toward the back of the room, “These are the old books.”  Imagine. 

“It’s all on the internet now,” said a friend.

No Kant, no Hume, few cookbooks too.  I was appalled. 

What do you think?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

  • Himself:  Vastly better at last.
  • Me, myself, and I:  Off to shelve books at the shop today.
  • Reading:  More Louise Penny
  • Gratitude’s:  That I have help tomorrow.  We meet at ten.

9 comments:

  1. I'm appalled too Mage. More and more our library is opting for electronic media. I have kindle on on my laptop but really don't care for it. I like a book in my hand. It's turning me into more of a book collector than I expected. I'm not opposed to digital to wit my large collection of movie DVD's. I'm a retired programmer and had an early hand in making some of this happen God help me.

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  2. It may all be on the Internet, but the path of serendipity is vastly more structured there!! I do read mostly ebooks, but it has to do with old and tired eyes at night. We are nostalgic, but I also think that format is not as important as access to knowledge.

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  3. And yet our town is working on space for a new larger library....I wonder why?

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  4. As a librarian and a book lover... heartbroken.

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  5. Books are still popular here. Ebooks will never do it for me either. Book in hand is always preferable, though ebooks work for travel.

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  6. The world is changing for sure. I guess if people were checking out those books, they'd still be there.

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  7. Sadly I am part of the problem for I am hooked on Kindle. I just ordered a real book from the Internet and think I will have to readjust to flipping pages and losing my place.

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  8. Sigh... I'm sorry, Mage. I'm afraid I'm like Patti. I read everything on my Kindle now because of the large font.

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