LC ignores libraries

nbruce writes Library of Congress site for guides and bibliographies seems to offer well written and researched lists on a variety of topics, from Frank Lloyd Wright to UFOs to when does the century end to searching for your Irish ancestors. However, I didn’t see a single guide or bibliography on the history or importance of libraries. There are some “introspective” guides about the history or use of the Library of Congress, but they seem to be 11 to 14 years old, and the one on the Vatican library is specifically for the 1993 exhibit (which I attended, incidentally, and it was wonderful). Whether created by request, demand, or just interest, it seems an oversight easily corrected–LISNewsters could probably compile one collectively and submit it. If libraries–their activities, history, place in community and importance to freedom of information–are so important, why doesn’t LC have a guide to sources? Do all librarians and researchers already have such a list at their fingertips? Does the public not care? Is it the same attitude that predicts no librarian will ever be the Librarian of Congress? If librarians don’t care about their history and contributions, why do they think anyone else will care?

There is a list at this site of libraries in the DC area with religion collections. The art chosen to illustrate all of them, whether Muslim, Christian, Jewish, or Bahai, is a 19th century painting of Native Americans worshiping something (I’m not sure if it is the rock, the fire, or the idea in the head of the artist).

There is a 1996 directory of Slavic librarians (doesn’t list me, so it isn’t retrospective) which is updated off site.”

nbruce writes Library of Congress site for guides and bibliographies seems to offer well written and researched lists on a variety of topics, from Frank Lloyd Wright to UFOs to when does the century end to searching for your Irish ancestors. However, I didn’t see a single guide or bibliography on the history or importance of libraries. There are some “introspective” guides about the history or use of the Library of Congress, but they seem to be 11 to 14 years old, and the one on the Vatican library is specifically for the 1993 exhibit (which I attended, incidentally, and it was wonderful). Whether created by request, demand, or just interest, it seems an oversight easily corrected–LISNewsters could probably compile one collectively and submit it. If libraries–their activities, history, place in community and importance to freedom of information–are so important, why doesn’t LC have a guide to sources? Do all librarians and researchers already have such a list at their fingertips? Does the public not care? Is it the same attitude that predicts no librarian will ever be the Librarian of Congress? If librarians don’t care about their history and contributions, why do they think anyone else will care?

There is a list at this site of libraries in the DC area with religion collections. The art chosen to illustrate all of them, whether Muslim, Christian, Jewish, or Bahai, is a 19th century painting of Native Americans worshiping something (I’m not sure if it is the rock, the fire, or the idea in the head of the artist).

There is a 1996 directory of Slavic librarians (doesn’t list me, so it isn’t retrospective) which is updated off site.”