Patrick Kurp says the $14.9 million renovation of the Houston central downtown building is nothing but trouble. Cutting off direct access to part of the collection compounds a problem that already existed at the main Houston library. Many books, especially older titles (older than a decade or so, that is), are placed in “stacks”; that is, they are shelved on floors without public access. The thinking seems to be, if we have limited space, let’s devote it to new books, not good, important, enduring or useful books.
Only figuratively is the Houston Public Library a dust-hole, though that’s the sense Thoreau intends. Books without readers are merely potential books, and readers without books are unhappy people.
Recent Comments