It’s been almost a month and I’m still mad at this guy.

If you read my last post, then you’ll know who I’m talking about. I wrote a reply to this bozo of a teacher’s views on libraries, and my friend finally got her paper back. She send this:

“I  received my grade on my paper. He gave me an A-. This was his feedback:

‘While I personally think libraries are no longer relevant for other than PhD researchers who want to go to the source document for their research, there are libraries out there doing what you syuggest and more. Talk about expanding digital media, the Orange Cty public library offers e-books and digital downloads of movies, which you can order online without having to go there. So, hte ideas you have put forward here already are being done by some. But, they still seem to be sinking into irrelevantcy.’

Apparently he doesn’t believe in spell check.”

Cue Jackie Chan “What’s wrong with you?” face.

Firstly, let’s all take a moment to appreciate his deft mastery of spelling and grammar.

*Tumbleweed rolls by*

…Anyway, let’s break this down:

“I personally think libraries are no longer relevant for other than PhD researchers who want to go to the source document for their research”

Really? Name all the PhD candidates you know in the public library right now. That’s like the people who have 5,000 friends on Facebook. A school library, I could understand. The University of Florida has a science library, law library, a general library, music library…maybe we got some PhD kids in there, but not at your public library. This also tells me that you don’t have a PhD. I’m actually rather curious where you got your degree…

Sounds about right.

“Talk about expanding digital media, the Orange Cty public library offers e-books and digital downloads of movies, which you can order online without having to go there”

Don’t get me wrong, these are great things, but you’re underestimating the power of the physical building. Many books are not available in e-book form, so they go and get the hard copy. Some people (like me) just really like the weight, feel, smell, etc of having a book in our hands. Also, the digital version might be checked out. That’s right – libraries are only entitled to so many digital copies at once. If Catching Fire gets checked out X number of times online, it can’t be checked out until another patron’s book has expired and “returned” to the system. If you don’t order enough digital copies, it’ll be more like Catching Hell.

Moving on, let’s talk about movies. Have you seen the movies Orange County offers online? See for yourself. Documentaries, westerns, off-brand cartoons, instructional videos, things you’d maybe glance over just for fun – none of their Hollywood blockbusters. This is the stuff you’d expect to see in the bargain bin at Best Buy. PLEASE NOTE! I have the utmost respect for these films, but I’ll be honest and say I’d rather watch World War Z or Man of Steel than Secrets of the Amish. If you want the Hollywood films, you have to go in and get them.

“So, hte ideas you have put forward here already are being done by some. But, they still seem to be sinking into irrelevantcy”

Again, superb job on the spelling. I disagree, sir – libraries are becoming more and more relevant. More and more services, products, and events are happening at libraries. Things are happening all the time that we didn’t used to do. Alachua County Library District had a Doctor Who event at their library in celebration of their 50th anniversary; I doubt that would have happened 10 years ago! We’re hip, we’re cool, and we’re happy to show you how wrong you are. Every day, we grow more important in the advent of technology. Look at Star Wars: even in the future (fictional and otherwise), we still have libraries!

Jedi powers not included.

You’re wrong, your view is wrong, and I look forward to proving you even more wrong in the future. I hope your child gets a library card and goes to her public library every day. Even after she gets her PhD.

RAWR, I’m done ranting. On a better note, Facebook tells me that my last post about this guy was my biggest and most popular post to date – I LOVE YOU ALLS!

Tune in next time for some groovy stuff I’ve been cooking up with FSU! My next undertaking is – dare I call it – Brash.

Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian