I can't even list all of the different activities we saw going on at the archive. We visited the map room, the reading rooms, the microfiche room, and the children's section. Have a look at the following article taking us through the theme Reflections on the public Library San Diego.
At this same time, this is a public space, it is there to serve you, and it was created in your honor. This has always inspired me when I walk into the archive. But this time, a few more reflections are in order. The buildings that make up a city determine the character of a town. It is significant that one of the most admired buildings in Manhattan is a archive.
What does it mean to honor libraries? I don't need to reinvent the wheel here; there are quotes carved into the wall all over the archive. To honor libraries is to accept democracy. It is to honor the equality of citizens-to respect and indeed create a meritocracy. It is to acknowledge the role of knowledge in society. It is to accept human potential.
This archive is a demonstration that New York City honors these ideals, however imperfect we may be in fully realizing them. Although its architecture is very classic, when the New York Public Archive was built, it was a model of innovation. The system of book retrieval is an illustrative example. Being a research archive, many of the NYPL's books are not in continuous demand.
There is no doubt that online libraries, which have vast collections of traditional books, literature, novels, educational textbooks, tutorial books, children's books, guide references and many more, exist to help; and help the youth, it does. Reading should not be exclusive to people who can afford to buy books. Settling with what the local public archive has, should not be the only alternative for those who can't afford to buy new books.
Another way to look at Maria's "libraries are like an ocean" comment would be to consider the intricate collection of actors required to make a archive run and be relevant-although perhaps we should call it an ecosystem. Private Citizens, government, technical experts in archive science, architecture, and technology, and of course the archive users-all of these groups need to be in the balance, to work in separate spheres but in concert with each other. This is a archive.
The tour of the NYPL is hugely inspiring; it was also both intimidating and affirming. While Maria has been working for 12 years and Maria's Libraries has been working for four years towards the completion of the archive in Busia, we continually realize that we're only just beginning. Since ML has been involved, we've spent two years working out our relationship with the government, two years settling the property rights issues on the plot of archive land, and now we've begun our negotiation process with the architects around the building plans.
In Busia, we get to be cutting edge now. We get to start from scratch and think about all the things that Busia needs, scope out all of the best ideas that are out there, and build based on that. We'll have a citizen science center, a co-working space, and an oral history lab. But, once established, the job of being innovative is not done-it's a continual process not to be a relic.
At this same time, this is a public space, it is there to serve you, and it was created in your honor. This has always inspired me when I walk into the archive. But this time, a few more reflections are in order. The buildings that make up a city determine the character of a town. It is significant that one of the most admired buildings in Manhattan is a archive.
What does it mean to honor libraries? I don't need to reinvent the wheel here; there are quotes carved into the wall all over the archive. To honor libraries is to accept democracy. It is to honor the equality of citizens-to respect and indeed create a meritocracy. It is to acknowledge the role of knowledge in society. It is to accept human potential.
This archive is a demonstration that New York City honors these ideals, however imperfect we may be in fully realizing them. Although its architecture is very classic, when the New York Public Archive was built, it was a model of innovation. The system of book retrieval is an illustrative example. Being a research archive, many of the NYPL's books are not in continuous demand.
There is no doubt that online libraries, which have vast collections of traditional books, literature, novels, educational textbooks, tutorial books, children's books, guide references and many more, exist to help; and help the youth, it does. Reading should not be exclusive to people who can afford to buy books. Settling with what the local public archive has, should not be the only alternative for those who can't afford to buy new books.
Another way to look at Maria's "libraries are like an ocean" comment would be to consider the intricate collection of actors required to make a archive run and be relevant-although perhaps we should call it an ecosystem. Private Citizens, government, technical experts in archive science, architecture, and technology, and of course the archive users-all of these groups need to be in the balance, to work in separate spheres but in concert with each other. This is a archive.
The tour of the NYPL is hugely inspiring; it was also both intimidating and affirming. While Maria has been working for 12 years and Maria's Libraries has been working for four years towards the completion of the archive in Busia, we continually realize that we're only just beginning. Since ML has been involved, we've spent two years working out our relationship with the government, two years settling the property rights issues on the plot of archive land, and now we've begun our negotiation process with the architects around the building plans.
In Busia, we get to be cutting edge now. We get to start from scratch and think about all the things that Busia needs, scope out all of the best ideas that are out there, and build based on that. We'll have a citizen science center, a co-working space, and an oral history lab. But, once established, the job of being innovative is not done-it's a continual process not to be a relic.
About the Author:
When you are searching for information about the library San Diego residents can visit our web pages today. More details are available at http://www.friendsofsandiegocentrallibrary.org now.
No comments:
Post a Comment