8 ms·
For a public library that traffics almost exclusively in popular materials (genre fiction and non-fiction written for a general audience) print books are bought
by samsa 6y ago
For a public library that traffics almost exclusively in popular materials (genre fiction and non-fiction written for a general audience) print books are bought with the understanding that they will be “weeded” after a couple of years anyway.
- op00to 6y agoSo? Imagine if we didn’t need to rebuy bullshit romance novels every few years as they’re stained with god knows what. Imagine how much further that money can go for the common good.
- calibas 6y agoHey, let's get rid of something I don't like. It's for the "common good".
- WalterBright 6y agoThe local public library's contents look mostly like what you'd expect in a K-12 school library. I suppose they know who their customers are.
- triceratops 6y agoMost public libraries offer Inter Library Loans that afford access to a far wider range of content.
- II2II 6y agoMostly, but not entirely. While libraries may acquire multiple copies of popular materials that have a very short shelf life, there are many circumstances when they will maintain a copy over an extended period. The shelf life also varies considerably according to the type of book. While genre fiction may only be around for a couple of years, non-fiction seems to stick around for a decade or more.
- jpindar 6y agoEvery public library I've been in had lots of books that were older than a couple of years.