
As most of you would assume, I am actually a librarian. It’s not just a catchy name. I don’t like to dwell on my daytime job. I figure most of the blog universe is inundated with complaints and concerns rather than just an appreciation for art and the pursuit thereof which has primarily been my focus up until now. However, when I read an
article that views books as obsolete it makes me question the world I live in. David Abel writes, “When I look at books, I see an outdated technology, like scrolls before books,’’ said James Tracy, headmaster of Cushing and chief promoter of the bookless campus. “This isn’t ‘Fahrenheit 451’ [the 1953 Ray Bradbury novel in which books are banned]. We’re not discouraging students from reading. We see this as a natural way to shape emerging trends and optimize technology.’’ This is a preposterous notion regardless of its emerging relevance. I use books daily to great effect, but who am I kidding, I still buy vinyl. Evil grin.

All things noted, I am not a typical librarian. Often times when people find out my profession they say something quip like, “I bet you really like to read, huh?” I usually respond with a yes, but quickly spout out that that had nothing to do with my decision to become a librarian. I plainly enjoyed the adventure of the quest for information. I value continuing to be a life long learner. A day in my life is spent working with code and helping students with the overwhelming and daunting task of finding information. The latter is my enjoyment.
Therefore, my view of books is not as antiquarian as it is out of a passion to have a novel sitting beside my bed. I am not going to bore anyone with the fact that some books are very useful in research and absolutely imperative for certain subject matters but I will say that James Tracy is ignorant in his knowledge of research and his ability to listen to the most important expert on the matter, his school’s library director.
Sad indeed.