Today, you crossed the line

Someone needed to go after libraries and librarians and cherry-pick through the circulation records to expose wasteful practices and bad collection development decisions, right? I, for one, will rest easy knowing that the U-T is looking out for my best interest with stories like "Little-used Books Clog Library," on the front page of the September 26, 2013, edition.

Who needs a library with dusty, old books that aren't economically feasible to digitize? History, schmistory -- that's what I say.

On the other hand ... what about using the U-T Watchdog platform and California Public Records Act to tackle substantive issues such as ... hmmm ... a story about Doug Manchester, San Diego's cheerleader-in-chief, and how he is taking a major hit in journalism circles for pedaling his unapologetic, self-serving agenda disguised as a newspaper.

I can't help thinking how ironic this is. Librarians and newspaper people used to stand on common ground. But today, you crossed the line. I hope you are hearing from a lot of librarians today. There's a science fiction writer named Spider Robinson who is quoted as saying: Librarians are the secret masters of the world. They control information. Don’t ever piss one off.

Too late.

Michelle Frost, MLIS

La Mesa

Reading only benefits the mind

The Watchdog article on circulation of library books aroused my curiosity. I wish it had included statistics on number of individual residents who check out books annually. Hope an article is written that tells how many different people go to a Chargers football game at Qualcomm Stadium each year. Yes, I know that many more like to watch the team on television. Is that similar to reading a book electronically? The library cost $196.7 million; a new stadium is projected at $800 million. What percentage of each must be paid by taxpayers? Are there any facts on exactly how the economy of individuals is helped by the existence of a pro football team in a city? Unfortunately, reading only benefits the minds of people. The cost benefit is unknown. Yet, I am certain there is as much enjoyment of readers during their hours with a book as there is with spectators during their agony of watching the Chargers.

Karen Lon

San Diego

Books must stand on their own

Regarding the Sept. 26 “U-T Watchdog” article by Lee Ann O’Neal, “Little-Used Books Clog Library”, I found its message akin to “let us burn books” messages of tyrants who would like to promote ignorance of any practice or idea that conflicts with their self-serving agendas. In this case, I see the U-T assessing the new library narrowly as if public libraries were a business and not a public service. Return on investment, a business measure doubtless important to U-T’s value system, is measured for libraries by readership, and each and every book must stand on its own.

Bernard Eichenbaum

Carlsbad

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