Shannon Jacobs wrote:
> Thank you for the information, but you didn't say which particular library
> system that was. Also, I'm curious if they have any "controversial" English
> books such as "Against All Enemies". A few more contextual questions:

Okazaki-shi, Bumfuck Aichi. As for the second question, I'm not aware if 
they have any English titles, no idea at all. From June, there will be a 
separate reading room about 2 miles from the library containing a small 
collection of English, Portuguese (mostly Brazilian origin) and Spanish 
titles, but this will not be officially part of the city library. I've 
been asked if we can be of assistance but haven't decided/replied yet.

> <snip>
> 
>>closes at 5pm (too early for most working people), and when you add up
>>all the holidays it is not open at all for about 75-80 days each year.
> 
> That doesn't seem so unreasonable? Given that 52 days are Mondays (or
> holiday-offset Tuesdays), and 12 days are the monthly inventories, plus a
> week at new years, that's already about 70 days. I remember a couple of
> libraries that had two inventory days per month, plus special holidays, and

I think it is unreasonable. Staff can be rotated. Nobody would be 
particularly impressed with a university library closed for 75-80 days 
of the year. I'm not expecting something like Oxford's Bodleian, the 
Boston Public or Sydney's Mitchell Library, just a functioning, 
accessible resource base appropriate to a city with the city's 
population and needs. The libraries of the national research institutes 
and local universities are narrowly specialized, and not usually 
accessible as a resource for ordinary people, companies or 
organizations. A good publicly funded research library is essential to 
the development of knowledge intensive and/or creative industries, and 
to adult education in a city experiencing a rapid hollowing out of it's 
traditional manufacturing base. FWIW my local public library in Sydney 
was closed for 12 days last year, and is open until 8pm five days a week 
(although it is only open from 2-5pm on Sundays).

> Recently it seems like the
> days and the hours are both increasing? I didn't mention it, but the
> Kawasaki library did extend their hours to 7 pm, and I think Sagamihara is
> later than that.

If the Kawasaki library has extended its hours, and has accepted donated 
books in the past etc etc nado nado, then it hardly seems unresponsive, 
and a written hissy fit seems a bit of an over reaction.

> <snip>
> 
>>I received a nice reply explaining budget limitations etc.
> 
> That's the part I dread... The last time I sent them some feedback, they
> somehow figured out who it was, and though they didn't send a letter, they
> were trying SO hard to be polite every time they noticed me wandering
> around... Excessive politeness to the point of rudeness? Mayhaps.

I don't know the library staff or vice-versa. I was asked to make the 
submission by the Mayor and submitted it through him (he sits on the 
Yamasa board). The reply came from the library committee.


-- 
"Oh don't give me none more of that Old Janx Spirit/ No, don't you give 
me none more of that Old Janx Spirit/ For my head will fly, my tongue 
will lie, my eyes will fry and I may die/ Won't you pour me one more of 
that sinful Old Janx Spirit"