Shannon Jacobs wrote:

> John Yamamoto-Wilson wrote:
> 
>>Shannon Jacobs wrote:
>>
>>>I am quite offended by your discarding of a book I
>>>donated several weeks ago, "Against All Enemies".
>>
>>Shannon seems not to be without a fair share of attitude himself! I
>>haven't delved into the archives, but evidently there's a lot of
>>baggage hanging around from previous encounters.
<snip>
> The reason I said I was looking for a Japanese library with "attitude" in
> the slangish assertive sense was because most of them clearly seem to avoid
> controversial English books. They are willing to shelve some translations of
> controversial best sellers, but apparently not the originals.

Like John, and I suspect most of the other non-sepponians present, I
don't really have a grip on this "attitude" bullshit either. From the
tone of Shannon's posts, I thought it had something to do with taking
the piss out of the library. But I digress.

Why wouldn't a Japanese library prefer a Japanese translation ahead of a
foreign language original? The average Japanese library user hasn't
lived abroad in a country where the language used in the donated book is
a national or common language for umpteen years. If the donator of the
book, despite living in Japan for a fair number of years still has
trouble reading even what is a fairly simple translation of an English
language original such as アホでマヌケなアメリカ白人, then why assume
that somehow the locals would prefer to read the original in a foreign
language? Or assume that the public servants somehow have a
responsibility to cater to the political preferences of a foreign
resident? From my perspective, I'm not even sure that there should be
English language resources in the local library. In my city at least, it
would make far more sense for Portuguese or Chinese translations to be
given shelf space ahead of English - which is a minor community language
here at best.

>>However, venting one's spleen at public servants - while
>>understandable - isn't necessarily the best way round the problem.
>>It's probably a good idea to put a message inside any book you donate
>>with your phone number and address and asking the library to contact
>>you if it turns out they can't use the book. There's no point getting
>>upset about how important useful an addition to their library you
>>feel the book to be. Just have them phone you, pick it up and give it
>>to someone else.
> 
> In this particular library, the policy is to recycle excess books (from a
> shelf near the entrance), and someone presumably did take the book. That's
> happened to a number of the books I've donated, especially since they
> reduced their shelf space for non-Japanese books.

I still can't work out the original spleen vent to be honest. What
appears most likely to be the case is that there has been some
miscommunication. At my local library, there is a form (Japanese) to
complete when donating a book, so far I've only donated 3 books but the
form has been identical for the past 8 years. It would seem that your
library either doesn't have such a system or it wasn't extended to you,
but either way the book appears to gave recycled into someone's hands
rather than trashed.

> However, as I mentioned in the original message, I discussed this specific
> book with the librarian. Actually I discussed it with several of them, but
> longest with the most senior librarian. The impression I received was that
> he recognized the book, both for it's significance and controversy, and he
> seemed to be quite explicit in saying that the controversial nature did not
> detract from its importance, and that the library wanted to offer all
> perspectives. They still have shelf space for an ancient copy of "The Death
> of Common Sense" (which I also donated), but not for "Against All Enemies",
> which is much more worthy of being read and considered widely.

The key to me here is "The impression I received". If your local library
doesn't have a formal receipt process for donations, then as John
advised I suggest you provide a written note. I'd also suggest that you
get a native speaker to check the note before you donate. At least that
way you would eliminate language misunderstandings from the equation.

> The failure of BushCo's campaign against terrorism is an important
> international problem with significant impact on life here in Japan. Or
> haven't you noticed all the extra security precautions these days? If the
> PATRIOT act applied here in Japan, I'd suspect the real reason for dumping
> the book might be to avoid the tracking hassles. Possible terrorist
> sympathizers, you know.

Strewth. Thats a hell of a projection.

>>Secondhand bookshops are often a good bet - at least the book has a
> 
> <snip>
> Yes, and this category is apparently one of their fast moving ones, but I
> don't visit them often, and I do think it a shame such books are not more
> available and circulating in the libraries. However, I suppose that serves
> as an excuse to mention that there's a new used book store with a lot of
> English books in Takadanobaba. Actually not new, but relocated from Shibuya.
> Can't recall the name.

John provided the name - the Blue Parrot. http://www.blueparrottokyo.com
There seem to be quite a few of these up in the big smoke -
http://www.bondibooks.com/ etc etc nado nado. If you wanted to offload
the book it might have been just as effective. Any of those bookshops
would probably have a foreign language range equivalent to or larger
than a local Japanese public library, and hence a greater readership.


-- 
"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"