Posting on Group 5

Big box book stores are quite the force to be reckoned with. The main divide though between these and libraries is the freedom of access. Anyone is allowed to come into a library and access materials for free. The library ideal is an ultimately democratic institution. Big box book stores are based on consumers paying for products. They are a great place to hang out and have great environments, but you will not get the same service that you get at a library. A knowledgable librarian is there to assist you in any research that you want to do. There are community activities that teach, entertain, and inform. There is space to simply sit for hours without feeling compelled to buy anything. And all of this is free. Viva la libraries.

Readings 12/4

Group 1

I enjoyed the Buddha article the best. It was a very understanding point of view. Instead of lashing out at those who wish to ban articles, it advocates respect for these people because they actually care and want to institute values in their children. The Boston article was a bit angering. I am often not tolerant of intolerance. Groups that try to ban all sinful and licentious things annoy me greatly. A world without these "sinful" things would suck. The real world is not without its ups and downs and its light and dark. To really live life, one needs to experience all sorts of different things like the Buddha. He spent years trying different things, trying to understand life and death, and joy and suffering. It was only through all these experiences he gained that he truly learned what life was about.

Group 2

I found it very interesting and ironic that there was a "Criticism of Wikipedia" article on Wikipedia itself. It is such an innovative website, and truly anyone can post anything they want on there. In my experience it is often very helpful when looking for quick answers to queries that you have. I have found lists of alcohol laws for every US state when I was confused about off sale being shut down at 9:00 in Wisconsin. I found a list of Guitar Hero II songs when I couldn't remember a good song that I heard on a video game. For the most part it is pretty accurate, and is an invaluable tool. If I was doing serious research I would probably consult it at least to get ideas about my topic, and there are often links to other references about the topic. I enjoy the website immensely.

Group 3

That link to Shush the conservative librarian website was excellent. There was a great deal of humor there. Also I thought that conservative librarians were an urban myth, but I guess you learn something new every day. The Patriot Act has ruffled a lot of feathers around the country. It is a divisive issue among many in this partisan climate of the US. It reminds me of precursors to dictatorial societies. Privacy is key to a free society. Justice Holmes in Griswold vs. Connecticut stated that privacy is implicit in the constitution and that it is valued by all citizens. Taking away more and more privacy is not going to be healthy for a society. People will not be able to say what they want, think what they want or believe what they want. I agree with the conservative librarian blog that people should not be persecuted for what they believe.