Re: OT: libraries (was Re: dialectal diversity in English)

>To be fair, they do care what books people want to read. However, other
>ambitions, like having collections that impress other librarians, also play
>a part.
In the USA, the emphasis on impressive collections varies on the size and
location of the library. E.g. the larger libarries in Chicago and New York
City might worry about impressive collections, butthe ones in Kansas City
would not.

>Dare I ask what those in Arizona are ambitious towards?
1. Placating the vocal Religious Right by promoting Christianity as the only
religion.
2. Showing support for "President Bush and the sanctity of the USA".
3. Remaining employed, which for them, depends on 1 and 2.

The branch of the county library near Phoenix centre does have a decent
reference-only area of old texts on indigenous languages of the southwest of
the USA (texts by Boas, Sapir, etc.).

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