Oh */@*!!% !

Just recieved my copy of Kennedy yesterday. There seemed to be some massive holdup on them at Bathurst coop. Started reading straight away.

I'm really, initially, interested in the semantic distinctions between "collection development" and "collection management" - not so much that there could be a 'synonymity' [sic. neologism?] which I can understand though not agree with but that management could be seen by some to be a sub-set of development rather than the other way around. Because of this, I'm toying with the idea of referring to my "Library Collection Development & Management Policy.

I think that we will need to weed, in schools, our non-fiction and reference print to the barest bones as they become irrelevant and/or unusable. Replacement should then be with virtual formats through subscription to internet access as a first preference and CDROM as alternative. Print ( as in paper) format will still need to be retained and maintained as a quicker, more readily attainable resource, especially useful for either checking on-line information or initial background to inform search and research.

Fiction, on the other hand is more comfortably related to in paper form with its sensuous texture, smell and humanity. Our fiction shelves, then need to be be in a relatively constant state of revision, renewal and rejuvenation. As a consequence, we need to SELL fiction to our clients.

Where else can you learn about appropriate and inappropriate response to experience?
Where else can you learn about influences and temptations that impinge upon us as people?
Where else can you learn about relationships with others and acceptable ways of dealing with them?
Where else can you see 'right' and 'wrong' and be able to determine which is which?
Where else can you find a bloody good story?
Where else can you experience a fantasy world of your own construct and not constructed for you by others with different concepts and percepts?
Basically - where else can you capture a more vivid and satisfying awareness of that 'great movie' you went and saw last summer?

I'll leave GenNext to next time

Noel