Cities and Bookstores

One City One Book
Since I've never lived in a city that was holding one of these, I enjoyed getting an introduction to the concept. It was particularly eye-opening to learn the history. If you've asked me before now, I would have sworn that Oprah was behind the whole thing somehow. :-)

I have to admit that I'd never really been grabbed by the idea, and understanding more about the motivations made it much more appealing. Assuming participation is high enough, a OCOB Project means there's a reasonably good chance that you'll have something to discuss with random people in town, despite having very different backgrounds. I was also unaware that these programs went beyond simple readings of the book, and included spin-offs like classes, plays, movie events, and other community activities.

Big Box Bookstores
This session was infuriating. Where does Group Five get off, suggesting that we cut library funding?! I mean, really. It's enough to make me see the appeal of censorship. Somebody needs to kick these whackos out of library school ASAP.

There. I feel much better now.

I was glad that at the very end, the class got around to the idea that maybe we should grab some of these ideas for Libraries rather than making it an either/or proposition. Bring on the Library Coffeshops, I say.