« Llareggub | Main | Ealing libraries »
May 11, 2006
MLA mission
There's a message from "Sarah" who doesn't give her second name to say that
"The MLA's mission is "To connect people and change lives through museums, libraries and archives"
It's on their website, along with their strategic aims (Go to 'About Us' and follow link to 'What We Do' on the right)."
We can put that alongside today's Private Eye "Library News" who report John Dolan of the MLA who says that
"the three most important aspects of a library are "range, relevance and currency"." which the Eye observes is a difficult statement to understand and open to question. I agree with them: a list like that could apply to many things (today's newspaper, for example, which will be out of date tomorrow)
Both statements fail the test that I was taught to apply to writing at work which is "Would your mother understand what this means and what you are trying to say?"
To illustrate my point I offer the idea that one of the great virtues of a good library is that much it contains is not current: it is of the past.
It is sad to have to explain but slogans like "libraries connect people" (which could apply to many things: telephones connect people); and "libraries change lives" ( there are many things that change your life like having children) are of no help to anybody, least of all people who work in the library service and wonder what on earth they are supposed to be doing. A mission statement should be clear and contain an idea which exemplifies what the people who contribute to the organisation are proud of doing.
Careless use of language of the kind in these two examples is damaging.
Sarah, if you are at the MLA, you can say so, but I do like the email address you have used to send your message.
Posted by Perkins at May 11, 2006 5:02 PM
Comments
The most important aspect of a library is to have a wide range of books for people to read (either on site or available by order within 24 hours).
Secondarily, they can provide a quiet environment for people to read and study.
Thirdly, they can provide internet access if they really want to.
That's my twopennorth!
Posted by: Maxine Clarke at May 11, 2006 9:55 PM