Re: Need for change (Was: dates)

On Sat, 30 Jul 2011, James Weinheimer wrote:

> While I certainly have my own political viewpoints ...

  Political viewpoints are irrelevant when the process is controlled by 
individuals who's only satisfaction is being manipulative to obtain power.

> all have an equal need and desire for reliable information

  One "faction" (not politically specific, psychological) will always have 
a greater need to *control* information and either distort or conceal it.

> ... it is a part of public education and community development, which is 
> in all people's interest along the entire range of political beliefs.

  That is quite true, but it is also in the public interest to explain the 
nature of information distortion and how information can be restricted 
and how to avoid both. What better "selling point" for libraries could 
one ask for?

> Attached to this however, is the need to build tools that people want and 
> need. This means finding out what those users want and need so that you can 
> build those tools.

  Factor in to that what people need to make rational decisions: not just 
information, but explication of information-distortion. Librarians could 
successfully publish on that need and how to meet it.

> People have never liked to be confronted with: this is the 
> product/service/whatever that we make and you have to use it or do without.