STRAY THOUGHTS

摘要

Obviously libraries are good for something or else librarians and users wouldn't love them so much. In fact it's fairly easy to list positive things about libraries: great for getting children started with reading a book us; really important for students of all ages; capable of serving those who want to read for pleasure (the most intelligent and fruitful leisure activity that there is). The problem is that people who write about libraries, particularly libraries in developing countries, persistently claim that they can do all sorts of things that actually they can't. Over and over again one reads claims to the effect that libraries are essential for the development process: that they are contributors to economic growth. This sounds very nice if you are trying to build a case for your government to open public libraries, put libraries in schools, or improve university and research libraries, but can you actually prove it?