what is a library? a creative writing exercise[edit]
A basic definition of a library, because it's called for, because we've moved so far from it being simply a collection of books:
A library retains:
- a collection of texts
A library produces:
- sociability
A library gives access to:
- knowledge
Each statement declares the verb and object predicated by the subject of "A library". What if these objects were exchanged between these sentences? So, it becomes:
- A library retains sociability, produces a collection of texts, and gives access to knowledge.
- A library retains knowledge, produces sociability, and gives access to a collection of texts.
- A library retains a collection of texts, produces knowledge, and gives access to sociability.
Perspectives on current and potential libraries[edit]
By changing parts of speech (the verb and its object), we can imagine different scenarios that potential (and current) libraries can play out. For example:
A library retains knowledge
Retention of knowledge points towards the desire to acquire information that has high value; intellectual, social, practical etc.
produces a collection of texts
What are the texts that can be produced? Metadata, annotations and marginalia, infrastructural interfaces for readers (signage, an index, a classification system)
and gives access to sociability
How does the library give access to sociability? What are the necessary actions for sociability to become accessible, and what are the limits to accessibility?