Let's Start a Fire

You may have noticed that the URL for this blog is 'books to burn.' When I created this blog, I wasn't sure what that meant. I just liked the way it rolled off the tongue. I liked how it was a little controversial. But I liked how it didn't mean anything and still carried a lot of imagery.

You see, fire is a powerful thing. It was something that separated us from the rest of the animals on this planet. It provides warmth and security, yet it still carries a destructive, terrifying power. What else can both comfort and destroy?

It also makes me think of two of my favorite cities: Chicago and New York. While there are a lot of ways in which the two cities are different, but there's one way in which they will always be separated in my mind.

For those of you who have been there, what happens in New York City on garbage day? All the garbage is piled up on the curbs as New York has no alleyways. One garbage day, you have to wade through trash to get to where you're going. For such an amazing, exciting city, it stinks--literally--to have to walk through garbage.

You know what happens in Chicago on garbage day? All the trash is behind the buildings and out of sight. The public doesn't have to see it nor do they have to walk through it.

Do you know why Chicago is able to put its trash in the alleys behind the buildings?

Because in 1871 Chicago burned to the ground and they were able to rebuild the city with a better plan so that people didn't have to walk through garbage.

There are days when I'd like to start a fire to burn everything to the ground so we could start over with a new plan and not have to walk through garbage any more.

I'm just saying.

Terms

Can we stop using 'blogosphere' and GOD FORBID 'biblioblogosphere'? When I'm reading something (it could be a blog post, an article, whatever) and I hit one of these terms, I just stop reading. As far as I'm concerned, anyone who feels compelled to use these terms doesn't have anything to say to me that could matter.

These terms are not inclusive. They do not work to make people feel comfortable. They do not help people understand. They exclude. They discriminate. They make people feel stupid. They make people be dismissive of what you have to say.

'Oh, what should we call it then?'

How about 'online community'? How about 'librarians online' or 'people online'? How about none of these? How about nothing? It's not a term that intuitively describes anything.

Why not blgoworld, or blogplanet, or bippityboppityblogplace?

It's just stupid. Stop.

I May be the Only Librarian Who Doesn't Like Stephen Colbert

Because of things like this:

Actually, I'd buy it first. And then I'd read it. No libraries, okay? Libraries are for cowards. No free rides. The book is for heroes, and the heroes are the people who buy the book. Don't lend the book.

To me, and maybe I'm over-reacting, this reads like the words of an irresponsible ass. Perhaps he's being sarcastic, or being ironic, or being something. I don't buy it. I don't find it funny. I have a hard time enjoying the commentary of someone who says things that directly attack my chosen way of life.

I came to the library field the long way around. I hadn't worked in libraries until I was almost done with my MLIS. For the first time in my life, I found a career I could be passionate about. A career that I actually cared about. And then someone with a big forum (Comedy Central, Entertainment Weekly) comes along and says bad things about my passion. Even if he's joking, his words can be used by others as justification for getting rid of library services. It's very irresponsible.

I've not blogged about him before because I didn't want to link to anything he's done, or give him any additional traffic (whether through positive or negative commentary).

And before people fill up the comments with "he's just kidding, calm down," would it be as funny if he said "black people can't be trusted"?