Public Libaries and the Pandemic

Of all the institutions, public and private, that have been forced to deal with the Sino-flu none has been as obnoxious the various public libraries. 

In the beginning, libraries were completely closed. Some have opened with reduced hours, all have required those entering to wear face diapers. 

The reason that this should be an issue at all is that libraries, even during the internet age, are the repositories of information, if not of knowledge. Whatever information is available about any particular subject, including infectious diseases and their treatment, should be available in any large library. The personnel in libraries, all of whom are directed by librarians with masters degrees, at the very least should be aware of how to find that information, as well as keep track of DVDs, music CDs and computer access. 

Sadly, the people that work in libraries, pleasant and helpful as they try to be, really aren't much different than supermarket employees. They keep the shelves stocked and organized with product, replenishing it as it leaves, perform the rites needed for the customer to take the product home and fulfill other duties like answering the phone and responding to customers' questions and complaints as needed. The jobs are quite similar. 

So perhaps there's no reason why library people should know more about epidemics, their history, and the responses to them that have succeeded or failed. Maybe some of us think that by merely working in a library some important information would just rub off. Evidently not.

We can't actually know what library people know. But we can see how libraries operate and come to some conclusions.

 This is the DVD section of a library. As you can see, the DVDs are arranged in two different ways. Those that have been put in alphabetical order and are ready for customers to pick up are placed with the front covers exposed. In a given row only the title of the front DVD is visible. Someone searching for a particular video must dig through each row in hopes of finding the latest Adam Sandler offering or Marvel hero sequel. If this makes any sense, wouldn't all the books in the library be stored in the same fashion? Of course, it doesn't make any sense. 

The point is that even though the library is the graphical storehouse of the collected information of most of human history, the people in charge haven't figured out how to use that information to effectively present their product. They are unable to showcase their wares as well as a hardware store or supermarket.