BackshopMy uncle actually had a degree in Library Science. I talked to him once about it. Libraries are set up semi-scientifically. It seems like the OP's library could've had an overabundance of railroad books due to the librarian's spouse. Maybe they were pared down when they looked at how much room they took up vs how often they were checked out. Face it, railroads aren't that popular anymore. Just look at the average age at a trainshow. Go to your local Barnes & Noble. How many railroad books do they have? Probably zero.
Library's are one thing - the list of defunct bookstores is another.
Atlantic Books, discount chain on the East Coast, defunct as of 2012B. DaltonBorders Books and Music / Brentano's - closed all locations in 2011Coles...The Book PeopleCrown Books / SuperCrown - closed all locations in 2001Davis-Kidd BooksellersEncore BooksFamily Christian Stores - closed all locations in 2017Frys Electronics - closed all locations in Feb. 2021Hastings Entertainment - closed all locations in Oct. 2016Kroch's and Brentano'sMedia PlayOxford Bookstore, offline chain of bookstores in the U.S.Waldenbooks
Personally, I would spend time browzing in both B. Dalton and Waldenbooks during visits to the mall.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
My uncle actually had a degree in Library Science. I talked to him once about it. Libraries are set up semi-scientifically. It seems like the OP's library could've had an overabundance of railroad books due to the librarian's spouse. Maybe they were pared down when they looked at how much room they took up vs how often they were checked out. Face it, railroads aren't that popular anymore. Just look at the average age at a trainshow. Go to your local Barnes & Noble. How many railroad books do they have? Probably zero.
We had considerable turmoil here in our local library system that eventually cost the library's executive director, her job.
There had been strong misgivings among the staff over a strategic purge in materials, where the claimed objective was to "recalibrate to community needs", and I recall personally getting an earfull from disgruntled employees on several occasions when asking to have materials retrieved from storage.....them proposing that it would be a miracle if the material I was seeking managed to "survive" the realignment.
Somehow the gal they hired just a few years earlier to be Exec Director got the idea that modern tastes had changed and people no longer wanted to go to the library to conduct research, that instead they wanted to do "fun" things, such as checking out campling gear, kayaks, and other hard materials.
As the outrage went public, she was given one chance to defend herself, and her claims were that "research libraries" were the dominion of universities, while public libraries needed to stay in tune with evolving trends.
She was sent packing, and there was considerable involvement by the library board to engage the public (surveys, etc) before hiring her replacement.
No telling how badly the purge impacted what once was, to hear some staffers tell it, it felt like Fahrenheit 451 had come to life.
Times changing, not always for the better.
Several of the railroad related books I've enjoyed there have been taken out of open circulation, and placed in the "Reference" section where they may no longer be checked out, must be read on site.
Our library had a nice collection of railroad books, many of which I had requested. I went in after the Covid lockdown and 80% were gone. I inquired and was told the library used COVID shutdown to purge unpopular books. I was incredulous...many of these books I repeatedly checked out and several books were recent additions.
I asked if the books were for sale and was told the volumes were donated to a firm in South Bend, in that collects "obsolete" books and then sells them, donating proceeds to libraries. I inquired to the firm and they wanted over $50 each for the books...no thanks.
BTW...wasnt just railroad books, the shelves were noticeably bare.
Ed
MidlandMikeOur Library had lots of train books, but then they de-acquisitioned most of the books (rail and otherwise) that were not of local/state interest. They put in computers for the patrons. The computers were popular for a while, but now most patrons use the free wifi on their phones. I guess if you want hard-to-find books, you go online to interlibrary loan.
Dewey Decimal forever
Our Library had lots of train books, but then they de-acquisitioned most of the books (rail and otherwise) that were not of local/state interest. They put in computers for the patrons. The computers were popular for a while, but now most patrons use the free wifi on their phones. I guess if you want hard-to-find books, you go online to interlibrary loan.
He was a cool man. She was a supportive wife. What made her especially unique was that she was a librarian at a higher learning facility. As a librarian, she had an influence on the titles the library shelves had. She was responsible for the library having many, many railroad titles. I made many visits to the library and saw firsthand if a book was worth purchasing! They usually were!
As all good things must end, they retired. A few years ago, I revisited the library, and to my dismay, ALL the exciting railroad titles and books were gone. They had been sold to the highest bidder! All her thoughtful work was gone. It is a shame people get old and new generations that do not share our rail interests take over!
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