Comments (2)

• It is useful to download a copy of Professor Johnson's Review of the Mitchell Librarian and read it (it can be found on the SLNSW website by clicking through on a couple of links). It's an interesting task endeavouring to find what statements can be interpreted as leading to changing the nature and role of the current space used as the Mitchell Library Reading Room. I question how a single person's review (a person whose expertise is in cultural studies, gender studies and university education but not public libraries) could be a legitimate basis for interpretation by the State Librarian to implement drastic physical changes without very broad public consultation. If the 1910 Reading Room is to be restored: Where is it? Is it intended to be the tiny room used in 1910? (Google and ye shall find) Why has the current Reading Room's function been changed now?
  Finally it is clear from the Open Letter that Evelyn Juers is furious and felt that the State Librarian was patronising, rude and intransigeant however I'm not sure that letting the emotions out in a letter is ever terribly constructive, particularly once the heat of the battle has subsided. Sometimes it is more effective to take the emotion out of the sentence and let the facts speak for themselves. It seems a fact that there was no broad consultation with the general community on a pre-emptive move to change the nature of the Mitchell Reading Room. It is clear that there is considerable opposition to the move within the literary and artistic community. It appears also that the consultation may have been with universities and schools. It is a fact that universities have their own well-funded libraries and one would hope that the SLNSW is endeavouring to give equal priority to members of the community who don't have access to university libraries. It seems universities and school students are being prioritised with digitalised information being the emphasis. A Reading Room is a reading room, there is only one beautiful Reading Room in this city. Wifi havens for bored people to surf the net abound. The State Library is already fast becoming such a haven in all its areas.
  Posted by Arthur Manus Giles

  21 February 2014
• I am not a scholar but I care about spaces for those who are, and I care about our institutions, and I am dismayed and ashamed at what's happening at the Mitchell Library. I will attend any public meetings and be part of any discussions about its future.
  Posted by Linda Newton

  21 February 2014