Sender: Rare Books and Special Collections Forum <EXLIBRIS@RUTVM1.BITNET>
It seems to me that, at the moment, what EXLIBRIS is lacking
is not focus but good manners and common courtesy. Remember
this?
"EXLIBRIS is an unmoderated news and discussion group for the
purpose of discussing matters related to rare book and
manuscript librarianship, including special collections and
related issues."
That's from the sign-on message. If a concerned librarian
can't use such a forum to investigate options for preserving
something in her care - - be it book, manuscript, map, or
whatever - - what is EXLIBRIS for?
Of course there will be postings that don't interest
everyone, or irritate certain individuals. I for one don't
care to be dismissed by Mr. Thompson as a career-fixated
congential idiot any more than I like to be told what should
be important to me by Mr. Moffett. And I don't like spending
time and effort (not to say money) dowloading someone's
requirements for an apartment rental, or reading unsigned
notes from people who don't notice that Listservs and some
software can strip off the original names and addresses,
leaving anonymous chitchat on the net. But if that is the
price I must pay for "unmoderated news and discussion," I
will do so gladly. Free discussion is bound to be messy, but
so what? And I will at least be courteous to someone who
comes to the forum looking for options and advice.
Stephen Greenberg
History of Medicine Division
National Library of Medicine
stephen_greenberg@occshost.nlm.nih.gov