I resonated strongly with this examination of library timidity faced with projects that might bring overwhelming success.
When I have proposed new repository programs and services at MPOW, I have more than once been told, “They’ll all come running. You’ll be swamped. No.”
My response, heretofore silent, is invariably, “Wow. What a great problem to have.” As opposed to my current problem, which is my service being ignored, devalued, and defunded.
What I have trouble with in all this is the constant lament I hear that libraries have so much terrible trouble justifying themselves and their funding in the Google Age. Well, hell’s bells, people, maybe if we brought down the house once or twice we’d have an easier time of it?
