5 ms·

Why would the age of the book matter? If it were from a big publisher and they were to publish a new substantially-unchanged edition every three years, why woul

Why would the age of the book matter? If it were from a big publisher and they were to publish a new substantially-unchanged edition every three years, why would that make the library willing to consider the book? The book in question is still in print and still available new.

toast0 6mo ago
If nobody wanted it in the first 10 years it was available, chances are it's only going to get one circulation if they buy it for you. That's not a great use of the libraries purchase budget or shelf space budget. If they had a copy that wore out and it was circulated many times, they would have reordered it when they discarded it.
- so-cal-schemer 6mo ago
  That's why it's great that SFPL purchases such a wide variety of books. You can't ILL something if nobody has it. When I was a teen I got my local library to acquire copies of a number of tech classics: SICP, K&R, Stevens' TCP/IP Illustrated, ANSI CL, ... all discarded to my everlasting disappointment.
  - so-cal-schemer 6mo ago
    Books like these approach $100 new. That's a lot of money for someone in high school.
  - rahimnathwani 6mo ago
    SFPL doesn't have even one copy of SICP. And I can't request a copy because it's too old.
    - so-cal-schemer 6mo ago
      I can't remember the number of times and ways I've tried to get them to re-acquire it. Maybe we should organize a good old sit-in? https://mtpfriends.bigcartel.com/product/what-s-more-punk-adult-t-shirt https://mtpfriends.bigcartel.com/product/what-s-more-punk-ad... Some universities have it, but the only copy in CA public libraries seems to be at the Sharp Park branch in Pacifica (which I believe was acquired in the last couple of years - good on them!). Berkeley public library has copies of the JS edition for what that's worth..
      - mat_epice 6mo ago
        I would prefer my library not buy SICP (at least the Scheme edition) since it's available for free online. https://mitp-content-server.mit.edu/books/content/sectbyfn/books_pres_0/6515/sicp.zip/full-text/book/book.html https://mitp-content-server.mit.edu/books/content/sectbyfn/b...
        so-cal-schemer 6mo ago
        Yes. It's important to leave room on the shelf for yet another copy of the next edition of Computers for Seniors for Dummies: https://linkencore.iii.com/iii/encore/record/C__Rb51571246__Sfor%20seniors%20for%20dummies__P0 https://linkencore.iii.com/iii/encore/record/C__Rb51571246__... btw, Andres Raba brought us the preferred online edition of SICP: https://sarabander.github.io/sicp/ https://sarabander.github.io/sicp/ Also, I'd like to note that in my experience no public library can provision online-only books. I've been unable to get any to acquire Mastering Emacs for example. https://www.masteringemacs.org/ https://www.masteringemacs.org/
        so-cal-schemer 6mo ago
        the JavaScript edition: https://sicp.sourceacademy.org/ https://sicp.sourceacademy.org/
- rahimnathwani 6mo ago
  What do you mean 'no one wanted it'? Most library users select from the books on the shelf. That's like saying you shouldn't write a book because no one wanted it in the past, before it existed.
  - toast0 6mo ago
    Nobody requested it => no one wanted it.
    - rahimnathwani 6mo ago
      If that's the case, then why do librarians curate collections? Why stock any book before a library user has requested it?
      - toast0 6mo ago
        To reduce latency on first use for books the curators think are likely to be used?
        so-cal-schemer 6mo ago
        As the top poster said: Use it or lose it. Request physical copies of books you want to read, and that you think are beneficial to the community. And check them out from time to time. I'm sure a librarian does their best to keep abreast with the latest best books.. but would they know the field better than someone in it? I've been told they have experts that consult on title selection. But based on the 004-006 section at most libraries, I can only infer that is the IT guy at the senior center.. If the library buys it, that patron will come..
    - rahimnathwani 6mo ago
      SFPL doesn't have even one copy of SICP. And I can't request a copy because it's too old. Do you believe that no one in San Francisco ever wanted to read SICP?

toast0 6mo ago

If nobody wanted it in the first 10 years it was available, chances are it's only going to get one circulation if they buy it for you. That's not a great use of the libraries purchase budget or shelf space budget. If they had a copy that wore out and it was circulated many times, they would have reordered it when they discarded it.

so-cal-schemer 6mo ago
That's why it's great that SFPL purchases such a wide variety of books. You can't ILL something if nobody has it. When I was a teen I got my local library to acquire copies of a number of tech classics: SICP, K&R, Stevens' TCP/IP Illustrated, ANSI CL, ... all discarded to my everlasting disappointment.
- so-cal-schemer 6mo ago
  Books like these approach $100 new. That's a lot of money for someone in high school.
- rahimnathwani 6mo ago
  SFPL doesn't have even one copy of SICP. And I can't request a copy because it's too old.
  - so-cal-schemer 6mo ago
    I can't remember the number of times and ways I've tried to get them to re-acquire it. Maybe we should organize a good old sit-in? https://mtpfriends.bigcartel.com/product/what-s-more-punk-adult-t-shirt https://mtpfriends.bigcartel.com/product/what-s-more-punk-ad... Some universities have it, but the only copy in CA public libraries seems to be at the Sharp Park branch in Pacifica (which I believe was acquired in the last couple of years - good on them!). Berkeley public library has copies of the JS edition for what that's worth..
    - mat_epice 6mo ago
      I would prefer my library not buy SICP (at least the Scheme edition) since it's available for free online. https://mitp-content-server.mit.edu/books/content/sectbyfn/books_pres_0/6515/sicp.zip/full-text/book/book.html https://mitp-content-server.mit.edu/books/content/sectbyfn/b...
      - so-cal-schemer 6mo ago
        Yes. It's important to leave room on the shelf for yet another copy of the next edition of Computers for Seniors for Dummies: https://linkencore.iii.com/iii/encore/record/C__Rb51571246__Sfor%20seniors%20for%20dummies__P0 https://linkencore.iii.com/iii/encore/record/C__Rb51571246__... btw, Andres Raba brought us the preferred online edition of SICP: https://sarabander.github.io/sicp/ https://sarabander.github.io/sicp/ Also, I'd like to note that in my experience no public library can provision online-only books. I've been unable to get any to acquire Mastering Emacs for example. https://www.masteringemacs.org/ https://www.masteringemacs.org/
      - so-cal-schemer 6mo ago
        the JavaScript edition: https://sicp.sourceacademy.org/ https://sicp.sourceacademy.org/
rahimnathwani 6mo ago
What do you mean 'no one wanted it'? Most library users select from the books on the shelf. That's like saying you shouldn't write a book because no one wanted it in the past, before it existed.
- toast0 6mo ago
  Nobody requested it => no one wanted it.
  - rahimnathwani 6mo ago
    If that's the case, then why do librarians curate collections? Why stock any book before a library user has requested it?
    - toast0 6mo ago
      To reduce latency on first use for books the curators think are likely to be used?
      - so-cal-schemer 6mo ago
        As the top poster said: Use it or lose it. Request physical copies of books you want to read, and that you think are beneficial to the community. And check them out from time to time. I'm sure a librarian does their best to keep abreast with the latest best books.. but would they know the field better than someone in it? I've been told they have experts that consult on title selection. But based on the 004-006 section at most libraries, I can only infer that is the IT guy at the senior center.. If the library buys it, that patron will come..
  - rahimnathwani 6mo ago
    SFPL doesn't have even one copy of SICP. And I can't request a copy because it's too old. Do you believe that no one in San Francisco ever wanted to read SICP?