Rotten rules<\/p>\n
From Kompas<\/p>\n
Kompas (April 13, 1996) published a letter by Anang R. Noer
\ncomplaining about the services of the National Library. In his
\nresponse to the letter (Kompas, April 20, 1996), Sudirwan Hamid,
\nan official of the library, said among other things: \"The
\nNational Library has been a closed access library...etc. Every
\nlibrary, including those in foreign countries, is run based on
\ncertain regulations which cannot be violated.\"<\/p>\n
When I lived in the U.S. some time ago, I found that no public
\nlibraries applied a closed-access system. In California, I was
\nfree to browse in every corner of the state library, in spite of
\nthe fact that I am not an American citizen, nor was I a member of
\nany library.<\/p>\n
Even in the Library of Congress, the most well-known library
\nin the world, due to its open-access system anyone, including
\nvagabonds, can read in the library, only they have to deposit
\ntheir belongings at the deposit counter first.<\/p>\n
I would like to ask how a closed-access library can enhance
\npeople's intellectual capacity? Closed access must be applied
\nonly to specific books that cannot be made available to the
\npublic for political reasons. The management of every library
\nshould ensure that the public has a sense of belonging.<\/p>\n
I think, as a consequence of this, we should adopt the motto
\nof foreign libraries: Books are better read and lost in the hands
\nof the readers rather than rot in a library.<\/p>\n
REINHARD PARDEDE<\/p>\n
Tangerang, West Java<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rotten-rules-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }