tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747768554703669866.post4155477718044765878..comments2024-03-18T19:09:58.940-04:00Comments on The Dusty Bookcase: Pierre Trudeau's Letter to the Children of TroyBrian Busbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04120341319506205062noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747768554703669866.post-81018137461299477232011-08-17T11:02:08.292-04:002011-08-17T11:02:08.292-04:00Is there a place where public libraries aren't...Is there a place where public libraries aren't under threat? I'm beginning to wonder. Not even Library and Archives Canada is safe. And the Toronto Public Library, which so often succeeds where LAC fails, is at the mercy of a mayor who struggles with the pronunciation of the word "library".<br /><br />It was nice to learn of Asimov's generosity toward his fans. As an 11-year-old I send off a number of letters asking comic book writers for their autographs. SAEs were included, along with American coins to cover postage (being in Canada, I couldn't provide US stamps). I'm still awaiting responses. I imagine they all pocketed the change.Brian Busbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04120341319506205062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747768554703669866.post-29949733350704871522011-08-16T12:37:28.926-04:002011-08-16T12:37:28.926-04:00A good day for libraries. I only wish the Chicago ...A good day for libraries. I only wish the Chicago Public Library could get as much attention. I haven't a clue what happened to readers in our city (and our state). Our library system - one of the largest in the country - is a sad state of affairs with a huge reduciton in their workforce and little money to buy new books. Books can't even be returned to the shelves. You can barely find anything anymore. And don't get me started about the loss of bookstores. Used bookstores luckily continue to stay open and survive, but just barely. As for independently owned bookstores that sell primarily new books? The city has less than ten that I can count. In the entire city! That's not including the few Barnes & Noble stores still lingering. It's makes me want to go back east where I grew up and where I know people care more about libraries and bookstores than they do out here in a supposedly sophisticated and cosmopolitan city. Restaurants and sports teams are more important to Chicagoans. They can't even save their failing public transportation system. Enough of my rant.<br /><br />OH! I might also add -- relative to this very interesting post -- that I once had several typed and signed post cards from Isaac Asimov. He loved his readers, loved to talk to them about his books. If you sent him a letter and included a self-addressed, stamped post card he'd answer you. I note that the Asimov "letter" above is actually a post card just like the ones I used to receive from him when I was a teen in the 1970s.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.com