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In A Riff on Big, I dealt with the skewed nature of library distributions in the United States (although the finding is more generally applicable)—that is, there few big libraries and many small libraries. Moreover, the big libraries are really, really big and the small libraries are really, really small. However, the critical question is … Continue Reading about A Riff on Small →

In an earlier post, I reported on some figures measuring the then maximum transaction load levels on PINES. Two of those were from the day after Memorial Day in 2007 (that is, May 29, 2007). What happened in 2008 the day after Memorial Day (May 27, 2008)? Well, we have another busy day. May 29, … Continue Reading about Measures of maximum load in PINES – update →

I have long puzzled over the fact that in the golden age of the library function, there has been a systematic failure of library institutions. By “library function” I refer to the functions and institutions that maintain the memory of the human species. This function includes those institutions and people who save, organize, and provide … Continue Reading about So we beat on, boats against the current… →