Missed MIS

Although the discussion is far from passed, thought I'd get caught up on posting before the exam;
MIS for 'Race & Place':
I found the most ill-conceived statement on pg 32 when the librarian explained low circulation as due to that the largely black, mostly working-class community simply didn't read.

MES for 'Better Together':
I found the most encouraging statement as the statement that a woman made about how she felt when the Near North Branch was placed in Cabrini Green (pg 37?):
"Before, I though no one cared about people around Cabrini. And so we didn't care. Now I feel like someone is watching, trying to make thigns better. So I am trying to better myself and my children."

MIS - Putnam, Bowling Alone

"Networks and the associated norms of reciprocity are generally good for those inside the network, but the external effects of social capital are by no means always positive."

I found this passage interesting because it discussed that externalities produced by social capital can be negative. Social capital is usually associated with positive aspects in a community, but it can also be used to inflict harm and disorder. It is odd to think that the same networks that people rely on everyday enabled Timothy McVeigh to carry out the the haneous Okalahoma City bombing.

MIS: Branch Libraries

"...Margot Burke was fielding calls from reporters looking for the library's reaction to a group of south Side clergy who were protesting the library's Internet policy and demanding that filters be installed on computers..." -Branch Libraries

Reading this statement pointed out to me the huge liability the library system is taking on by allowing the free uncensored access to information that it does. In this day and age where it where you see the total loss of personal accountability (witnessed mostly through the mass media networks) almost every institution takes every possible precaution in protecting itself from being sued by some bum blaming everyone else for their problems. I can't blame them for being too careful when you see the cases such as, "The manual never said cruise control wouldn't take care of all the driving for me," and, "McDonalds never had any information available saying eating ten Big Macs a day would destroy my body."

I imagine that there's been considerable controversy over filtering because of the fact that children may frequent the library. Kudos to the libraries for standing strong on the freedom of access to information. Don't get me wrong, you can find some of the worst things on the internet, but as long as a user is not disturbing other patrons he/she should be able to view whatever they please. If a parent is so paranoid that their children may see something that offensive, they simply should not allow them access to the library.