Comments for A Blog on LIST

Comment on Readers of the Lost ARCs by Matthew Ciszek

Matthew Ciszek — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 13:47:25 +0000

It drives most librarians crazy as well, and this is why having “non-librarians” snatch the copies at a library conference became controversial. I agree with you. ARCs should be taken only if they are going to be read (and used — either by a real copy purchased or a review written about the book).

Comment on Readers of the Lost ARCs by Gregnonymous

Gregnonymous — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 04:22:25 +0000

I’ll tell you something that drives me crazy as an author. My book has been out for several months now. I know a lot of ARCs were distributed, and they subsequently disappeared into a virtual void, judging by the lack of reviews the book received. Lack of reviews meant lack of buzz which did not help initial sales.

That’s fine if librarians or booksellers had the ARCs. It’s fine if people read but didn’t feel inclined to review. It’s fine if bloggers started reading, disliked and decided not to finish. All of that is fine. I don’t care who has the ARCs so long as they are reading them.

This is what enrages me: when someone has heard something good about the book now that it’s already out in print, and she announces that maybe, just maybe, she’ll contemplate reading the ARC that she’s been sitting on since she an event a year and a half ago. Sometimes, I even get a tweet about this along with a screenshot of her ARC, like I’m supposed to be gratified she is deigning to read a free copy of my book at long last, even though she didn’t so mucha s glance at it all this time because she never thought it was something she would find remotely interesting.

WHY DID YOU EVEN GET THE ARC IF YOU DIDN’T PLAN TO READ IT???

Why not at least give it away to someone who did want to read it? It pisses me the fuck off. I will be honest: I don’t care about book piracy. I don’t care about losing a sale. I don’t even care about those people on ebay who got the ARC and then sold it right away, because at least the person who bought it probably tried to read it.

I get enraged when this piece of expensive, promotional material that my publisher produced at great cost, turns out to have been snatched up by someone who never had any intention of reading, who simply stuck it in a corner somewhere to gather dust purely for the sake of gratifying her hoarding instincts. Purely so she could gloat about having a huge stack of free books that no one else had yet. I would take flames from people who read and hated the ARC over people who just hoarded it any day.

Believe me, this is not just one person. This has happened multiple times, and these people are utterly shameless about it. It’s like they don’t realize it’s maddening.

Comment on Readers of the Lost ARCs by End User in California

End User in California — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 23:28:57 +0000

This is an awesome post! Someone asked me at the conference what my affiliation with libraries was. “Enthusiastic end-user,” I said. And I mean it. I write book reviews for their web site. I donate boxloads of purchased (and free-gotten) books. I support their programs. I’m not a librarian, but the Library Association is still of interest and value to me personally.

Comment on Readers of the Lost ARCs by On #ARCGate 2012 | The Librarian Kate

On #ARCGate 2012 | The Librarian Kate — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 16:33:43 +0000

[...] reality check and not spend too much time on this. It’s an issue worthy of discussion, but as Matthew Ciszek points out for very valid reasons – ARCs are not solely used by librarians, librarians are not the only [...]

Comment on Readers of the Lost ARCs by librariankate7578

librariankate7578 — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 15:04:55 +0000

Very good stuff. It helps me to keep perspective that us librarians are not the be-all end-all of ALA.

Comment on Readers of the Lost ARCs by Peter Hepburn

Peter Hepburn — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:07:13 +0000

The things I miss out on by not having time to get to the exhibits. Sheesh! I used to hoard ARCs, but I found I never read them in the end. Better that SOMEONE reads them!

Comment on Readers of the Lost ARCs by Michael Perry (@michaelrperry6)

Michael Perry (@michaelrperry6) — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 13:58:37 +0000

I think this was the best and most reasonable response to the whole thing I’ve heard. I think you hit the nail directly on the head “I just wish we could take some of this passion and corral it for issues that really make a difference” There are so many other vital issues facing libraries, librarians, and the profession as a whole. Had that passion been directed at one of these issues, think of what could be accomplished.

Comment on Profession vs Professionalism by Mohan Pandey

Mohan Pandey — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 11:20:03 +0000

professionlism is only achieved aftera rigorous study and the implementation of those insights achieved through different perceptions of thinking pattern.

Comment on Is there a glut of newly minted librarians? by Russ

Russ — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:52:28 +0000

Sorry for the double-post, but something that often gets overlooked in the greying discussions, is that the supposed massive influx to replace the massive retirements assume that all librarians are minted equally. I don’t think I’m going out on too much of a limb to say that the retirees will often be in administrative and/or leadership positions, something that new librarians can simply jump into. Just another thought.

Comment on Is there a glut of newly minted librarians? by Russ

Russ — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:31:11 +0000

Hi Matt,

My answers:
1. It’s not in ALA’s interest to confront this issue.. More graduates means more members. Any good bureaucracy knows that’s the real key to success.
2. Well, first I assume laziness on our part. Secondly, what can we do about it? When students ask me about going to library school, I tell them the truth. It’s a great profession if you can get a good full-time job. I tell them they have to be willing to move. But I can’t bring myself to tell someone not to “go for it” when doing the ritual of library school has led me to a career I enjoy very much. In short, it’s complicated and I’m not smart enough to figure out.