[toast0]

> I was responding to a comment where someone suggested libraries were a way to avoid high book prices. But they're not!

Most of the books I've bought got read by me, and then sit on a shelf forever. If a book is bought by a library, and used multiple times before it's weeded, that's a big win for $/read.

> Just now, I went to suggest a book there and got a popup message saying they won't get that book because it's over 10 years old. It's a book about critical thinking. It doesn't need to be updated.

I think the library is suggesting a 10 year old book might be better accessed through other means. Can you get it from interlibrary loan? Is it available on the used market? It may not be available through the library's usual sourcing, etc.

[rahimnathwani]

Why would the age of the book matter? If it were from a big publisher and they were to publish a new substantially-unchanged edition every three years, why would that make the library willing to consider the book?

The book in question is still in print and still available new.

[toast0]

If nobody wanted it in the first 10 years it was available, chances are it's only going to get one circulation if they buy it for you. That's not a great use of the libraries purchase budget or shelf space budget.

If they had a copy that wore out and it was circulated many times, they would have reordered it when they discarded it.

[so-cal-schemer]

That's why it's great that SFPL purchases such a wide variety of books. You can't ILL something if nobody has it.

When I was a teen I got my local library to acquire copies of a number of tech classics:

SICP, K&R, Stevens' TCP/IP Illustrated, ANSI CL, ... all discarded to my everlasting disappointment.

[so-cal-schemer]

Books like these approach $100 new. That's a lot of money for someone in high school.

[rahimnathwani]

SFPL doesn't have even one copy of SICP.

And I can't request a copy because it's too old.

[so-cal-schemer]

I can't remember the number of times and ways I've tried to get them to re-acquire it. Maybe we should organize a good old sit-in?

https://mtpfriends.bigcartel.com/product/what-s-more-punk-ad...

Some universities have it, but the only copy in CA public libraries seems to be at the Sharp Park branch in Pacifica (which I believe was acquired in the last couple of years - good on them!).

Berkeley public library has copies of the JS edition for what that's worth..

[mat_epice]

I would prefer my library not buy SICP (at least the Scheme edition) since it's available for free online.

https://mitp-content-server.mit.edu/books/content/sectbyfn/b...

[rahimnathwani]

What do you mean 'no one wanted it'?

Most library users select from the books on the shelf.

That's like saying you shouldn't write a book because no one wanted it in the past, before it existed.

[toast0]

Nobody requested it => no one wanted it.

[rahimnathwani]

SFPL doesn't have even one copy of SICP.

And I can't request a copy because it's too old.

Do you believe that no one in San Francisco ever wanted to read SICP?

[toast0]

I can believe that nobody was checking it out and it got weeded. But you should be able to get it through interlibrary loan.

https://sfpl.libanswers.com/faq/97320

Worldcat says it's at 1483 libraries: https://search.worldcat.org/title/Structure-and-interpretati... (although some of them may not participate in ILL, and some may only have eBooks that you probably can't borrow unless you have an appropriate account)

I'm sure SFPL does tracking on ILL requests and if something comes up more than once or twice in a reasonable period and it's available for purchase, a copy will be purchased to add to the collection.

[rahimnathwani]

If that's the case, then why do librarians curate collections? Why stock any book before a library user has requested it?

[toast0]

To reduce latency on first use for books the curators think are likely to be used?