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Emptier library will turn off patrons

The drastic drop in the number of books left after renovations to the Harbourfront Library represents a backward step.

To the Editor,

Re: Petition targets lack of books, Nov. 10.

Because of the drastic drop in the number of books left after renovations to the Harbourfront Library, these renovations are a backward step in providing books to our community. Over half the books have disappeared. But, perhaps just as bad is the major fault brought about by the replacement of the old five-row bookshelves, used around the world, by low-rise three-row bookshelves. I am sure this replacement was made to allow a clear view across the whole main floor. The problem with a lovely view in a library is, who needs it?

The three-high stacks mean the bottom one-third will be difficult for many to see or get down to. The second row up is difficult for many as well, so perhaps half the books will be unavailable for browsing to our aging population.

The library should expect with so few titles available and in such inconvenient shelving, there will be a halving of the number of visitors and that they will be taking out fewer books.

I suggest changing those three-shelf units back to five-shelf ones, by building them up or by bringing back the old ones, if they haven’t been turned to kindling.

And the suggestion that most of the lost books are in other branches means those other branches should have had more books instead of empty spaces. I’d bet most of the books are in storage and could be brought back.

Greg BlundellNanaimo