Meanwhile, Back on the Branch

Am back at work just for today, in order to organize fall public computer classes well before the publicity deadline.

In honour of my one day back at work, let us review Ranganathan's Five Laws of Library Science (yes, it is a science, in fact!) from the library squirrel perspective.

1. Acorns are for use.

Acorns that no one can reach are a shameful waste of tasty food. Library squirrels must strive to facilitate easy access to flavourful acorns.

2. Every acorn its squirrel.

Acorns that no-one knows about are un-enjoyed acorns. Keep not thy acorns under a bushel basket! Display the acorns, talk about the acorns, publish photos of the acorns. Help those acorns achieve their true purpose.

3. Every squirrel her acorn.

Not every squirrel enjoys the same sort of acorn, and so therefore your tree must have a wide variety of acorns to suit the tastes of many squirrels. Select every acorn with a squirrel in mind, trying to achieve a balanced collection to suit the needs of Everysquirrel.

4. Save the time of the squirrel.

Squirrels are busy busy busy. Winter is fast approaching. Do not waste the squirrel's time, but instead arrange the acorns in an easy-to-use fashion, and make your acorn adoption policies clear and facile.

5. A tree is a living organism.

The tree that remains the same is a dead tree. A tree must grow and change to suit the needs of its users, and to take advantage of new technology (or horticultural advancements). Produce bigger, better, and tastier acorns, possibly through the creation of complex library squirrel committees or forest-wide consortia.

Nuff said. The library squirrel has spoken.