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Library: Free of charge, but not of strife
By Steffie Lu |
September 29, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MINHANG Library had the best of intentions this summer when it organized free activities for the public. Unfortunately, some of the public didn't respond with the best of behavior.
During the school holidays, for example, the library aired free movies for children every Tuesday through Friday. The library hall can hold only 36 people at one time, so many parents resorted to rude tactics to grab tickets for their youngsters.
"Every Wednesday, we issued tickets for the following week, and readers could get them by showing their membership cards," said Fan Liping, an official with the library. "Then we discovered that some patrons were showing up with as many as 10 library cards, meaning that those at the back of the line didn't get tickets."
So the library amended the process, saying that each person in line was entitled to only one ticket. That caused a lot of parent grousing. Some patrons accused the library of badly organizing the event.
"My colleagues actually spent a great deal of time and energy selecting and planning the movies," Fan said. "We expected patrons to understand that the resources of the library are not limitless."
Meanwhile, free lectures in the Shanghai dialect proved to be another bone of contention. "People who signed up to attend seemed not to take it seriously," Fan said, "and we found fewer and fewer people attending, and only half of them even staying."
The library posted all its summer woes on its official website and invited public response.
"I think it is good that people have more cultural needs than before," said a netizen whose screen name was "vanchie." "But people need to be aware their own behavior."
"Vanchie" suggested that next year, movie tickets be handed out to children only, not adults.
"I saw many parents, even grandparents, pushing and shoving in the library to get tickets, which I think sets a very bad example for children," said "vanchie."
Readers also said the library needs to strengthen its management of free lectures.
"I think people who have signed up for lectures but don't come regularly should be disqualified so that new listeners can be recruited to fill the vacancies," said one netizen.
During the school holidays, for example, the library aired free movies for children every Tuesday through Friday. The library hall can hold only 36 people at one time, so many parents resorted to rude tactics to grab tickets for their youngsters.
"Every Wednesday, we issued tickets for the following week, and readers could get them by showing their membership cards," said Fan Liping, an official with the library. "Then we discovered that some patrons were showing up with as many as 10 library cards, meaning that those at the back of the line didn't get tickets."
So the library amended the process, saying that each person in line was entitled to only one ticket. That caused a lot of parent grousing. Some patrons accused the library of badly organizing the event.
"My colleagues actually spent a great deal of time and energy selecting and planning the movies," Fan said. "We expected patrons to understand that the resources of the library are not limitless."
Meanwhile, free lectures in the Shanghai dialect proved to be another bone of contention. "People who signed up to attend seemed not to take it seriously," Fan said, "and we found fewer and fewer people attending, and only half of them even staying."
The library posted all its summer woes on its official website and invited public response.
"I think it is good that people have more cultural needs than before," said a netizen whose screen name was "vanchie." "But people need to be aware their own behavior."
"Vanchie" suggested that next year, movie tickets be handed out to children only, not adults.
"I saw many parents, even grandparents, pushing and shoving in the library to get tickets, which I think sets a very bad example for children," said "vanchie."
Readers also said the library needs to strengthen its management of free lectures.
"I think people who have signed up for lectures but don't come regularly should be disqualified so that new listeners can be recruited to fill the vacancies," said one netizen.
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