Thursday, May 20, 2010

Circulation Interdependency

Rory J. Koopmans, B. Admin.
Ward A, Edmonton Public School Trustee Candidate
Whitemud Crossing Public Library Terminal #L

Edmonton, Alberta

May XXth, MMX

Hon. David G. Hancock, QC, MLA
Minister of Education,
Progressive Conservative, Edmonton-Whitemud

Dear David:

Why is the audio cassette going the way of the dinosaur? Unlike Video Cassette Tapes, old school audiotapes do not break down as fast & many titles at library's are disappearing from the shelves. Including here at this branch in your home riding. Librarians have told me that blind & physically & mentally disabled kids have an easier time loading the audio cartridges/cassettes into tape players. Wheras CD's, CD Rom's & DVD's are in packages that are not nearly as easy to open or just outright access.

They keep asking for increased funding through the Edmonton Public Library system & different governmental departments. I agree with the librarians, this is almost a case of student/child/kid human rights discrimination, especially if the kids (&/or their parents/guardians) are more comfortable with the old audio format, rather then the new digital format. I think there should be sections just for audiotapes, in particular ones that have braille accompanying access for visually impaired personages.

Let me point out David, VHS tapes are still produced by educational groups in mass quantities such as Public Broadcasting System Kids TV Division & British Broadcasting Corporation Child Friendly Initiative programs.

Copiously,

Rory


Source: Edmonton Public Library.

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