Library Alchemy

Good afternoon, gentle readers.  Our mistress remains otherwise engaged with the aforementioned matters of library science.  In addition there is a new task, something called a “self-appraisal.”  We know not what it is, but its effect thus far has been that our lady pulls her hair more frequently and furrows her brow a touch more than usual while trying to remember all the spiffy things she did during the past year.  We wish her luck with her endeavors, but question whether that coffee mug, while both fetching and sustainable, needs to be refilled quite so many times.

At any rate, Alchemy Cats, Inc. has a number of topics it would like to address, but does not have enough information to pontificate on most matters of critical import at this time.  Ergo, we shall confine ourselves to a brief commentary on the G20 summit, which, as anyone not half-asleep has noticed, is being held in our fair city this year.

From our point of view, it is regrettable that the Main library will be closed for two whole days during the summit.  While we understand the bigger-picture concerns involved, and while library closings mean more pettins for kittens, there is something about the whole affair that seems unjust to us. 

While it is true that many of the library’s digital services can and will go on as normal–namely AskHere PA, Eleventh Stack, and CLPicks–depriving the citizenry of its flagship library for 48 hours smacks of irony, and not in a good way.  It is, in our humble opinion, a slap in the face to everyone who depends on my lady’s library daily for computer access,  as well as to the wealth of resources and materials that are not available online.  It also sharply demonstrates what humans call, we understand, “the digital divide.”  Sure, anyone with their own computer or snazzy-phone will be able to benefit from library service in the next 48 hours – but what of those who cannot?

Prickly questions, to be sure.  Then again, we are but cats, with our own folkways, and understand little of what human beings do, or why.  We would like to point out, however, that you humans have some funny notions about the world sometimes.  If we cats were in charge, everyone would have access to high-quality kibble and clean water, regardless of breed or owner’s personal income.  Because every cat thinks s/he’s a god/dess anyway, we would have no quarrel with those who would practice religions contrary to ours.  Because we sleep anywhere and everywhere we want, we wouldn’t give two figs about where humans chose to sleep, or with whom.  Education and the arts would be priorities to fund, not luxuries for the few.  And as for sports teams,  they could fund their own blasted stadiums.

Ahem.  But enough of utopian fantasies!  We have nothing further to add.  In fact, we would like to direct your attention to an insightful essay by Pittsburgh author Stewart O’Nan, whose rumination on Pittsburgh and the G20, as supplied to our mistress by a colleague, eloquently explains the Steel City to those of you who know it not.

Until we have more substantial information to report, we remain your humble servants,

Smoky-cat, bart., and Mlle. Lucky-cat, for Alchemy Cats, Inc.