Books, schmooks

The University of Texas at Austin, once reputed to be a prestigious and intellectually respectable institution of higher learning, no longer expects undergraduates to actually look at books. A local news channel, among other sources, reports that the U. of T. has removed practically all the books from its undergraduate "library" in favor of installing computers, "flexible furniture", and staff trained in making "multimedia presentations" (i.e., PowerPoint).

The predictable result: in about four years, instead of undergraduate students who can't read, think that research consists of doing a Google-search, and think that a "library" is a place to play Solitaire between classes, UT librarians and professors will have graduate students who can't read, think that research consists of doing a Google-search, and think that a library is a place to play Solitaire between classes.

We are assured, say the UT head honchos, that the books will be readily available to anyone who asks for them. If they know the right title to ask for. At the proper desk. At the proper time. On the proper form. A day, or a week, or six weeks in advance. If the "multimedia presentation"-trained staff can remember where the storage area is. If the requestor has the proper authorization to the proper specialized graduate library. If the administration hasn't appropriated that space for other purposes.

Disciplina praesidium civitatis, indeed.