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Comment by toast0 | Hacker News Reader

If nobody wanted it in the first 10 years it was available, chances are it's only going to get one circulation if they buy it for you. That's not a great use of the libraries purchase budget or shelf space budget.

If they had a copy that wore out and it was circulated many times, they would have reordered it when they discarded it.

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That's why it's great that SFPL purchases such a wide variety of books. You can't ILL something if nobody has it.

When I was a teen I got my local library to acquire copies of a number of tech classics:

SICP, K&R, Stevens' TCP/IP Illustrated, ANSI CL, ... all discarded to my everlasting disappointment.

Books like these approach $100 new. That's a lot of money for someone in high school.

SFPL doesn't have even one copy of SICP.

And I can't request a copy because it's too old.

I can't remember the number of times and ways I've tried to get them to re-acquire it. Maybe we should organize a good old sit-in?

https://mtpfriends.bigcartel.com/product/what-s-more-punk-ad...

Some universities have it, but the only copy in CA public libraries seems to be at the Sharp Park branch in Pacifica (which I believe was acquired in the last couple of years - good on them!).

Berkeley public library has copies of the JS edition for what that's worth..

I would prefer my library not buy SICP (at least the Scheme edition) since it's available for free online.

https://mitp-content-server.mit.edu/books/content/sectbyfn/b...

Yes. It's important to leave room on the shelf for yet another copy of the next edition of Computers for Seniors for Dummies:

https://linkencore.iii.com/iii/encore/record/C__Rb51571246__...

btw, Andres Raba brought us the preferred online edition of SICP:

https://sarabander.github.io/sicp/

Also, I'd like to note that in my experience no public library can provision online-only books. I've been unable to get any to acquire Mastering Emacs for example.

https://www.masteringemacs.org/

the JavaScript edition:

https://sicp.sourceacademy.org/

What do you mean 'no one wanted it'?

Most library users select from the books on the shelf.

That's like saying you shouldn't write a book because no one wanted it in the past, before it existed.

Nobody requested it => no one wanted it.

SFPL doesn't have even one copy of SICP.

And I can't request a copy because it's too old.

Do you believe that no one in San Francisco ever wanted to read SICP?

I can believe that nobody was checking it out and it got weeded. But you should be able to get it through interlibrary loan.

https://sfpl.libanswers.com/faq/97320

Worldcat says it's at 1483 libraries: https://search.worldcat.org/title/Structure-and-interpretati... (although some of them may not participate in ILL, and some may only have eBooks that you probably can't borrow unless you have an appropriate account)

I'm sure SFPL does tracking on ILL requests and if something comes up more than once or twice in a reasonable period and it's available for purchase, a copy will be purchased to add to the collection.

OK I just submitted two ILL requests (for two different books).

If that's the case, then why do librarians curate collections? Why stock any book before a library user has requested it?

To reduce latency on first use for books the curators think are likely to be used?

As the top poster said: Use it or lose it.

Request physical copies of books you want to read, and that you think are beneficial to the community. And check them out from time to time.

I'm sure a librarian does their best to keep abreast with the latest best books.. but would they know the field better than someone in it?

I've been told they have experts that consult on title selection. But based on the 004-006 section at most libraries, I can only infer that is the IT guy at the senior center..

If the library buys it, that patron will come..

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