Peg, "front line staff members" -- Library clerks do a lot of hard work, but how much money should be given to people who work a job high schoolers could easily handle? Unless you were referring to the actual librarians... some of whom eventually go on to take directorships in their careers. Perhaps the directors don't need quite so much money, but they also bear a lot more responsibility for the library (sometimes multiple libraries, actually).

Happeh, "Do you know what they did with the half of the books that would not fit in the new library? They threw them out!"

What else would they have done with them? People get SO offended when books get thrown away (after "weeding" the shelves, aka deaccession) but where are they supposed to go? Books are thrown out when they haven't been circulated in years or are in poor condition or are hopelessly obsolete. Some are removed via book sales (and often come back in a donation a couple of years later), but then what?

As for the "art gallery" library... people don't see a lot of need for libraries these days, at least not in the traditional "book storage unit" sense. Do you want them to cling to the old ways and hemorrhage in gate counts? Several libraries I know have in recent times remodeled to add cafe areas, a lot more reading spots, better environment overall, etc, because that's what people tend to use them for. A dingy beige, metal-shelved library is NOT going to compete with a stylish Barnes & Noble that lets patrons still read for free and visit a Starbucks and use the wifi while they're there.

Which is not to say that the redesigned library is not a poor space. Politics and flashy design can affect libraries as much as any other institution. The public library in (I think) Seattle has an unusual spiraling ramp to take patrons through the Dewey numbers. Cool and different? Sure. Useless compared to a more usual layout? You bet.

Awww, that's neat.

Also, I'd like a human-sized equivalent of all the little climbable steps and ceiling-height walkways and in-wall cubbies. What fun. :)

My car's fuel light comes on when I hit 50 miles 'til empty. So....50 miles, more or less.

There is something very misshapen about Marilyn's shoulder.

Japanese game shows have such...pizazz. An American version would try to make it seem dramatic or otherwise ruin it.

Exalted Cyclops

And isn't another of their titles Grand Dragon or something? And their guide book is the "Kloran"?

I have a reeeeeally hard time understanding how they can take themselves seriously. Bigotry aside (especially in this day and age), they dress and talk like a horrible permutation of a D&D group.

Ha. I already knew that thanks to Terry Pratchett. :)

"Eli learned early to use his arms and legs to compensate for his lack of legs."

Heh. (yeah, I know it's the original site's slip-up, no worries)

Shucks. All I can do is bend the joint at my fingertips without bending the rest of my finger.

Teehee. I love slangy pop culture things translated into more...erudite forms. :)

It's a Cubism-style phallus. Or maybe I just have a dirty mind, 'cos I definitely see it. (complete with little splashy droplets near the tip...)

Oh god, I suddenly crave chocolate cupcakes.

I love it. :)

Ooooh. Now to come up with 5 songs I want.

That "quote" sounds exactly like what a sarcastic farmer would tell a guileless inquirer to have fun at his expense.