California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, is persecuting its own librarian for trying to save 300,000 library books from destruction, threatening to have him brought up on criminal charges for simply trying to tell people that the university is planning to destroy the books to make room in the library for a full-service Starbucks Coffee.
They have even forced Bruce Emerton to take down a Web site which he had created to draw attention to the issue, because the Web site contained the university’s name.
That’s right, “California Polytechnic State University, Pomona” and “Cal Poly” are the property of the State of California, and using the name without permission is a crime under California state law.
In a letter dated Feb. 16, Marlene B. Jones, university counsel from the CSU Office of the Chancellor, warned Emerton to “cease and desist” use of the school name or they will be forced to take legal action against him.
“Subpart of section 89005.5 states that any person who uses a California State University name in violation [of] section 89005.5 is guilty of a misdemeanor,” wrote Jones.
Since he received the letter, Emerton said he has taken down the Web site because he didn’t want to have charges filed against him. — The Poly Post
The university has already destroyed 30,000 books, and 300,000 more are scheduled for destruction, because no one had checked them out in the last ten years. Of course, those 300,000 books couldn’t be checked out even if someone wanted them, because they’ve been packed in boxes for the last three years, after they hit the five-year mark of not having been checked out.
“We’ve gone beyond weeding. We’re dumping,” Emerton said.
“I just think books deserve a little more respect than that — a little more thought,” he said.
Emerton also is concerned about the reliability of digital materials.
Emerton said the library “has already dumped” tens of thousands of books and that there is a threat that 300,000 more books will be destroyed. He said he has considered leaving the library after seeing books taken to trash bins. — Riverside Press-Enterprise
But as much as we rely on the Internet these days, the simple fact is that there is much that isn’t on the Internet, and might never be, especially things published in the 20th century. They’re in those books that California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, wants to callously destroy without so much as asking if anyone else might want them.
And I’d just love to see California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, just try to come after me for using “their” name on a commercial Web site without their permission. That would be entertainment for the whole family.
Come and get me, if you think you can.
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Sarah
Mar 08, 2007
This action against books, good solid research skills, and the freedom of speech is truly offensive. That a California State University, a haven for education, is willing to destroy HALF of its reference collection to make room for a Starbucks, is shocking.
The internet will never contain all that is found in centuries worth of books, nor can it provide all the necessary resources of quality scholarship. As for throwing the books into trash bins, what a blind waste! At least donate them to another University who cares about the preservation of knowledge and culture! Or give them to a charity!
And how dare this University silence one of its own librarians with such threats because he expresses a valid discontent in the handling of this situation, and because he wishes to make known the atrocities to the public and student community! To say that NO ONE may use a CSU’s name in a way that the University disapproves, is clearly a violation of the right to free speech.
As a lover of both ancient and modern books and one who has been greatly enriched through intensive research, I pray that Cal Poly will reconsider its actions and strive to be a better resource for its students.
Mar 09, 2007
Sarah Wallin » Blog Archive » The Destruction of Valuable Resources
Mar 09, 2007
BLOGical Thoughts » Friday, 9 March, 2007
Grace
Mar 09, 2007
Man, that’s a really serious response to a satirical story. I go to Cal Poly. From what I hear what’s happening is not what people are making it seem. If people stopped to think about why that librarian is doing this big protest all alone it’s because he can’t get support from people except for students that he kind of tells half-truths too and they believe him until they work with him for awhile and realize he’s just on this crazy personal vendetta thing with the dean.
Mar 09, 2007
MacManX.com | Cal Poly Pomona Destroys Books for a Starbucks
Michael Hampton
Mar 09, 2007
I find your rumors interesting. Do you have any more to share?
James
Mar 09, 2007
Yes, I’d like to head more about Grace’s rumors too. I also attend Cal Poly Pomona and seeing trash bins full of books, including students’ own scholarly works, was enough to make this a reality for me. Have you ever worked with Bruce Emerton, or are you just going by hearsay?
Sarah
Mar 09, 2007
Hi (again)! You know, even if these articles are incorrect and blowing this situation out of proportion, the pictures of books in trash bins – yes, thousands of them – is a bad sign. It is wasteful, and disrespectful. Also, even if it is only a “personal vendetta thing” that Bruce Emerton is acting out on, if that’s all it really is, why does the University feel the need to silence him? Students were reported as shouting disrespectfully at University President Ortiz during the Pizza with the Presidents – are they going to be “silenced” with a Cease and Desist Order, too?
There’s just a lot that’s not right here.
H to the Q
Mar 09, 2007
It is understandable that old books get tossed all the time. What might be the sad point here, is that many colleges will ‘pimp’ themselves to bring more money/corporate sponsorship onto their campuses. Coffee and books go together well, but IF this is a case of ’selling out’ to corporate money, than it’s bulls**t.
What Cal Poly should have done, was to be forthright about the library changes, the downsizing of the books, and that there was a plan already in place. If Cal Poly is finding a convenient excuse to toss old books only for attracting Starbucks, then the ethical issue flag should be called.
In all likelihood, the passionate librarian will leave, Starbucks will move in and contribute to new books being bought for Cal Poly, along with new computers, etc.
-And this whole little drama ordeal will pass into history!
Dan Garthwaite
Mar 09, 2007
I just wrote google in the business proposal department. Google has a massive book scanning plant, and many of these books are statistically certain to be rare, if not sole sources, of the content.
Let’s hope google contacts the librarian and immortalizes these books for everyone
H to the Q
Mar 09, 2007
Dan has a great point about contacting Google to take in the books. Many of those books could be rare first editions, and the proceeds could goto funding the library. Great call Dan!
P Campbell
Mar 11, 2007
Oh, what the hell. It’s only taxpayer money. Always more where that comes from;)
Citizen X
Mar 12, 2007
“That’s right, “California Polytechnic State University, Pomona†and “Cal Poly†are the property of the State of California, and using the name without permission is a crime under California state law.”
In some states (I believe California is one) the state owns the state code, or, at least parts of it. That means that you cannot reprint its laws without the state’s permission. You could be prosecuted for posting the state law verbatim on a website. And here I thought ignorance of the law was no excuse. I guess you just have to buy a copy of it.
Grace
Mar 13, 2007
It’s Grace again. Yes, I know Bruce. I actually supported him at the beginning, but then I began talking to more people and getting more information. I won’t tell you the identities of the three people I talked to because they’re so sick of being put in the middle. But, for me, in the end, I learned he’s extreme and purposely giving out false information. That’s when he lost my support. I still like him as a person though. He’s usually a nice guy.
Michael Hampton
Mar 13, 2007
And how do you know “the three people” you talked to weren’t the ones being extreme and giving you false information? And, what information is false?
Grace
Mar 13, 2007
Sure, it makes sense you’re skeptical, I guess. Here’s a quick example of the information I think is wrong. With the more detailed stuff, I can’t elaborate because it gets into all these numbers I don’t have. But basically, I knew something was wrong when Bruce said that this rare collection of environmental design books was thrown away. Of couse, when I heard about it through the college of ENV, I was appalled because the collection was supposed to be really rare — like the only one in Southern California rare. I checked with someone and it turned out it wasn’t in the library. BUT, it wasn’t thrown out either. It’s in storage and they said it definitely would not have ben thrown away. I figure they couldn’t lie about it because when the library reopens the collection will be there. How can you pretend it’s not gone, you know? And, I know this is jsut hearsay, but I believe the person who told me, but she said that they tried to give away the thrown out stuff, but other libraries and groups didn’t want them either. I totally think they should have recycled though. If you want more info, maybe if you called the Library faculty adn staff and college of ENV staff you’ll hear more from them directly? When I talked to them, they were open about it… but I’m not sure if they’ll be more tightlipped if you’re a reporter or blogger or something…
Michael Hampton
Mar 13, 2007
That sounds like a fairly easy mistake to make when you’re dealing with hundreds of thousands of books, which are bound to have more than one rare collection among them. And from what I understand, every book currently in storage is at risk of being thrown away anyway.
As for getting rid of the books, they could try eBay. I hear you can sell anything there.
James
Mar 14, 2007
I’m sorry, but I must retract the comment that I made earlier. Apparently all is not as it seems. Emerton has omitted several facts in his campaign and has effectively clouded the truth.
The responses that I received from archivist and special collections and music librarian Danette Cook Adamson and collection management coordinator Ann Morgan are too detailed to list here. Please see my post, Cal Poly Pomona is not Destroying Books for a Starbucks, for more info.
library staff
Mar 17, 2007
I work in the same library that Bruce Emerton works. This whole thing has caused the library nothing but bad reputation. Now we are asked about this “book dumping†all the time. Personally I think Bruce is using his campaign to embarrass the dean for his personal reasons. From years of working in the library and personal observation, I can say that he’s always had issues with the dean. It seemed like Bruce would challenge the dean’s decision at every library meetings that I have attended.
Maybe his personal grudge with the dean has nothing to do with his effort of saving the books. But he’s definitely omitted a lot of information and sometime misled the audience. For example, he makes everyone believe that the library just “dumped†the books without safeguarding them first. As far as I know, it took months and proper procedures to withdraw these books. Also he’s never told you that we asked other institutions if they wanted our materials before discarding them. Because other institutions do not keep outdated materials, they refuse our materials.
Interested Patron
Apr 06, 2007
I believe that the numbers are incorrect in this article. For more information on the truth about the boxed items, please read the following article. It may open your eyes to the truth.
Michael Hampton
Apr 06, 2007
You might try reading yourself. The article you referenced is linked directly above in comment 15.
Bob
Jun 01, 2007
I thought all you Californians like to recycle?