Hey, let's just get rid of our books. We don't need 'em.

OK, so the library is about to receive a makeover. We're going to be funked up. You know the deal - twee vinyl cut-out designs on the wall, "funky" furniture etc, which no doubt some time in the near future will scream early 21st century library interior design. Apparently, we need to look and feel more like a funky book store, and less like a library. This from some consultant guy who has no library qualifications and has never worked in a library. But wait, apparently he revolutionized gift soap baskets when he worked at The Body Shop. Anyway, so in order for us to look like a store, we have to get rid of thousands upon thousands of books, which are being plucked from the shelves and either relegated to the trash or the book sale. There must be something thrilling about banishing a book, as some staff have embraced the task with unquestioning relish. There's this old bird there who's been working at the library forever and a day and she's basically pulling anything that she hasn't heard of or who she doesn't like off of the shelves. Bob Dylan? Trouble-maker. Into the bin with his biography. Iggy Pop? What is that? Some kind of soda? Sayonara. It's really quite sad to see what was once a very good collection being slashed and burnt so room can be made for an Ikea floor show.