Let Me Count the Ways

     For someone who recently blogged about not being easily offended, it is hard to explain why the recent library name change from Flathead County Library to "Imagine If" is so offensive to me. It is hardly a personal slight. I did not expect to input on the name change, but then I didn't know there was going to be a name change. From the response in the paper, few did. The first reason the change bothers me is that it seems like buzz words. Remember a few years ago when every business wanted to be proactive? Buzz words are the parachute pants of business. In the years I have worked in home health care, I have taken care of patients, then clients, and now consumers. I refuse to refer to those I care for as consumers. What does that make me, food? I hope the next term for "caregivees" is less ridiculous. The second reason I hate it, is the feeling some "enlightened" person decided the term library was too negative or rigid to be politically correct. I am not a fan of politically correct.
    A third reason I hate the name change is because "Imagine If" does not identify what, or even where, the business is. If I sent you out to buy some "Imagine If", where would you go? A "medical marijuana" shop? The condom department of a pharmacy? Adult fantasy store? I picked the least obnoxious of the new library cards, at least the word libraries is added (in small print). However, "Imagine If libraries" still sounds like a porn shop. The added phrases--No judgments. No funny looks. No questions asked., just make matters worse.
    The fourth reason I hate the name change is the change in philosophy. Imagine If  has no fines, therefore no incentive to return books in a timely manner--or at all. There is no need to be quiet because that would inhibit the video games, crafts and dancing. Imagine If  wants to be a combo community center, Home Depot and Barnes & Noble. They could have created a  more relaxed ambiance without the Montessori mayhem by just adding a coffee bar. Instead of the taxpayers covering the expense for a four library name change, the coffee coffers could cough up a little money. If they wanted to show that the library is more than books, they could have put that slogan on posters.
      I've heard Californians talk about "reinventing yourself". That idea makes me nervous. Actually, California makes me nervous. Our library has reinvented itself--into a Flower Child. A free spirit we can count on to live by its own rules, imagination--and our tax money.