The Library or the Internet

I recently received an email from an AMT reader located in the St. Louis, MO, area. He was disturbed by a situation which I found equally disturbing. Paraphrased his note said … I wanted to let you know that the St. Louis County Public Library has removed all General Aviation magazines and periodicals from its shelves. Gone are Flying Magazine, Plane and Pilot, General Aviation News, Trade-a-Plane, EAA Sport Aviation, Kit Plane News, and one or two others. All that's left is National Air and Space Magazine. The reader goes on to say when he emailed the head librarian to find out why, her answer was "Budget Constraints."

Granted the presence of the internet has provided most with the ability to read magazines, news, and conduct great research on most any topic; aviation included. But apparently this was not a factor in the decision to remove select publications from the shelves in this particular library, as the email goes on to say … many other periodicals remained relating to automobiles, sports, recreation, fashion, and entertainment.

Imagine this in an area rich with aviation history and activity; recall the Spirit of St. Louis, TWA, McDonnell Douglas/Boeing, Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, and today several thriving general and business aviation companies and more. I guess you can still go to the library if you are interested in food and fashion.

Check with your local library to see what aviation publications are available, and make your wishes known so further cuts aren’t made and to get them on the request list for future ordering. Access to industry knowledge leads to industry growth, if the industry isn’t accessible to the next generation, growth is stymied. Consider donating your old copies of AMT and other aviation publications to the local Boy Scout group, high school, A&P school, FBO, youth recreation center, or EAA chapter. There are likely many organizations that would gladly accept them.