35 Comments
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Xavier Fowler's avatar

‘genuine ability to build effective, positive and high performing organisational cultures, and to engage with diverse stakeholders towards shared outcomes in complex environments, with a strong professional network across public and private sectors.’ … corporate jargon has to be the most mind numbing, face melting dross ever inflicted on mankind

Ian's avatar

Gosh Gideon - you can't make this stuff up.

Problem is how many in Victoria get to hear of the travesty that is the State Library Board?

Not a big one for petitions, but have signed this one.

Gideon Haigh's avatar

Thanks for overcoming your aversion, Ian. I'm not much of a one for petitions either, but this one matters.

John McDonald's avatar

I’m surprised they didn’t rebrand it ‘SLV’ or ‘The Libe’

Gideon Haigh's avatar

Rhymes with 'vibe'.

John McDonald's avatar

The tag line would be 'Get the vibe at the Libe', with pictures of an influencer sipping cocktails while holding a book upside down

Jan Gross's avatar

Mr Tulks is such a wonderful name visible to all passing pedestrians & those travelling in passing trams cars & buses - love the story that the boss man thought Michael was Mr Tulk

Jan Gross's avatar

Coffee excellent & prices reasonable especially for students - but you must admit Gideon by taking out the word “of” they will be saving that much on ink no doubt calculated to the last squillionth of a cent

Tony Neilson's avatar

Signed and contributed. Keep using your powers for good!

Gideon Haigh's avatar

Many thanks Tony.

Anthony James's avatar

Ditto (shared many a cuppa with an old mentor professor at Mr Tulk, affirming everything you've said about it here)

Peter King's avatar

Great article GH. Petition signed. $7.00 contributed. Even though I am just a Sydneysider, visits to the State Library OF Victoria over th eyears have been treats. Let's hope sanity prevails? Cheers.

Teresa Pitt's avatar

My grandfather, Ernest Roland Pitt, was Chief Librarian at the State Library of Victoria from 1931 until his retirement in 1943, through the Great Depression and WW2. He had joined the library’s staff in 1900.

I’m sure he is rolling in his grave.

Gideon Haigh's avatar

How great to hear from you, Teresa. Welcome to Cricket Et Al, and thanks for commenting.

Simon Killen's avatar

Thanks as always Gideon, I have written to the minister, called into ABC morning show, signed the petition, and grumbled the way that men of a certain age do. Onwards! Saving Mr Tulk is the first step. Then the big stuff to follow!

paul ashbridge's avatar

Duly signed the petoition (from London), thank you Gideon for bringing this to attention and the very best of luck to those working so hard for this just cause

Max Bonnell's avatar

Random library-related thought: the Sydney equivalent of Mr Tulk was David Scott Mitchell, who endowed his massive private library to the State on condition that it build a library to house it - hence, the Mitchell Library. But, apart from being a noted bibliophile, Mitchell was also a cricketer, playing for Sydney University in its early teams in the 1850s and 1860s. This, I presume, is why the Sydney University scorebook from 1860-61 is in the library's collection.

Tristan Eldershaw's avatar

Bravo! A no-nonsense article prepared to call ‘BS’ when appropriate. I agree - continue using your powers for good.

Dolge Orlick's avatar

I've registered this trade mark: Victoria's State Library. Genius, no? The board can lease it for a good price.

glenda ellis's avatar

Too many ‘small’ businesses are being engorged into bureaucratic,unfeeling and unfriendly ‘corporations’. This is one more example. I hope that the general apathy that pervades society today doesn’t mean another loss. The internet and the iPhone are wonderful inventions; it’s sad that they are dumbing down their users. The State Library of Victoria and all that is happening to/around it is symptomatic of a real danger ahead. I’ve signed and donated, but without a lot of hope…

Smokie Dawson's avatar

This ongoing saga is nothing short of scandalous.

I am constantly amazed at how these tin-eared corporate suits waft their way through the world.

Howard Walter's avatar

dear oh dear, how long before they name it Books R Us????