Kevin Schofield posts some commentary on this piece by one Michael Gorman, president-elect of the American Library Association. Kevin says it far better than I, but I would like to add that whatever Mr. Gorman’s points are, however valid or irrelevant (you judge), he destroys his own credibility and impact by condescendingly labeling his detractors as “The Blog People”.

Yes, I blog, and I read blogs. Over 115 on my agg list now, plus about 20 Feedster/PubSub searches on keywords. But I also support reading well-researched books as the most fundamental of learning tools, despite Mr. Gorman’s comment “I doubt that many of the Blog People are in the habit of sustained reading of complex texts.”

This is the most base form of stereotyping, and one Mr. Gorman and the ALA should be ashamed of endorsing. Lots of people blog, read blogs, and write commentary within their blogs. It’s one form of expression and simply because the format lends itself to short, quick writing doesn’t mean the people behind blogs are simpletons.

Grow up Mr. Gorman. Some people no doubt flamed you with childish remarks on their blogs. You shouldn’t resort to doing the same.