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By David Rothman

Sir John Templeton“We should try to waste very little time on fiction, or entertainment, or television.” – Sir John Marks Templeton, as quoted in the New York Times.

Let’s hope that Sir John will amend his remarks. If spirituality can be a life-enricher as he asserts, can’t fiction as well? In both p- and e-incarnations, libraries mustn’t slight fiction. Besides, fiction has its value in communicating facts and emotions. Where would the legal profession be without judges quoting Shakespeare? And how about writers who reflect spiritual influences? I’d have felt better if Sir John at least had said “trashy fction.” But even then, who’s the definer of “trashy”? When it comes to fact and fiction alike, librarians will have to function as editors in choosing which titles to buy or rent with tax money. No easy answers here. Meanwhile I’d love for Dickens to be alive to respond to Sir John, perhaps even with excerpts from Hard Times.

 
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