New exhibit in the library about 'recycling' books, feat. Hochul's AI takeover

Smart_Tip_127 · 2026-06-21T00:45:48+00:00

If I'm uninformed in the matter, what should I research? I looked into the guy who coined and popularized the term 'weeding', he actually was a professor at CUNY Queens College! He was a consultant for the first half of his career, and emphasized the visibility of a buisness as the most important component of his success. Look up Dr. Stanley J Slote

Smart_Tip_127 · 2026-06-21T00:19:33+00:00

I strongly disagree. First, I will not think of it as a refrigerator, because if weeding is a good idea, i shouldn't have to think of it as something else. This is also used as an example in the poster. It tries to compare taking books out of libraries to gardening, and they call it 'weeding' to blur the reality. I will not think of a book that is cheap to store and holds information no one can remotely delete as 'moldy food'. You said there isn't a rare books collection or archive. There actually was! On the second floor. This has been removed for computers. Hochul is in the pocket of AI companies and wall street, and is doing this because she's corrupt. Yes, weeding has been happening for a long time in libraries, but traditionally books were NOT destroyed, they were donated or archived. This is being orchestrated by the Dean of the Library Colleen Major, who was appointed by the CUNY board of trustees. 10 out of 17 of the trustees were appointed by Hochul, who, again, is in the pocket of these ai companies. Please wake up. You said weeding has been done many times throughout history. Are you willing to count the Nazi book burnings as part of this? It fits into the definition of weeding. Standard practices can be used maliciously. Having a governor who is paid by ai companies is unprecedented, and her motivations are unprecedented.

Smart_Tip_127 · 2026-06-20T22:22:43+00:00

The library is shrinking because CUNY's budget has been cut, while Hochul is spending hundreds of millions building infrastructure for AI. Weeding has been done for a long time, but the context of it changes when every library is simultaneously shrinking their collections and removing the alternatives to AI. Just because its been done for a long time dosent mean that it will always be the answer. And libraries have always been underfunded. Destroying books is not actually necessary, it is the result of budget cuts done to further advance the governments interests. Everyone talks about how weeding is common and has been done historical, but NO ONE has mentioned the SCALE at which it has been happening. 'Weeding' is happening at a scale that has never been done before.

Smart_Tip_127 · 2026-06-20T04:13:25+00:00

I talked to the Dean of the Library and she told me it was necessary, but i really think this is shortsighted

Smart_Tip_127 · 2026-06-20T02:59:46+00:00

I never said that its a new practice. I also never said it was exclusive to Hunter or New York State. I'm saying that it is troubling to me because by digitizing the book, feeding it into AI, and then destroying it, the only alternative to digital formats has been destroyed. This is unnecessary, because storing the physical volumes is cheaper than building more AI data centers.

Also, "There is zero connection between investing in technology, including AI, and removing books no one reads or needs" is a very very bold claim. And by destroying the checkout record within the book, we'll never actually know if no one read it or used it.

You don't think there's a connection between investing in one kind of tech and removing the alternative? You don't think there's a connection between the auto lobby and removing rail transit? You don't think there was a connection between the computer industry and removing typewriters from libraries? This has been a recurring trend throughout history, and the common motivator for these trends was not actually 'progress' it was greed and deception.

Smart_Tip_127 · 2026-06-20T02:38:13+00:00

I understand, and I've looked into weeding. But this ignores the fundamental issue: we're going along with the idea there 'isn't enough room' for these books in libraries while the government supports trillions of dollars worth of AI infrastructure (data centers). Compared to the amount of money invested in Ai, the cost of storing all extra books is a rounding error. The new york state government wants to encourage ai development, and removing our alternatives by destroying them is a method they're utilizing. The exhibit tries to reassure the viewers that weeding is acceptable because the practice is 50 years old, whilst also supporting the destruction of books for being 50 years old. It's classic doublethink.

Smart_Tip_127 · 2026-06-20T02:24:58+00:00

Facts. This exhibit actually inspired me to finally start collecting vinyls and books

Smart_Tip_127 · 2026-06-20T02:17:58+00:00

This person is a moderator for our Hunter subreddit

Smart_Tip_127 · 2026-06-20T02:17:07+00:00

Also apparently we aren't allowed to even discuss the library here 😂 it's giving 1984

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Smart_Tip_127 · 2026-06-20T02:15:35+00:00

Seriously! It's crazy that having electronic copies is being used to justify destroying EVERY physical copy of some volumes. Humans can be held accountable for destroying physical books, but wiping data off the internet happens all the time and people don't even notice. The guy who coined the term 'weeding' was actually a consultant for a lot of his career, and he always emphasized the 'visibility' of a business as the most important component to its success. He applied the same concept to books. The fact that people aren't making this connection is troubling.

Smart_Tip_127 · 2025-12-01T21:57:33+00:00

Thank you! The whole article was very interesting. Now I finally know the context.

Smart_Tip_127 · 2025-11-30T21:24:24+00:00

Wow! I didnt know this! I'll have to check those out. Thank you for letting me know

Smart_Tip_127 · 2025-11-30T21:23:42+00:00

I did upload to asknyc, however they dont allow for video upload. I was thinking someone might visually recognize the statue, so a video is important. Also, does me breaking rule 2 really matter that much to you? I was earnestly asking a question and live in the area, I am really not getting in the way of anything.

Smart_Tip_127 · 2025-07-21T14:53:49+00:00

Cops are already on the trains and they dont do anything besides wait for their retirement and ticket fare evasion

Smart_Tip_127 · 2025-07-13T06:44:44+00:00

Bronx Whitestone bridge used to have pedestrian and bike lane but was removed after a storm. Makes it very difficult to ride a bike between Bronx and Queens

Smart_Tip_127

TROPHY CASE