3.1 What Is a Library?
The world is made up of many collections of stimuli. The value of each stimulus in the collection increases and decreases over time and other conditions. For example, a kitchen is a special collection of stimuli. The food in the kitchen will increase and decrease in value over time and as body states (such as hunger or boredom) come and go. Similarly, items in the bathroom will increase and decrease in value as certain body states change. Preference for particular stimuli in a home can increase or decrease.
From a behaviorist’s perspective, a library is a collection of information-related stimuli. The value of the information-related stimuli in a library is affected by establishing operations. Preference for each stimulus in a library will change from day to day, moment to moment.