endzone_dave Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I know I'll get slaughtered on this one but I don't care. Americans spend billions of dollars on alcohol, sporting events, cigarettes, casino gambling... but for some reason our government has to supply people with free books. I know libraries offer more than just books, but in the information age, do we need government funding for it? I can agree that libraries can be useful in very poor areas - not everyone can afford a computer with internet access, but as I drive around Fairfax County, I wonder why people can't just by their own copy of a Tom Clancy book or download their own tax forms. Is it supposed to be some right of ours that we can drive somewhere and read a free copy of Time magazine? Pick the top 75 percent highest income areas, scrap the libraries, and throw a couple of PC's in the local post offices for public use. I bet that would save billions of dollars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjah Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Yes, we do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattFancy Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I can't tell you the last time I've been to a library. Hell even in college the only time I ever went to the library was to meet with a group about a project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bang Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I can tell you he last time i went. Friday. I love the library, always have. It's always crowded, too. ~Bang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgold Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Yes. Although the purpose of a library is changing. The one I frequent probably has a third as many books as they used to and half as many periodicals. They've been replaced by computer stations. Since not all can afford a computer the library provides a great service. To those who need to research a topic, it's still a great vehicle. And honestly, for many subjects, books are still better than the internet. The internet is hard to vet and you bump into a lot of poorly researched articles or outright lies. The other thing libraries have is access to useful databases, scholarly databases that many don't have. So yeah, I hear what you are saying, but they still serve a useful purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renaissance Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Yes. Plenty of people still use the library and it is an amazing resource. Every time I go to the one by my parents' house it's pretty busy with old people and families. I love seeing a parent walk out w/ their 8 year old kid and a bag of books! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baculus Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I know I'll get slaughtered on this one but I don't care.Americans spend billions of dollars on alcohol, sporting events, cigarettes, casino gambling... but for some reason our government has to supply people with free books. I know libraries offer more than just books, but in the information age, do we need government funding for it? I can agree that libraries can be useful in very poor areas - not everyone can afford a computer with internet access, but as I drive around Fairfax County, I wonder why people can't just by their own copy of a Tom Clancy book or download their own tax forms. Is it supposed to be some right of ours that we can drive somewhere and read a free copy of Time magazine? Pick the top 75 percent highest income areas, scrap the libraries, and throw a couple of PC's in the local post offices for public use. I bet that would save billions of dollars. Libraries provide a public service like no other -- literature and information for the masses. Everyone can't afford books, especially those hard to find or expensive titles which are often found at libraries. Kids, seniors, the average person, are all well served by libraries, which you would observe if you spent any time at one. Here in Eugene, OR, we have beautiful library in the downtown area which hundreds of people use on a daily basis, serving an important educational and social function. And even though it has public computers within its walls, they aren't free -- you have to pay to use them. Your suggestion, therefore, can potentially deny knowledge to those who can't accord to pay. So, if we eliminate public schools, which some people want to do, and we eliminate public libraries, as you suggested, the what sort of civic society are we trying to build? One for the haves and the have-nots, where only those with money gain access to knowledge? Really, as someone who has spent an enormous time in public libraries, a modern world without them is unimaginable, and the day that happens, the day we are one step closer to an idiocracy. BTW, what motivated you to ask this question (considering we probably spend more in one day on the military than the combined national library budget)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rdskn4Lyf21 Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Oh yeah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew_Fl Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 the libraries provide so many services for so many people, especially the lower income population. every time i go it is packed with people on the computers especially. i've read stories how homeless people can setup internet voicemail so they can apply for jobs and keep in touch with family on computer libraries. libraries still have do a great service to our society, but is often first on the chopping block in local budget talks as i've seen in my city in the last 2 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
endzone_dave Posted July 18, 2011 Author Share Posted July 18, 2011 BTW, what motivated you to ask this question (considering we probably spend more in one day on the military than the combined national library budget)? Thinking about things Americans can live without to get our deficit back in order. I'm not saying books and research access and internet access aren't great things, just saying in a country where people will spend all day in front of a slot machine or a in bingo parlor, can't the books, research access, and internet access be paid for by the people using them - or can people just not afford a used copy of a Stephen King book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
styx491 Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Yes, mainly because it's an institution that by default is calm, quiet, and specifically for voluntary learning. The people who go there go specifically to learn something via either books (fiction or non fiction) or research (computers, periodicals, books). And I do believe there is information in certain books that is not yet on the internet. Although there are a TON of books transcribed online. Personally the library is there for study, especially when I want a change of scenery and want to focus more than I can where I currently am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellis Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I love knowing that there's a public library in any town I am in. But with respect to saving gov't money... I'll simply ask this question... Should public libraries be merged with public high schools? Think about it... the school already has a library. By merging the local public library with the library of the high school, you could save in multiply areas: less land use of the gov't within a community, consolidated resource for students (rather than going to public library for research, they go to school), parking lot is used in the summer, the property of the public library goes back to the private community, adults and children would be in the same facility everyday (could this curb the bad behavior of children in school?), elimination of electric bill on public library (heating, AC, lighting), etc, etc, etc. I can see negatives to merging them. Most public schools probably can't accomodate the extra parking needed for all the library attendants. I'm sure there are others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebluefood Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 So long as people love to read, need access to a computer, or just want a quiet sanctuary, the public library will always be needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teller Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 So long as people love to read, need access to a computer, or just want a quiet sanctuary, the public library will always be needed. Agree, mostly. Though if you want a quiet sanctuary, I'd respectfully suggest Camden Yards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgold Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I can see negatives to merging them. Most public schools probably can't accomodate the extra parking needed for all the library attendants. I'm sure there are others. Biggest problem I'd imagine is the safety issue. If the HS library were somehow set apart from the rest of the buildng perhaps, but do you really want all those strangers entering your school and mingling with your kids? That and air conditioning an entire high school in the Summer just to keep one room cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deejaydana Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 the advent of the Internet and e-books certainly make libraries seem antiquated to some degree but I would think they need to exist for the less fortunate who don't have access to the Internet & to money to buy books for themselves and their children. Heck, I still use the library all the time because I simply don't want to buy every book that interests me all of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CommandB11 Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 i absolutley love the library and frequent it quite often. i love the ability to be able to access free literature. i am an avid reader and would hate having to buy new books every week because i have read everything i own at least 5 times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bang Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Agree, mostly.Though if you want a quiet sanctuary, I'd respectfully suggest Camden Yards. :finger: Good one. ~Bang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teller Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 :finger: Good one. ~Bang I gotta talk while I can. Seriously though, I've been thinking about getting some new books of late. But I didn't feel like spending a bunch of money. I drive right past the local library everyday, going to and from work, but I don't seem to think about it for some reason. I'll be stopping in tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Skins_&_'Stons Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 If we don't have public libraries where will homeless people go to shave and go BM? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellis Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Biggest problem I'd imagine is the safety issue. If the HS library were somehow set apart from the rest of the buildng perhaps, but do you really want all those strangers entering your school and mingling with your kids? That and air conditioning an entire high school in the Summer just to keep one room cool. Let me paint a picture first... Where I grew up, there was a public school complex. The special ed, vo-tech, elementary, middle and high school were all on this massive piece of property. Much of the sports fields, basketball courts, track and tennis courts were all available to every school. So if a public library were put there, the students would have access to it just as the general public would. Obviously, the security issues would need to be addressed but they're not impossible to take care of, especially if there's only ONE entrance to the library for the public that was not the same as the entrance for school. Think of it like the way a community mall sometimes works. Major chains have their own entrance, such as Macy's or Sears, and the mall has its own entrances as well. The library at a public school could have a similar approach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgold Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 It's not impossible. I don't know how many schools could adapt to that. If we needed to it might be a decent idea. Volume might be an issue at points. I do know libraries across the country are shrinking their hours and staffs so it is a problem that needs to be considered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elessar78 Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I miss having a good library. Fairfax County probably has one of the best library systems in the country. My current one in the sticks of PA is atrocious. I believe a well-stocked library reflects what a community values (knowledge, intelligence) and it's nice to live in a place like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artmonkforHOF Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Yes. Although the purpose of a library is changing. The one I frequent probably has a third as many books as they used to and half as many periodicals. They've been replaced by computer stations. Since not all can afford a computer the library provides a great service. To those who need to research a topic, it's still a great vehicle. And honestly, for many subjects, books are still better than the internet. The internet is hard to vet and you bump into a lot of poorly researched articles or outright lies. The other thing libraries have is access to useful databases, scholarly databases that many don't have. So yeah, I hear what you are saying, but they still serve a useful purpose. for the record, I support libraries, and for everyone who complains about Netflix's new prices, go check out what you can rent at your local library, you might be surprised at the selection and the price. My library lets me take out 50 DVD's for one month, no charge, If I want more for the month, I pay $0.25 for each DVD. One pet peeve is people claiming that since a book is edited, it is better vetted that an internet article, like the internet was the point of origin of dishonest publishing. The only difference between publishing on the net and in print is when you print you most likely have to pay someone else to print it, and if they don't care what you wrote and just want to make money from printing, then the editing process really is not there. Perfect example of this is when I was in University doing my thesis. One guy in my class hated his thesis advisor, so when he handed in his thesis, with one copy for the prof, one for the school records and one for the library he got the copies bound really nicely. First 2 copies, very nice leather jacket, gold leaf lettering the whole nine yards, but the 3rd copy for the library he went crazy, raised lettering & fleur de lis, printed silk for the inside of the cover and a matching integral silk bookmark with a decorative lion made of polished silver attached at the open end. If you opened any page of that book, other than the title page you would see the sentence " F*** Y** Dr. Poh, suck my balls." repeated in small type. 395 pages of that insult repeated about 100 times on each page, in one of the most distinguished looking books you have ever seen. Everyone would be better served if they where as skeptical about books as they are about internet articles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renaissance Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 i absolutley love the library and frequent it quite often. i love the ability to be able to access free literature. i am an avid reader and would hate having to buy new books every week because i have read everything i own at least 5 times. My mom reads a good 3+ books a week. The library is her heaven. They also live in an area w/ a ton of other retired/old people who apparently read a lot bc every new book that comes out has a waiting list she has to sit on for weeks or months at a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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