I always assumed the libraries were like the post office- just always going to be there. But our state government has decided it would be a great way to balance the budget if they cut funding to libraries by 50%.
To me that's worse than just closing them outright! Now they can say "well, we haven't closed any". Do you know of any business that could all of a sudden run on 50% of their income?
Unfortunately, as more and more people are out of work around here, libraries around here have seen a huge increase in circulation. My significant other's library (she's a director) has been up 20% so far this year, for example.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6666479.html
Way to go, Ohio!
So there's been little sleep around here with emergency meeting planning and general nervousness.
I must admit I'm torn about the whole thing. I don't go to the library. But closing them? Yes, it affects my family as far as a paycheck, but also... I mean come on. They are are effectively putting them out of business. What municipality doesn't have a public library?
So maybe libraries are this generation's milkmen? Judging from the increase in use over the past year, I really don't think so.
I've had a few points in my life where the library really gave me the tools I needed to get back on my feet. In fact, right now I'm devising a strategy to work a real job much less in order to give my family and community much more. The public library plays a big, multifaceted part in that strategy.
When you're poor the library can really allow you to get out of that, it helped my family find a sense of stability during a crazy move and sometime it just allows you to take a bit of time to forget what a cruel bitch life can be. It's about as shitty a thing that can happen, fucking over the public library system.
I have to say, I thought a lot of library funding came from philanthropy. Maybe the 50% cut wouldn't hurt as bad as it would seem to. Here's hoping it doesn't.
:edited:
Originally posted by: Ed Suspicious Maybe the 50% cut would hurt as bad as it would seem to. Here's hoping.
HATER!
doh! :homer:
Originally posted by: Ed Suspicious I have to say, I thought a lot of library funding came from philanthropy.
Nope, unfortunately.
They have a Friends of the Library committee that raises money, they pulled in about 2 grand last year.
G00g|3 b00kz!
Museums and galleries are closing at a rate of about 2 per week at the moment in Australia. Truly sad.
G00g|3 5k3tchup!
“Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.†- George Carlin
If I were to go to a library and casually examine the stock, I'd be a browser right? Can't wait to tell that other stupid people thread.
Kerry was in the interview, but she didn't make it on tv. They could have done well to have a hot blond librarian pleading the case. http://www.wfmj.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp?clipId1=3890966&at1=News&vt1=v&h1=Libraries+Jeopardized+By+Ohio+Funding+Cuts&d1=127167&redirUrl=www.wfmj.com&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage&clipFormat=flv+_
The kids and I go to the library every week. Emily has been participating in a special programme to encourage kids with their reading, and I'm certain it's the main reason why (according to her teacher) she's at least a couple of years ahead of where she'd be expected to be. Of course the government is squeezing funding for libraries and gradually they're either closing, shrinking or effectively being transformed into internet cafes with a few books. :(
I have a friend who is a librarian in Idaho, so I'm a little sympathetic. However, I'm not really sure what place a library is supposed to hold in a society. Is it a place that holds books? is it a place that facilitates learning? is it a community centre? is it a place to promote literacy?
When I was a kid I used the library for two things: reading Tintin comics and writing/ researching projects. Writing/ researching can be done online now so that just leaves Tintin comics, which the average 8 year-old probably isn't shrewd enough to steal online.
Originally posted by: blacksanta_69 However, I'm not really sure what place a library is supposed to hold in a society. Is it a place that holds books? is it a place that facilitates learning? is it a community centre? is it a place to promote literacy? .
Yes.
Originally posted by: creepylurker [quote]Originally posted by: blacksanta_69 However, I'm not really sure what place a library is supposed to hold in a society. Is it a place that holds books? is it a place that facilitates learning? is it a community centre? is it a place to promote literacy? .
Yes.
[/quote]
Okay - well a place that holds books is obsolesced by the Internet, a school is a place that facilitates learning, a community centre is a community centre and book companies should promote literacy, so how many libraries do we need?
Originally posted by: blacksanta_69 Okay - well a place that holds books is obsolesced by the Internet,
Believe it or not, there's some poor people out there without the int0rwebz! 
Originally posted by: shuteye [quote]Originally posted by: blacksanta_69 Okay - well a place that holds books is obsolesced by the Internet,
Believe it or not, there's some poor people out there without the int0rwebz!
[/quote]
So again, how many libraries are needed? Is the value of the library the fact that poor people have a place to be online, cause public Internet Cafés would probably meet the same need.
Then let's rebrand. They can be public internet cafes that hold books. potaito potahto
having worked at a retail electronics store on the bus route to one of our cities worst neighborhoods i can tell you thats a poor perception.
We had people coming into the store getting air cards (wireless broadband) and buying new PC's who where also on food stamps. Or people who bought high end internet enabled cell phones (iPhones and the like) who worked minimum wage jobs etc.
They seemed to put access to the net before other priorties. Not that i agree, but what im saying is that the "poor" isnt a great way to define who does and does not have access to the internet.
I think there's also value in being able to access other things free of charge as well.
Video games and music for example, can all be rented from the libraries around here. And we're not talking Pong or Son of Donkey Mario or anything. The libraries have been doing a really good job trying to stay current with all forms of media (imo).
edit// not rented. Borrowed.
I like the fact that libraries are everywhere, but imagine they weren't and try to make a case for them being around; it's almost miraculous that libraries exist. "Yeah - there are books everywhere and it gives the elderly, homeless and mentally ill a place to hang out during the day!"
Personally, I think that libraries should be centres for developing communications skills, but it's really hard to make a good argument for that.
devils advocacy ahead
Originally posted by: blacksanta_69 Okay - well a place that holds books is obsolesced by the Internet,
so the poor that can't afford a computer or net access deserve not ot have access to books. (actually we all know poor people dont' read anyway)
Obsolesced??? please. Who the **** do you know that is going to sit down in front of a screen and read a large volume? I can get through an article fine on the screen but a 500 pager? Not only that, anybody with a bit of UI or web design experience knows that reading from a screen is totally different than reading from a book. The experiences are also quite different. Why have movie theaters when you have televisions? Why have live theater when you have movie theaters.
a school is a place that facilitates learning,
Leaning is mildly important. Heck it got us out of caves eating raw meat. Perhaps we should have more than one avenue to facilitate learning.
a community centre is a community centre
actually.. what is a community centre really? I have known them to be either halls or sports areas.
and book companies should promote literacy, so how many libraries do we need?
Book companies.. bah don't turn my love of capitalism against me.
In all honestly libraries may become obsolete, but a library as a symbol of knowledge and the closing of libraries being a bit to close to a book burning makes me feel unpleasant inside.
Originally posted by: blacksanta_69 Is the value of the library the fact that poor people have a place to be online, cause public Internet Cafés would probably meet the same need.
I'm not aware of any public internet cafes around here- where they have computers available to browse online for free?
But I think you're coming at it from a different perspective. I don't use libraries either. But there are many, many people out there that don't have computers, don't have books, need assistance in finding tax information, newspapers, and countless other things. Things we edjumuhcated computer people take for granted.
Really, the proof is in the numbers for me. How many libraries do we need? Well, if circulation grew 20% this year, and 8% last year, I'd say people find them much more valuable than an internet cafe, which I have no idea where one of those is.
Originally posted by: shuteye [quote]Originally posted by: blacksanta_69 Is the value of the library the fact that poor people have a place to be online, cause public Internet Cafés would probably meet the same need.
I'm not aware of any public internet cafes around here- where they have computers available to browse online for free?
[/quote]
No - there aren't any here. I'm saying that's a function the library could serve or focus on.
Originally posted by: creepylurker devils advocacy ahead
so the poor that can't afford a computer or net access deserve not ot have access to books. (actually we all know poor people dont' read anyway)
Obsolesced??? please. Who the **** do you know that is going to sit down in front of a screen and read a large volume? I can get through an article fine on the screen but a 500 pager? Not only that, anybody with a bit of UI or web design experience knows that reading from a screen is totally different than reading from a book. The experiences are also quite different. Why have movie theaters when you have televisions? Why have live theater when you have movie theaters.
Why have pay theatres when it could be subsidized by the government. Everything should be community theatre? Your argument is media should be free because poor people can't afford it?
Incidentally, I didn't say books were obsolesced.