Comments on: Why Do We Need Public Libraries ? http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/01/01/why-do-we-need-public-libraries/ Life. Liberty. Property. Defending individual freedom and liberty, one post at a time. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:11:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Denise V. http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/01/01/why-do-we-need-public-libraries/#comment-5477 Denise V. Fri, 05 Jan 2007 02:53:26 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/01/01/why-do-we-need-public-libraries/#comment-5477 Public Librarian, you are just plain wrong. Here in Gwinnett County, GA, it was the Library Director who wanted to provide the taxpayers with a "popular lending library" we never wanted. It was the "funders" screaming bloody murder while the classics went in the trash and the shelves were filled with romance novels. Not only did the taxpayers hate it, but the politicians who held the purse strings hated it even more. You can read all about it on www.gcplwatch.org, the website formed but the irate "funders." By the way, this story has a happy ending- the director got fired. Public Librarian, you are just plain wrong. Here in Gwinnett County, GA, it was the Library Director who wanted to provide the taxpayers with a “popular lending library” we never wanted. It was the “funders” screaming bloody murder while the classics went in the trash and the shelves were filled with romance novels. Not only did the taxpayers hate it, but the politicians who held the purse strings hated it even more. You can read all about it on http://www.gcplwatch.org, the website formed but the irate “funders.” By the way, this story has a happy ending- the director got fired.

]]> By: Wulf http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/01/01/why-do-we-need-public-libraries/#comment-5375 Wulf Wed, 03 Jan 2007 00:00:59 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/01/01/why-do-we-need-public-libraries/#comment-5375 Doug, you may have misread feminist mom. She says her B&N <b>does</b> carry it. The heart of this question seems to be, is the purpose of public libraries to carry the books people want to read, or to carry the books people should be reading? The former is a government spending my money on your entertainment. The latter is obstensibly education, though placing the power to answer that question in the hands of government employees is inherently dangerous. Isn't the solution obvious? Doug, you may have misread feminist mom. She says her B&N does carry it.

The heart of this question seems to be, is the purpose of public libraries to carry the books people want to read, or to carry the books people should be reading? The former is a government spending my money on your entertainment. The latter is obstensibly education, though placing the power to answer that question in the hands of government employees is inherently dangerous.

Isn’t the solution obvious?

]]> By: Public Librarian http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/01/01/why-do-we-need-public-libraries/#comment-5373 Public Librarian Tue, 02 Jan 2007 22:54:33 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/01/01/why-do-we-need-public-libraries/#comment-5373 As cities cut budgets and put more money into security, many libraries are being forced to justify their expenditures and shelf space based on circulation statistics, traffic, etc. It's not that libraries *want* to follow the bookstore model, it's that their being told by funders that unless they can keep up with bookstores their existence isn't justified and their funding will be cut. As a society, I feel we have to figure out what we want our priorities to be and spend in those directions. But I would scared and saddened by a world that had no public libraries-- even if they have the same books as the mega stores, they are still free and accessible to all --not just to people with money. In addition, they provide many services such as free Internet access, classes and programs for senior citizens, a wealth of educational and children's programming, and a public space where anyone can educate themselves. As cities cut budgets and put more money into security, many libraries are being forced to justify their expenditures and shelf space based on circulation statistics, traffic, etc. It’s not that libraries *want* to follow the bookstore model, it’s that their being told by funders that unless they can keep up with bookstores their existence isn’t justified and their funding will be cut.

As a society, I feel we have to figure out what we want our priorities to be and spend in those directions. But I would scared and saddened by a world that had no public libraries– even if they have the same books as the mega stores, they are still free and accessible to all –not just to people with money. In addition, they provide many services such as free Internet access, classes and programs for senior citizens, a wealth of educational and children’s programming, and a public space where anyone can educate themselves.

]]> By: Doug Mataconis http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/01/01/why-do-we-need-public-libraries/#comment-5349 Doug Mataconis Tue, 02 Jan 2007 20:00:30 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/01/01/why-do-we-need-public-libraries/#comment-5349 >>Incidentally, my Barnes & Noble does carry The >>Declline and Fall of the Roman Empire. But Amazon.com does. >>Incidentally, my Barnes & Noble does carry The >>Declline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

But Amazon.com does.

]]> By: feminist mom http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/01/01/why-do-we-need-public-libraries/#comment-5347 feminist mom Tue, 02 Jan 2007 19:30:22 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/01/01/why-do-we-need-public-libraries/#comment-5347 I am an assistant store manager at a Barnes & Noble, and I am horrified. The local bookstore, no matter how large, was never intended to serve the same purpose as a library. In fact, I often find myself educating customers on the difference between the two - customers who come to the bookstore trying to do research for school projects and papers and don't understand why we don't have the reference materials they need. If libraries aren't going to carry them either, who will? The burden may well fall on academic libraries. I recall asking my high school librarian for a note giving me permission to use materials at the local community college library for an honors project. Perhaps this situation won't be limited to the honors students anymore, if the public branch libraries are moving toward a bookstore model. Incidentally, my Barnes & Noble does carry The Declline and Fall of the Roman Empire. I am an assistant store manager at a Barnes & Noble, and I am horrified. The local bookstore, no matter how large, was never intended to serve the same purpose as a library. In fact, I often find myself educating customers on the difference between the two – customers who come to the bookstore trying to do research for school projects and papers and don’t understand why we don’t have the reference materials they need. If libraries aren’t going to carry them either, who will? The burden may well fall on academic libraries. I recall asking my high school librarian for a note giving me permission to use materials at the local community college library for an honors project. Perhaps this situation won’t be limited to the honors students anymore, if the public branch libraries are moving toward a bookstore model.

Incidentally, my Barnes & Noble does carry The Declline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/01/01/why-do-we-need-public-libraries/#comment-5317 Kevin Tue, 02 Jan 2007 05:39:15 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/01/01/why-do-we-need-public-libraries/#comment-5317 It certainly makes sense that the public libraries take out books, especially the classics. Hell, the government schools don't even teach the classics anymore. Unfortunately, this is part of the dumbing down of America. The sad fact that people don't even check out these important books is testament to how well it is working. It certainly makes sense that the public libraries take out books, especially the classics. Hell, the government schools don’t even teach the classics anymore.

Unfortunately, this is part of the dumbing down of America. The sad fact that people don’t even check out these important books is testament to how well it is working.

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