Libraries in Peril

This is a sad story.

And one that we may hear more of in our quasi-literate culture.  Libraries simply aren't a priority because we know that they don't perform any important function in our education and continued functioning as citizens.

I admit, that there are a great many people who never set foot inside a library; however, with the services offered today--computer use for those without, videos, audios, books, classes, meeting spaces, book groups--libraries are an asset we should never take for granted.

Comments

  1. Emily J.December 10, 2009 at 11:00 PM

    We lived around Ventura for a short time - a surprising place for a library to close! They did have a big used book store, whose business, while perhaps costing the library some patrons, won't, I hope, be ruined by e-book readers.

    After the kids went into school, I briefly entertained the possibility of going back to school to get a library science degree. Deterred both by the lack of jobs (do librarians ever retire?) and the uninspiring curriculum.

    ReplyDelete
  2. StevenDecember 11, 2009 at 8:27 AM

    Dear Emily,

    I suspect that that is what I found most alarming. I know this is happening everywhere, but when you hear about it in such a large urban area. . . And I've read elsewhere about the library in some places simply closing down for a couple of weeks to make up the deficit. I know that libraries are perhaps not the most essential of our public works, but they are the ones that tend to show the tenor to the times most readily.

    shalom,

    Steven

    ReplyDelete

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