Public libraries. 21st Century saloons?

[Ken]

I looked at my property tax bill, and see that I pay about $200 per year that goes to the library.

So if the average book costs about $20 then 10 of those books are courtesy of you. I hope you go read them!

[RZehr]

I looked at my property tax bill, and see that I pay about $200 per year that goes to the library.

So if the average book costs about $20 then 10 of those books are courtesy of you. I hope you go read them!

I don’t, but my children sure do. The books that I read, they charged me big bucks for, even though I had a library card. And wouldn’t let me borrow more until I paid them a bunch of money.

[Ken]

I looked at my property tax bill, and see that I pay about $200 per year that goes to the library.

So if the average book costs about $20 then 10 of those books are courtesy of you. I hope you go read them!

I don’t, but my children sure do. The books that I read, they charged me big bucks for, even though I had a library card. And wouldn’t let me borrow more until I paid them a bunch of money.

My tax statement doesn't break out a line item for the library. Just for the city. But I probably get my money's worth just on the savings in magazine subscriptions alone. I usually hang out in the periodicals section reading magazines when I'm downtown waiting for my kids music lessons and such. The most heavy users of our local library by far are the homeschool families. They are always collecting there during the day for all kinds of activities. But the library also does lots of organized after school stuff for school kids as well.

[barnhart]

Our family gets a lot of use from the library as well. We have four or five library cards and my wife had to use one of the children's last trip because she was over the limit on hers. I don't check out a lot of books but when I do they are very specific and not in circulation but if I request it they will happily get a copy for me in several days.

[QuietlyListening]

Our library will give you a running total of money you saved by borrowing books vs buying them. Sure it is hardback prices but interesting to see. They give a yearly total and lifetime of your card total

[temporal1]

P.5:

Another factor is that the saloons (along with most everyone else) aren't buying enough books anymore.

“Digital reading soars in Seattle, creating problems for local libraries”
https://www.kuow.org/stories/digital-re ... -libraries

[temporal1]

2026 / Preserve old books

agelessliterature WROTE:
In the light of Amazon’s book shredding coming to light, it’s important we remind ourselves about the true purpose of physical books.

juanantoniopgzz WROTE:
George Orwell's classic novel, 1984, depicts a dystopian society where the ruling party has absolute control over information.
In this digital age, the party can easily alter facts to serve their interests, effectively controlling the narrative and suppressing dissenting voices

[temporal1]

i thought i’d added this local library shocker to this topic. evidently, not.
reading the above instagram about PRESERVING BOOKS refreshed my memory.

locally, in a big lib university town, this 2013 public library incident was SCANDALOUS.

our area public libraries are busy everyday. parking lots filled. preschoolers through “ancients”.

Watch out for your local libraries, too.
One very active library near me, in a highly educated town near a large university got in HOT WATER a few years ago when a particular “librarian” ordered the removal of THOUSANDS of books from shelves (i believe she targeted “BOOKS OLDER THAN 10 YEARS”) - the community found out, she was dismissed, but not before thousands of books disappeared, leaving shelves empty.

I once served on the board for the local public library. Libraries get rid of books ALL THE TIME. Space is often limited and there's no point in holding onto books that nobody is checking out. In general, non-fiction books older than ten years are considered out-of-date. When I was in grad school, weren't supposed to use sources older than ten years.

In recent years, a lot of libraries have significantly trimmed their physical book collections because people aren't checking out and reading physical books. There's often an emotional response by the public because of the visual of a library throwing out books, but this isn't because of some sort of nefarious agenda.

As a teacher, I struggle on how to respond and adapt to the profound changes in how we learn and process information due to technology. Libraries are caught with the same kinds of issues.

There is normal+routine culling of library books.
Are you questioning the description of this particular scandal as false/exaggerated/ignorant?

It really happened.
In a STRONGLY BLUE major state university community, PhD-heavy - one you’d be thrilled to inhabit.

These were not know-nothing backwoods hicks (such as you believe i am). if i am, i’m ok with that.

Sources are not difficult to locate. Debra Lissak was (the weasel.)

2013 / smilepolitely / “Do you ever read any of the books you [weed]?”
https://www.smilepolitely.com/culture/d ... _you_weed/

Disclosure: I worked at Urbana Free Library August 2003–January 2004. I was a part-time shelver, book processor, and I also did some secretarial work in the administrative office. The director at that time was Fred Schlipf, and Deb Lissak was the associate director. Both Mr. Schlipf and Ms. Lissak were kind, patient, supportive, and fair to me. Indeed, working for them influenced my decision to become a librarian.

Last week, I was contacted about something extremely disturbing that had recently happened at Urbana Free Library (UFL).
A weeding process had taken place that had discarded thousands of nonfiction books in a hasty, arbitrary way — a way that utilizes only one of the UFL’s stated selection criteria.*



Both UFL staff and the public (who were alarmed at the rapidly emptying shelves) spoke out, but the weeding continued until a library board meeting (and Mayor Laurel Prussing) was called. JP Goguen, a university library employee, was at the meeting, recorded it, and sent the recording to me (the board normally does not record meetings).

The conversation at this meeting is alarming. Urbana Free Library’s director, Deb Lissak, made a unilateral decision to weed books in the print collection by date alone. It seems that the Adult Services staff’s expertise and knowledge of the collection was neither consulted nor welcomed. In fact, Anne Phillips, Director of Adult Services, was not even in the country when the project began and was unaware that it was happening at all. .. ..

“Urbana Library Board Announces Separation Agreement With Executive Director”
https://will.illinois.edu/news/story/ur ... e-director

There was a LOT of local hub-bub over this, no small thing.
It wasn’t just a bunch of whining complaints from a few uninformed nobodies.

One remarkable fact was a recent big investment in the library’s building AND EXPANSION, i.e., TAX DOLLARS,
which made EMPTY BOOKSHELVES seem incredulous. “WHERE’S THE BOOKS??” so to speak.

Last i understood, Ms Lissak was in Seattle or area. i imagine she’s right at home there.

[Bootstrap]

I like to check out audio books and digital editions - which I read on my Kindle. My local library lets me do both, and I can get books that are otherwise not available, including books in German. Libby and Hoopla are two apps that my library supports. To me, audiobooks make it possible to read a book while doing other things that need to be done, and I am very much an ear-first person anyway.

Our local library also has a really nice selection of movies, documentaries, etc.

And of course, physical books. The books tend to be the kind people actually want to read, user demand and circulation records determine which ones they keep around. At home, I tend to buy fewer physical books and more Kindle or other digital editions, because my shelves are already overflowing and its easier to find the book I need on a digital device. Especially reference works, which can be huge to carry around, and always seem to be needed when I am on the road or in the wrong office or whatever.

[temporal1]

“Printed books; handwritten notes” .. [and cursive writing]

bizzindia WROTE:
Sweden, Finland, Norway, France, Italy and Denmark are bringing back a classroom staple: printed books and handwritten notes.

The shift comes as educators and policymakers increasingly question the impact of excessive screen time on students’ learning, focus and engagement. Some schools are choosing to put pen and paper back at the centre of the classroom.

In a world that has moved rapidly toward digital learning, could the next education trend be going back to basics?

i’m seeing more+more movement going back in these directions in the U.S., too.

Library shelves should not be empty. Not of old books, either.