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Originally Posted by SameOldStory
Are the libraries more numerous and/or better stocked, in Europe, due to a higher demand brought on by the disinclination to buy high priced books?
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I have a feeling the price differential is, well, slightly exaggerated.
E.g.
Eat, Pray, Love = $7 new at Amazon,
Mange, Prie, Aime is $9 at Amazon.fr.
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Originally Posted by SOS
Although I used the library frequently, I would save up $.75 to buy a book every now and then. Compare that to $10 books today.  |
75¢ in 1960 = $5.50 in 2010 dollars.
In 1960, minimum wage was $1; today it's $7.75. So back then it would take you about 45 minutes of minimum wage work to earn a book; today it's about 80 minutes. That's hardly a major reason to be terrified.
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Originally Posted by SOS
The point being that if I were an average child in France, would I be able to buy a book?
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I'm gonna go out on a limb and say "yes."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3034726.stm
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Originally Posted by SOS
Would I even bother to read if a library wasn't nearby?
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You'll be too busy playing computer games to go to a library.
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Originally Posted by SOS
Europe appears to be attempting to stop changes to the status quo re. publishers and small book stores. Is this not harmful to the public interests?
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It sounds like they are specifically trying to prevent authors from getting royalties slashed by the publishers. This should be something most MR posters can get behind.
Plus, the French are also much more accustomed to government interference like this; in fact, they essentially demand it. Go look up the 2006 student riots in France and you'll see a typical example of that mentality at work.