View Single Post
Old 04-12-2011, 12:52 AM   #46
emellaich
Wizard
emellaich ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emellaich ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emellaich ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emellaich ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emellaich ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emellaich ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emellaich ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emellaich ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emellaich ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emellaich ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emellaich ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Posts: 1,101
Karma: 4388403
Join Date: Oct 2007
Device: Palm>Ebookman>IPaq>Axim>Cybook>Kndl2>IPAD>Kndl3SO>Voyager>Oasis
I think we need to ask about the basic purpose of a library and what the government interest is in providing such a service. For example, why does the government provide me with free books and not with a free microwave oven?

In the really old days, books were hand-copied and literally rare. Today, that is not a problem and with e-books even less so. For me, the answer today is that education and literacy are necessary to personal advancement. Investment in a child's intellectual growth will pay off in government (tax) savings later in life.

In this regard, I would do everything necessary to beef up libraries in providing access to people who might otherwise be stuck in a downward spiral. This means books and internet access. It also means community events if it helps to make the library a place to hang out.

However, there is no reason for my tax dollars to pay for someone else to watch a free movie. And I can afford to pay authors for my own copies of books; I don't need to take your tax dollars to buy my books. I would have no problem with smaller libraries, or with library fees for patrons who are not low income.
emellaich is offline   Reply With Quote