Quote:
Originally Posted by tubemonkey
I want e-content to expand and not be sacrificed on the altar of expediency due to a budget crunch.
As I said earlier, no one would be denied. Reduced or no fees can easily be implemented for low income patrons.
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Yeah, but I don't want a bunch of hoops where a patron has to prove that they are low-income. Hence my "buy-in" option for richer patrons to choose to use.
I think starting from a position that "without charging patrons, e-content will not expand" is probably assuming facts not in evidence, but if those are the only two options available, then I suppose the point is rather moot.....
If charging patrons is the
only way libraries will survive, they won't survive for very long. At least, not in my opinion.
Our local library already has a hard enough time getting patrons to realize they even exist, without suddenly becoming a luxury (i.e., paid) rental service.
No one is going to go to the trouble in my area to gather the necessary paperwork to prove they are low income. It's sort of the Matilda problem, too -- if only the child in the family wants to read, how are they to get Mommy and Daddy to fill out the proper forms? Etc.