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Originally Posted by J. Strnad
While there are some truly poverty-stricken people who patronize libraries, very few of the people I see there are wearing cardboard on their feet.
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My family didn't wear cardboard shoes, either - we still couldn't afford books.
Please don't advocate that the needy must prove their worthiness before they be allowed access.
Quote:
Originally Posted by J. Strnad
They have a few bucks, and they can afford some modest fees. After all, they have an ereader that set them back a hundred bucks or more, so why should all the media be totally free?
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This is a total non sequitur. Your average library patron probably does not have an ebook reader.
Many of the ones who do got them as gifts. We've already covered that argument.
And when ereaders become as common and as cheap as pocket calculators, will you still advocate charging for access to books?
Quote:
Originally Posted by J. Strnad
Just because something is worthwhile, like a public library, that doesn't mean the government has to totally underwrite it. A library should very reasonably expect to get some government money, do some private fundraising, and charge a few fees. It's a mix.
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Benjamin Franklin would disagree with you. Books may not be a necessity to you, but they were to me growing up. I'm sure there's some other poor child out there who's deriving the same benefit from the library system that I did. I don't want to rip the books out of their hands.