Quote:
Originally Posted by RHWright
Absolutely. And, BTW, not everyone can afford to buy books, especially in the volume they borrow from the library. The literacy benefits far outweigh the costs to the community.
So, basically, you're challenging the whole idea of a library altogether? As a writer, again, I think the benefits outweigh the costs. And it's good marketing. How many readers discover new authors by trying them out for free first?
I don't believe this is necessarily the case. School libraries have particular aims. The public library serves the community as a whole. Careful coordination and management of resources reduces unnecessary overlap, in my experience.
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In response to your first point -- I agree. I believe that there is an economic benefit to providing reading resources to those who can't otherwise afford them. On the other hand, I don't see why libraries should provide unlimited free books to those who make over a hundred K per year.
Yes I am challenging the basic idea of libraries. Why do,we need them? As a writer, if you feel it is good marketing, then you should feel free to offer some of your work for free as a promotion. You don't need a library to do that.
In terms of the mission of school libraries, you will find very similar books in a K-12 library as in a public library. If school libraries were opened up year round and after school, I believe you could serve the community much more efficiently.
However, I'm not insisting I have the "right" vision. My goal was to hear from some of you about what you think the role of a library should be. I don't take it for granted that the library of tommorow and it's increasingly digital resources should look like the library of today.