Quote:
Originally Posted by Elfwreck
And while "raid the library" is not a common activity of Oakland street gangs, part of that is the lack of ability. If all it took was a card to get in when the library's unattended, the shelves would be bare. Or at the very least, the floors would be covered with homeless people.
|
This is true. I lived in the SF Bay Area for a while, and worked out in the Dublin/Pleasanton area. I often used the Dublin library. They kept a shelf of "sale books" in a spot the librarians couldn't easily see it, by the entrance, and it was on the honor system. They charged $1 for a hardback and 50 cents for a paperback. You put your money in a lockbox right there by the books.
They got really great books too on those sale shelves, I mean pristine, first edition hardcovers with dust jackets. I bought a number of these nice books in the fantasy/science fiction genre and turned them around on eBay for a modest profit. Until they stopped putting them out because some turd was STEALING them.
And this was Dublin/Pleasanton, a relatively nice area.
I can't imagine what would happen at the Oakland library. Think of all the library computers that might either be stolen or put to uses that the library would not approve of.
Love the idea of 24/7 library access, but can't see it being practical in larger towns and cities.