Quote:
Originally Posted by BWinmill
Now I agree with you about libraries being public service. Public services may involve inconveniences. The problem is when the inconvenience becomes too great it ceases to serve the people who it is intended for. Families who don't have the financial means to buy books are unlikely to have the time to visit a physical library on a regular basis, while wealthier families can buy books without leaving their own home. So while access to literacy is remaining static for the former group, the access to literacy is increasing for the latter.
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Affluent or not, if a person wants to read, many will find the time to visit the library. Wealthier families have always had had more access to the good things in life, and possibly use the library less than the less afluent. To my knowledge little has been changed in that regard.
Acess to literacy does not start and end with the libraries. It is like the chicken and the egg. If you can't read, or don't like to read, you will be less likely to use the library or even want to, and more likely to be less affluent. Perhaps you would be even less likely to have an ebook reader? If you can read and enjoy reading you are less likely to be poor, but it is not guarenteed. The easiest way to becoming rich is being born into a wealthy family
. Next to that is work and/or luck. Some great fortunes were founded by illiterates, and literate people have gone from wealth to backruptcy.
Blaming a small segment of society, such as the publishers for the inequalties of the world seems a bit farfetched. Schools, negligent or abusive parents, lack of willpower, lack of motivation or abilty (being born with Downs syndrome for an extreme example) play a much larger role in literacy and advancement in life than not being able to read the latest bestseller the very day it is on the market.
And speaking for myself, and many people I know who are less than affluent, some would be very resentful of being classified of as in danger of becoming serfs just because they did or didn't want to read. Especially those who for whatever reason don't want to read (A large segment of the population, affluent or not) and would rather do other things instead. Most would reply, if told that libraries not having ebooks is making them serfs (or downtrodden masses etc. ) ,would reply with a puzzled look or a sharp stick in the eye.
Helen