Quote:
Originally Posted by Fbone
Entity's definition is something with an independent existence. So libraries and schools while independent are created, funded, supported and tightly controlled by some part of local, state or Federal government. Schools especially.
The fact that I am forced to pay library and school taxes makes them a government entity or, if you prefer, a pseudo-quasi non-specific public blob.
|
Library tax? Not for the NYPL, BPL or QPL. NYC's contributions to them are whatever the city council and mayor decide to put in the annual budget, with stability coming mainly from tradition and the likelihood of parents protesting large cuts. The city money comes with many strings attached, such as the city telling them how many hours a week the local branch libraries should be open, but their heads aren't chosen by anyone in government, and they don't seem to get any of the legal benefits of being considered part of the government, unlike the schools or public universities.
On the original subject of this thread, the public library systems in NYC all provide ebooks that are under copyright through Overdrive, like most public libraries in the US seem to, however close or distant their ties to government.