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Originally Posted by tubemonkey
Libraries are funded by local tax dollars, so anyone who lives within that taxing district doesn't have to pay extra for a library card. They've already paid for it with their taxes. If you live outside the area, you'll need to pay for a library card if the library allows it.
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Ah, that's reassuring. It's not so bad as I thought, then. But it seems like the free library service isn't very good, if many of you decide to pay for some extended service?
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I'm assuming libraries in Norway are funded by tax dollars and that you pay taxes. So you're paying for your library card just like I'm paying for my library card.
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Well, not quite like it. As I understand it, your library payment is like when I pay for Spotify or Netflix: It gives the people who pay access to the service.
But when I pay for libraries through taxes, I pay not just for myself, but for everyone to have access to the library, including poor people. This means the whole population gets better access to culture and education, and that makes for a better and more prosperous society for everyone, including me.