Are libraries finished?

[pidgeon92]

The libraries in my area have really begun shifting.... They offer classes of all sorts, book clubs, lectures, multimedia.... I wish everything were as forward thinking as they are. They are becoming more community centers than libraries, and I applaud their innovation.

[elcreative]

...And how do the very people who benefit most from local facilities, get to your Mega libraries???

Quote me in last post: "if you haven't got the net, are financially disadvantaged (no car)"

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I didn't say to shut them all down; just most of them. Neighborhood libraries are too expensive to operate. A few mega libraries are more than adequate.

[tubemonkey]

All branches of the Seattle Public Library will shut down for a week due to budget cuts later this year. They did the same thing last year.

Closure Due to Budget Cuts

All Library locations will close Monday, Aug. 30 through Sunday, Sept. 5 due to citywide budget cuts. Please note Monday, Sept. 6 is the Labor Day holiday and all libraries will be closed. Regular Library operations will resume Tuesday, Sept. 7.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by elcreative

...And how do the very people who benefit most from local facilities, get to your Mega libraries???

Quote me in last post: "if you haven't got the net, are financially disadvantaged (no car)"

Free bus passes to the library. I mentioned this in an earlier post.

[elcreative]

And they're now being reduced in availability e.g. used to be at 60 now upped to 61 and how many free passes for the under 60's etc

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Free bus passes to the library. I mentioned this in an earlier post.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by elcreative

And they're now being reduced in availability e.g. used to be at 60 now upped to 61 and how many free passes for the under 60's etc

Beats me, but it's got to be a helluva lot cheaper than paying upkeep on a dozen buildings plus salaries for the staff.

[elcreative]

Increasing numbers of local libraries are being predominantly supported by volunteer staff... people who believe in supporting their local communities... closing buildings doesn't stop the necessity for upkeep especially as most are owned by the councils (that are supposed to serve their local communities) that would also be responsible for serving enforcement notices to deal with decaying buildings.

You confuse big with better and cheaper, not always so... and frequently not so at all... libraries are to serve and meet the needs of their communities, a few large libraries will not meet this need... as has previously been said, they're not just about books and haven't been for a long time... at least as long as since the last time you entered one...

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Beats me, but it's got to be a helluva lot cheaper than paying upkeep on a dozen buildings plus salaries for the staff.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by elcreative

You confuse big with better and cheaper, not always so... and frequently not so at all... libraries are to serve and meet the needs of their communities, a few large libraries will not meet this need... as has previously been said, they're not just about books and haven't been for a long time... at least as long as since the last time you entered one...

You sell the buildings off. Bigger is better and cheaper when you don't have to deal with overlapping services.

This is purely a suggestion on my part. Since I don't use the physical buildings, it doesn't matter to me how much they have to cut back because of budget cuts. eBooks will survive.

I always vote against increased funding for libraries.

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

All branches of the Seattle Public Library will shut down for a week due to budget cuts later this year. They did the same thing last year.

Closure Due to Budget Cuts

Not to sound snarky, but are you implying that because folks do without access one week per year, the library isn't needed?

[elcreative]

Sell the buildings to whom, we're in the middle of a recession in case you hadn't noticed which coincidentally has also led to vastly increased unemployment and an increased usage of local library services.

You don't use library buildings so stuff 'em... very socially responsible but as you also vote against library funding then I take it that you don't give a damn for anyone else or worse off than yourself...

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

You sell the buildings off. Bigger is better and cheaper when you don't have to deal with overlapping services.

This is purely a suggestion on my part. Since I don't use the physical buildings, it doesn't matter to me how much they have to cut back because of budget cuts. eBooks will survive.

I always vote against increased funding for libraries.

[CHunter_Author]

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

The libraries in my area have really begun shifting.... They offer classes of all sorts, book clubs, lectures, multimedia.... I wish everything were as forward thinking as they are. They are becoming more community centers than libraries, and I applaud their innovation.

Proof positive that libraries aren't going anywhere. When it comes down to it, free just simply can't be beat. As long as libraries refrain from charging and figure out how to adapt to the changing times, there will always be patrons. They may become lesser in numbers, but libraries are here to stay.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by elcreative

Sell the buildings to whom, we're in the middle of a recession in case you hadn't noticed which coincidentally has also led to vastly increased unemployment and an increased usage of local library services.

You don't use library buildings so stuff 'em... very socially responsible but as you also vote against library funding then I take it that you don't give a damn for anyone else or worse off than yourself...

You don't do it overnight.

I offered an alternative. Failing that, I'm under no obligation to support the current model; which is why I vote against increased funding.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

Not to sound snarky, but are you implying that because folks do without access one week per year, the library isn't needed?

I'm implying that 27 branches aren't needed.

[rkomar]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

You sell the buildings off. Bigger is better and cheaper when you don't have to deal with overlapping services.

This is purely a suggestion on my part. Since I don't use the physical buildings, it doesn't matter to me how much they have to cut back because of budget cuts. eBooks will survive.

I always vote against increased funding for libraries.

Here in Vancouver, the ebooks are actually from an external organization that the library pays for providing the lending service. Take away everything but the ebook lending, and you're left with nothing in the city. Maybe the city could negotiate with the ebook lending service themselves, but if they would be willing to pull the plug on local libraries, I can't see them paying for external services either. Maybe things are different where you are, but I'd be leery of undermining local library services if you still want to be able to borrow ebooks online later.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by rkomar

Here in Vancouver, the ebooks are actually from an external organization that the library pays for providing the lending service. Take away everything but the ebook lending, and you're left with nothing in the city. Maybe the city could negotiate with the ebook lending service themselves, but if they would be willing to pull the plug on local libraries, I can't see them paying for external services either. Maybe things are different where you are, but I'd be leery of undermining local library services if you still want to be able to borrow ebooks online later.

eBooks here are also provided by OverDrive. You don't even need a library system to provide this service.

I'm not undermining local libraries. There are too many branches and I want some of them to shut down.