My sense of entitlement is invoking the Second Amendment

[agentxpndble]

In all seriousness, this scares me more than nuclear annihilation, or revolution, or global warming...

All Free Library of Philadelphia Branch, Regional and Central Libraries Closed - Effective Close of Business October 2, 2009 I can only hope that this is something of a scare-tactic move on the part of the library and some sort of functionality

Comments

[llywela13]

Yikes!

Scary Agent X. Scary situation.

Damn. I don't know how the library system evolved over there, but when I think about the poor workers here who scrimped and saved and laboured to build their own institutes so that they would have access to books and education, and thus paved the way for the library system we enjoy today...

Way to strike a blow for ignorance and oppression, ruling body.

[agentxpndble]

It's one thing to lose a small town library (not better, really, but hear me out) but a major city like this? DISASTER.

Our library system started from private enterprise (Carnage set up lending libraries across the country and the idea grew into public funded libraries) but we are a hundred years past that and I *thought* civilized enough to realize how vital it is to our society to need "free" libraries. From some of the comments at that meeting I alluded to, I'm obviously wrong.

And it's different now - We're not just talking about books... That two weeks I had no computer and needed to be job hunting...? Made it *very* clear to me I could not survive without the resources they provide if I were not privileged enough to have my own equipment and internet access. And not being able to afford an education - I depend on the library to learn what I need to know.

[rayhne]

Did you see this?

http://www.govtechblogs.com/fastgov/2009/09/budget-dilemmas-and-online-ser.php

[agentxpndble]

I missed that one - And I haven't been keeping up with the privatization battles across the country either. Frankly, I can't bear to know too much - I can't sleep at night - I just try to keep up here at home (not that I'm always successful.)

[mab_browne]

We do have a free library system over here (New Zealand), and the thought of a major city without such an amenity just gives me the entirely bad sort of shivers. It seems so sad. Even if often amenities like this are used by the middle class, they're still there, still an option for people, and now that option is gone.

[agentxpndble]

In my city, the users are significantly working class and poor - I think that would be true in the major cities too, but I'm guessing. That two weeks I had no computer and needed to be job hunting...? Made it *very* clear to me I could not survive without the resources they provide if I were not privileged enough to have my own equipment and internet access.

And not being able to afford an education - I depend on the library to learn what I need to know. There are statistics about the increased importance of public libraries in recessions and I've seen the reality first hand. Cliche as it sounds, knowledge *IS* power.

[gilda_elise]

I'm not surprised. Some people are talking about wanting everything on the net, so what good are books? How many people actually buy them anymore, much less check them out? You have bookstores closing all over the country. Those of us who are passionate about them are a very small minority.

I'll never forget in the movie "Time After Time" when H. G. Wells, having come forward into the future, asks the female character while checking out her apartment, "But where are your books?"

[agentxpndble]

Well, well see how far they get without a library when they find themselves out of work for a year and can't afford a computer, or internet access, or job-skill training. At least they won't have to pay taxes anymore to support the collapsing society/economy around them.

H. G. Wells, having come forward into the future, asks the female character while checking out her apartment, "But where are your books?"

I love that movie SO MUCH - I should watch it again, it's been a while. {{{Goes and puts a copy on hold at THE PUBLIC LIBRARY}}}

[gilda_elise]

Well, well see how far they get without a library when they find themselves out of work for a year and can't afford a computer, or internet access, or job-skill training. At least they won't have to pay taxes anymore to support the collapsing society/economy around them.

I doubt they think that far ahead. But I'm surprised that, at this point, not only are they not closing libraries in my area, they're building another one.

I love that movie SO MUCH - I should watch it again, it's been a while. {{{Goes and puts a copy on hold at THE PUBLIC LIBRARY}}}

Yeah, might as well while you still can. :-(

[eldritchhobbit]

Ack!

[agentxpndble]

Augh!