General Discussion

quakerboy

(14,871 posts)

43. reinvented how?

Sat Mar 15, 2014, 05:39 PM

Mar 2014

I dont go to the library often, but its there when I need it, and I will vote for funding it unless there is a damn good reason not to.

When I do go to the library, about half the people seem to be there to use the public access computers, or the open internet on devices they bring themselves. Researching things online, putting in job applications, reading, or playing games, the full spectrum of internet activity, mostly minus the porn viewing.

Another 25% are there for standard paper books. I still haven't found an ereader that is as easy on the eyes as a regular book, nor one as durable in my pocket.

And about 25% are there for other reasons. Classes on tax preperation for elders. Reading programs for kids. knitting. Doing homework. what have you

You dont even have to go in to get ebooks from them, those can be had directly online to your device. But they have them available.

Which part of that needs to be reinvented, and how?

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America is About to Lose One of Its Best Public Resource: Public Libraries [View all] Democrats Ramshield Mar 2014 OP

Happy to rec this. cali Mar 2014 #1

Libraries are a dying breed yeoman6987 Mar 2014 #34

my library is anything but what you describe... blue sky at night Mar 2014 #42

I guess around 2 years ago yeoman6987 Mar 2014 #45

My wife and I are retired... Stonepounder Mar 2014 #54

I am so glad that you take advantage of the library yeoman6987 Mar 2014 #60

You can go back and change your post when you recognize that you are wrong. Enthusiast Mar 2014 #68

You might do better with a sign that says jtuck004 Mar 2014 #62

It is not only the tea party that wants to keep Amrica dum Perseus Mar 2014 #75

You are so wrong..... llmart Mar 2014 #55

The future of libraries is to open a damn Starbucks in it? YOHABLO Mar 2014 #63

You are 100% correct... Perseus Mar 2014 #76

Ummm...my library is great! blueamy66 Mar 2014 #65

It's called funding... blackspade Mar 2014 #74

Libraries in our county have those things. Starry Messenger Mar 2014 #83

An important point; but not a very good article. earthside Mar 2014 #2

Absolutely. The Librarians are the greater resource... hunter Mar 2014 #3

The basic premise tooeyeten Mar 2014 #33

Part of it is changes in copyright law. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2014 #58

this linkis more about the libraries hollysmom Mar 2014 #4

GOP War on Rural Americans earthside Mar 2014 #86

on a state by state that is true but hollysmom Mar 2014 #87

This message was self-deleted by its author LuvNewcastle Mar 2014 #5

And we slowly march back to the dark ages... awoke_in_2003 Mar 2014 #6

K&R redqueen Mar 2014 #7

There will be an uprising..When they come for my Library and My Credit Union joanbarnes Mar 2014 #8

Public libraries are the real wealth asjr Mar 2014 #12

When I was a kid some of the best things about this country were: Arugula Latte Mar 2014 #9

Common community data and information polynomial Mar 2014 #10

But public libarries are soshulism. We can't have that! Scuba Mar 2014 #11

Is that photo for real??? theHandpuppet Mar 2014 #14

Of course tooeyeten Mar 2014 #35

Thanks, Scuba! Enthusiast Mar 2014 #69

Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern tried to pass a bill a few avebury Mar 2014 #13

heck, they started with punishing those against segregating the students MisterP Mar 2014 #23

Who needs all those old, icky books anyway? And besides, reading old books hurts the economy!!! reformist2 Mar 2014 #15

Ebooks with limited use/expiration are best. jsr Mar 2014 #32

Libraries need to be reinvented FreeJoe Mar 2014 #16

I think libraries have been reinvented. Talk to your local librarian about electronic access... Hekate Mar 2014 #30

reinvented how? quakerboy Mar 2014 #43

There's the $64 Billion question... elzenmahn Mar 2014 #49

As with cattle.. vkkv Mar 2014 #17

The USA is starting to resemble Puglover Mar 2014 #18

In this small, East Texas town, a bastion of Tea Party dominated... jamesatemple Mar 2014 #19

Americans are making choices and pragmatic_dem Mar 2014 #20

your president, congress, & other elected officials are making that choice, the "people" are not nt msongs Mar 2014 #21

I dont recall having been presented that choice quakerboy Mar 2014 #46

K&R and shared to my Facebook page LongTomH Mar 2014 #22

Free public wireless internet should replace public libraries. grahamhgreen Mar 2014 #24

Would that include making all literature free also? Revanchist Mar 2014 #26

"Replace" was a bad word, I mean added to the library system, along with e-book rentals.... grahamhgreen Mar 2014 #31

I would rather see a public/private partnership to get access to the needy Revanchist Mar 2014 #39

Why just the needy? quakerboy Mar 2014 #47

Project Gutenberg has 42,000 free ebooks, including most out-of-copyright that you'd want to read FarCenter Mar 2014 #37

Which does nothing for a poor person without a computer or tablet. Revanchist Mar 2014 #38

A tablet is cheaper than a TV, and not many people don't have a TV. FarCenter Mar 2014 #40

Two minds on this really... Lancero Mar 2014 #25

don't forget this is a state that has closed hollysmom Mar 2014 #27

The rich and powerful don't think that they have any obligation to "the public" YoungDemCA Mar 2014 #29

Libraries offer much more than just printed paper quakerboy Mar 2014 #48

Jesus Christ. Enthusiast Mar 2014 #71

Books are not dead! antiquie Mar 2014 #84

Not dead... Lancero Mar 2014 #88

The attack on the libraries is intentional, and it is connected to other attacks on public resources YoungDemCA Mar 2014 #28

It's ALEC. ALEC. ALEC....ALEC. ALEC must be eliminated. Zorra Mar 2014 #56

Interesting. Here in southwest Ohio they approved a nearly $200million bond issue madinmaryland Mar 2014 #36

K&R DeSwiss Mar 2014 #41

Why doesn't the publishing industry fight this? Dopers_Greed Mar 2014 #44

Well, then thank goodness for the advent of the digital library! kentauros Mar 2014 #50

When places like libraries, sulphurdunn Mar 2014 #51

Good News: It Pays to Love Your Libraries (and Librarians) Zorra Mar 2014 #52

Some areas have great libraries, like in my metro Detroit suburb... fujiyama Mar 2014 #53

drip drip drip blkmusclmachine Mar 2014 #57

many of our colleges indirectly help close them down by supporting right wing radio stations. certainot Mar 2014 #59

k&r.... spanone Mar 2014 #61

omg Liberal_in_LA Mar 2014 #64

I didn't realize the significance literacy played in delinquency, violence, and crime. Enthusiast Mar 2014 #66

K&R! This post really should have hundreds of recommendations. Enthusiast Mar 2014 #67

K&R myrna minx Mar 2014 #70

Library alive and well Woodwizard Mar 2014 #72

Welcome to DU! suffragette Mar 2014 #80

Our little town just added a public Library madokie Mar 2014 #73

IMO, the best municipal libraries are in Santa Monica, CA. SunSeeker Mar 2014 #77

Here's what Michigan libraries are doing N_E_1 for Tennis Mar 2014 #78

Get rid of fredamae Mar 2014 #79

Libraries are a living symbol of much that the right wing hates suffragette Mar 2014 #81

Just rebuilt several of ours in our county treestar Mar 2014 #82

Like pay phones, the Elite don't need public libraries, so goodbye. librechik Mar 2014 #85