[Conan the Librarian]

I don’t know where you are from, but, as I go to the library at least 5 days a week, I know that we have quite a large collection in my building that circulates regularly. We do sell off old beat up books, most donations (as we usually have plenty of copies of those books already, $1.00 each, and the money goes to buy more books).

We do have a regular crowd of folks who come in and use the computers, 1/3 business folks, 1/3 students, 1/3 facebook (guess who are the rudest users).

We do community outreach to push the library, and, have to support state programs, mainly healthcare and foodstamps, by helping folks get to the websites (only).

In our system, the first card is free, after that is $2.00. 99% of our customers are pretty good about using, returning, and supporting the library. The rest we get rid of quick (we have a large banned list).

At least here in the Deep South the Library is a valuable community asset that is supported and protected by all.

Now if I can only get them to hurry up and tear down my building and build a new one before I retire. I have been working in this building off and on since 1979 when it opened. I know all the flaws and it’s time to go.

[ansel12]

I don’t know where you guys live, but I can speak for San Diego.

As far as book sales, here it ins’t just old, worn out books, for years they have been selling off perfect history books and biographies and non-fiction.

The replacement libraries, are always less library like, than the building they replace.

“Pew’s research shows that while many patrons still want to use libraries to borrow books, they’re also increasingly thinking of them as a community space that enables access to technology and a source of digital literacy for all different demographics.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/08/07/the-digital-age-is-forcing-libraries-to-change-heres-what-that-looks-like/

“These priorities all reinforce the changing aspects of the publishing industry as well as the needs of library patrons. Once, librarians were the caretakers of books and advisors library visitors. Now their day-to-day and moment-to-moment responsibilities have dramatically shifted. Librarians in this digital age provide access, guidance and training to both physical and electronic materials housed onsite, and in online archives while remaining on the leading-edge of the vast digital databases available.

In many cases, librarians have become teachers educating library visitors about how to use digital library services and many libraries have become hubs for technology training offering free or low-cost training across a variety of mediums. But today’s librarian is more than a steward of books, videos, and digital archives; they are also key partners in community and public relations. Many organize and host community events, network with other library and database systems encouraging interaction to increase the quality of materials available for their patrons.”
http://www.teachthought.com/featured/changing-landscape-libraries-librarians-digital-age/

“January 2002
How and Why Libraries are Changing: What We
Know and What We Need to Know”
http://repository.cmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1064&context=lib_science

[ansel12]

I wished the governments would QUIT tearing down the old libraries now that we don't really use them, and replace them with huge, grand, expensive buildings.

Just as I thought the libraries seemed to be dying out here in San Diego they are all being replaced with much grander buildings, dream buildings.

This non San Diego photo shows how books aren't the focus anymore.