[reaganaut1]

Lots of young people just aren't interested in books, and a nice library building or helpful librarians won't change that. Yeah, let's send everyone to college.

I'll avoid expressing some non-PC comments about the people of Mattapan.

[DBrow]

Putting a hack on a government salary will make the teens be interested, ubetcha.

(I know that not all library employees are hacks but it’s a Glob article).

[ClearCase_guy]

Once upon a time, there were no public libraries.
Then there were a few isolated public libraries.
Then Andrew Carnegie made it a mission to create a great many public libraries.
And for several generations there were stories of poor folks going to the library to educate themselves and build better lives.
Today, it seems like the poor folks don't see much reason to bother with any of that.

Lesson #1) In an age before Income Tax, rich people engaged in great works of philantrophy which greatly improved the lives of the poor.

Lesson #2) Government handouts from FDR and LBJ killed most of the incentive for poor people to improve their lives.

Tear down the government. It's killing us.

[nina0113]

My local small-town library just won some award for digital availability, but half the books are gone since the remodel a few years ago. They must be SOMEWHERE, because they can be requested, but the ugly old functional shelves which held a gazillion seductive and unknown treasures have been replaced by beautiful half-high curved walnut racks holding the latest Nora Roberts. Face out.

I rarely go into the book section myself - there’s nothing to browse any more. I just pick up my requests at the desk. It makes me sad sometimes, I used to love the library. I still love not having to buy every book I read, of course.

[GeronL]

Privatize all libraries

[dfwgator]

You can lead a horse to water....