New Jersey Libraries need your help

The libraries we visit are county libraries, and they’re the only good thing going right now in this county. ;-) The online catalog we use is the county’s catalog. I don’t know how much state funding our county libraries receive, if any at all.

But, I just checked, and our county libraries also are claiming services will be cut. Their statement is a bit vague, though, and it’s possible they’re talking about other libraries. We pay a library tax here which I think amounts to approximately $70 (last I looked), just as you said. But, the libraries here are so popular, I don’t think people would complain about it. The Freeholders are always bragging about our library system, and all of the surrounding counties have been trying to copy it.

I also read Christie is eliminating the State Library Talking Book & Braille Center. Again, I’m not sure how much exaggeration I’m reading. I don’t even know if many people use the Talking Book & Braille Center.

I just returned from our local library. It’s a two-story building; the reference section and used bookstore is on the first floor, and the bookshelves on the second.

I counted 14 people either browsing the shelves or sitting and reading.

There are 12 computer / internet terminals. Eight of them were in use.

Other than the staff, there were 26 people in the library, and I saw no one checking out or returning books.

So, we’ve both used anecdotal evidence to support our claims.

It is a draw, sir, but I stand by my statement.

As time goes on, more and more books will be uploaded to the internet. In time, every newspaper every printed will be scanned and uploaded, as well. There may be a fee charged for perusing the stacks (case in point: The New York Times), but historical newspapers WILL be available.

Also, take a look at http://www.archive.org. The amount of multimedia information available there is staggering. Much of it is liberally slanted, but discernment on the part of the reader is no less important there than at your local library.

In NJ, the average property tax is $7,000/year, most of which is a school tax. So, we pay thousands every year into the public school system.

OTOH, we pay around $70/year for a library tax. I don’t know how much state funding our county libraries receive. Christie has to cut the state budget, and I’m glad I voted for him. He’s tough, but he’s cutting very little from the public schools and then hitting the only “government service” we use. That’s what has me taken aback.

However, as I said in my last post, I don’t know if his cuts will affect our libraries, anyway, because they’re county level.

So far, I haven’t come across much on the far left at our county libraries. There are books of all kinds, including books on the right. Our libraries also have programs for the kids to make gifts for veterans, collect donations for the troops, and so on.

I hear you loud and clear. I’ve always thought private libraries would be a good idea. Homeschoolers run lending libraries, for example, which would count as private libraries. Much more could be privately run, and many services could be privatized. But, I want the public schools to be hit hard first. We’re really overpaying for them. Without our libraries, the schools would be all that remain, and they’re definitely on the left. ;-)

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