Why have libraries when books on sale are cheap, accessible?

The Star - South Chicago ^ | April 24, 2005 | Michael J. Bowers

[rwfromkansas]

But, once the Muslims declared the end to itjihad, that ended their intellectual growth and the Europeans took over thanks to the Muslim-gained knowledge.

[spinestein]

[Libraries are just another socialist government handout/redistribution scheme.]



Except that libraries have existed for FAR longer than socialist governments or anything resembling them.

[woofie]

Homeless people need a place to hang out while waiting for the shelter to open

[IAMNO1]

"some of you liberatarian nuts need a brain check.

No real conservatives of the past would have actually supported abolishing libraries."

Who went and made you the "real conservative" police? Guess everybody has to walk in lockstep to please you. Luckily, there are people here who don't take their marching orders from you.

[rwfromkansas]

I have occassionally seen homeless people in the Wichita library when in there.

But, I am rather amazed at the posts on here acting like it is such a big problem they can't even go to the library.

I don't care if there are 20 homeless people wandering around, if you are distracted by it to the point where you can't even get the book you need, it seems you have the problem, not the homeless guy by letting some little thing like that bother you so much....

[fivekid]

If that is what is has come to now......

how very sad... Where are our tax paid employees/

Shouldn't they be stopping this on their shift/s ?

[rwfromkansas]

Hey, I am just saying that this is libertarian thought, not conservative.

A conservative and liberatarian are two different things.

[IAMNO1]

"Except that libraries have existed for FAR longer than socialist governments or anything resembling them."

True. Earlier types of governments were even more repressive and controlling. My point is the same.

[ottersnot]

a stinking advertisement for his book disguised as analysis.

[HitmanLV]

Libraries are awesome!

[woofie]

My comment on the homelss should be taken in jest....I think and hope that Libraries will always be with us...Society is more than roads and bridges

[IAMNO1]

"Hey, I am just saying that this is libertarian thought, not conservative."

And you do that by saying "some of you liberatarian (sic) nuts need a brain check." Gee, how tactful!

[Clemenza]

Libraries are awesome!

So are librarians...

Personally, I've always been a fan of libraries since my youth as it was the only place to study without the distractions of home, and currently serve the purpose of preventing me from cluttering my house with books I'll read only once at the price of $25+M each.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I must go and see that!

[k2blader]

I think libraries are some of the better things taxes go toward.

And they are open to everyone, not just "the poor."

[MilspecRob]

Forget building new ones. The ones we have are only open part time. There is no liberal or conservative spin on this issue. I live in Ventura County which I grant you is wealthier than some others. I am also 51 years old, and have been going to libraries since about the age of 10 and have never seen ONE smelly homeless person in a library. If this is an inner city problem, then the people need to solve it, and not by closing all libraries.

Thats so sad, I lived in Santa Paula in the 90's and the library was only open 3 day a week.

[GretchenM]

This author is not taking into consideration the following.

Not everyone has as much money or storage space as he seems to have.
Not everyone can get a copy of or afford out of print books that libraries carry.
Not everyone wants to own every book he/she reads.

Sheesh.

[billybudd]

Can you flip through the pages of a book to sample its contents before reading it?

Yes. They have table of contents and excerpts for most books, so you can get an idea of the writing. If you want to sample the whole book, you have to go to a bookstore or library.

Can you go to look up a book on WWII and instead end up getting a book on Julius Caesar simply because they are shelved in the same aisle and you picked up the Caesar book because its title and spine intrigued you?

Yes. Amazon always shows a list of books similar to the one you're looking at. If you want to do a random book search, then just hit "Browse Subjects" and see what strikes your fancy.

[CalRepublican]

No, it is a liberal and conservative issue--especially when it comes to building new libraries, which is what was at issue here. This place built a library IT DIDN'T NEED!!

There were already libraries in Chicago. There are already plenty libraries. Building a new library in a place like LA or Chicago is asinine.

[MilspecRob]

There are already plenty libraries. Building a new library in a place like LA or Chicago is asinine.

I don't know about Chicago, but there are a lot of new development areas in LA county that need local libraries.