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The fewer fines that libraries recoup, the more taxes they try to take to replace these items—consider that.

The simple solution is to dissolve public libraries. They are useless nowadays. One can find information on the Internet in less than a few seconds. It takes one an hour to go the library, look up a holding, and check it out. I cringe everytime talk comes up about modernizing out library. Half the cost will go to meeting disability access laws - more ramps, elevators, and short stacks that can be reached from a wheelchair meaning fewer books per square foot of floor area.

The simple solution is to dissolve public libraries. They are useless nowadays. One can find information on the Internet in less than a few seconds.

I totally disagree with that. Yes, the Internet has made it much easier to do research at home but the local libraries still have a huge trove of materials that just can't be found on the Internet - especially regarding research on a local level.

Also, unless a book is in the public domain, you are simply not going to be able to download it over the Internet and even if you wanted to buy it, there are many thousands of titles out of print that you can only find in a library.

I would agree that public libraries have gotten away from their main purpose which is to give citizens access to educational materials that otherwise would only be available to those that could afford it. I do NOT believe that the purpose of a public library is to provide entertainment such as videogames, movies and pop music.

That is not to say that libraries shouldn't offer any multimedia items at all. I can see documentaries on DVD of the Civil War for example, but I just don't see how lending out DVD copies of "Weekend At Bernie's" or "Porky's Revenge" do anything to educate the public. Ditto for music, I can see the symphonies of Beethoven being offered by public libraries but Britney Spears Greatest Hits? I don't think so.

*The simple solution is to dissolve public libraries. They are useless nowadays.*

That’s the simple-minded solution. Your local library must suck.

*One can find information on the Internet in less than a few seconds.*

Some can, some can’t. Ever try to get a child to learn to read by using the internet?

*It takes one an hour to go the library, look up a holding, and check it out.*

Doesn’t your library have e-books?

*I cringe everytime talk comes up about modernizing out library. Half the cost will go to meeting disability access laws - more ramps, elevators, and short stacks that can be reached from a wheelchair meaning fewer books per square foot of floor area. *

Those f*cking gimps! How dare they want to get into the library.

And we wonder where conservatives get their reputations?