Our public library has become a expensive homeless shelter. They bathe in the restrooms, sleep in the stacks, and watch porn on the computers. Far from being a safe place to bring or send children, I wouldn't let mine attend without an adult present.
As a young teen, I spent hours at the local library, reading all types of books in the adult section. It was, and still is, my favorite way to spend an afternoon. But I'd never let my young teens hang out there sfter a local teen was accosted by a homeless man in the restroom.If I want to spend an afternoon reading, I go to BArnes and Noble; or read whatever I want on line. I haven't been to the public library in years.
And the classic history and science books I read as a teen are long gone,too, replaced by popular reading materials. On my last trip, I searched in vain for the biographies of American heroes for my kids. There were 20 biographies of Brittney Spears, and Tiger Woods, and 50 Cent; but none of Revolutionary heroes Mad Anthony Wayne, Frances Marion or even Nathaniel Greene, hardly a bit player in the Revolution.
Nobody goes there any more, and if Camden's library is anything like ours, and I bet dollars to donuts that it is, then it deserves to die.
I have a similar experience to yours. But there is some variation depending on which branch of the county system I go to. The one in my home town is more “urban”: lots of bi-lingual holdings and programming, no quiet rules observed, groups of utes hanging out like it was a high school cafeteria. I’ve come near fistfighting a number of times when I had the audacity to ask some of these fine patrons to keep it a little quieter.
Upon reading this line I immediately thought, "You must live in Denver." and then I clicked on your profile page.
Am I right?