More Library Funding Feedback
It seems my call to end public library funding has ruffled a few feathers around the blogosphere - not that I’m surprised. After all, local support isn’t exactly on my side, either. Erroll Levant wrote a brief piece on taking kids to the library and English Advantage wrote an excellent article on how libraries are a superb tool for those learning English later in life. I agree wholeheartedly with both of these posts, but neither of them addressed the issue - why should I be forced to pay for these people to entertain their children or learn English?
The (self-named) Crazy Cat Lady weighed in with alengthy and moving post title A New Idea, A New Dream, A New World that makes several excellent points on how kids (and many adults for tht matter) would rather play video games or watch television then read these days. She also asks where I get my books so cheaply (used book stores, loans from friends, Amazon, and private libraries, BTW) and argues that, should she be required to pay for all of her reading material it would cost her more than $1,500 per year and that she simply can’t afford to spend that much on books. What she fails to address is why I should be required to spend money to support her reading habit. I don’t recall getting a check from her to support any of my hobbies.
All three of these bloggers make the claim that the library is wonderful because it is free. Apparently, none of them read my original post very well. Public libraries are not free! They cost millions of dollars a year to operate and that money is taken by force from everyone living in your community, whether they can afford it or not, whether they want it or not, whether they can read or not.
Marc, over at Last Blogger, at least addressed the issue of taxation in his Libraries - Another Point Of Contention? Unfortunately, the best he could come up with was-
In Canada we have a tradition of being taxed and tend to be far more accepting of it than our neighbours. As such, I personally see a public library as a vital element to a community.
Again, I agree that libraries are vital elements in a community. It is for this very reason that private organizations have always had libraries of their own. Should my fellow Americans see the wisdom of supporting liberty and stopping the theft known as taxation these private organizations will no doubt step up their efforts. Additionally other private organizations will no doubt join the fray.
Personally I’d like to see something like NetFlix but for books. Wouldn’t it be great to pay a small monthly fee and have (pretty much) any book you want mailed to your house for you to keep as long as you desire? I pay $60/ year to NetFlix and they not only manage to do this with DVDs, but they turn a profit at the same time. I pay $200/year to the library and they not only continually lose money, but are constantly begging for more.
Tags: free market, internet, libraries, Morgan Hill, National Library Week, Santa Clara County, Services, taxes
