Why Is One US City Stripping the Word 'Public' from Public Library?

[proud2BlibKansan]

The public library is a uniquely American creation. Now we have to fight to keep it public.
May 2, 2011 |

"The word 'public' has been removed from the name of the Fort Worth Library. Why? Simply put, to keep up with the times." --From the Media release on the rebranding of the Fort Worth Library

Fort Worth, you leave me speechless. You’re certainly correct about one thing. The public library is indeed an institution that has not kept up with the times. But given what has happened to our times, why do you see that as unhealthy? In an age of greed and selfishness, the public library stands as an enduring monument to the values of cooperation and sharing. In an age where global corporations stride the earth, the public library remains firmly rooted in the local community. In an age of widespread cynicism and distrust of government, the 100 percent tax supported public library has virtually unanimous and enthusiastic support.

This is not the time to take the word “public” out of the public library. It is time to put it in capitals.s "public" now a dirty word? Fort Worth has stripped the word from its local library.

The public library is a singularly American invention. Europeans had subscription libraries for 100 years before the United States was born. But on a chilly day in April 1833 the good citizens of Peterborough, New Hampshire created a radical new concept—a truly PUBLIC library. All town residents, regardless of income, had the right to freely share the community’s stored knowledge. Their only obligation was to return the information on time and in good condition, allowing others to exercise that same right.

more . . . http://www.alternet.org/news/150819/why_is_one_us_city_stripping_the_word_'public'_from_public_library

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Guess "public" is the equivalent of "the people's library" and we can't have

that kind of socialist nonsense being subsidized with taxpayer dollars.

:sarcasm:

[CBGLuthier]

2. This is a THREE YEAR OLD story

First time it was brought up a few weeks ago I let it go but this all happened 3 years ago.

At the top of the press release it says June 11, 2008.

[Zoeisright]

4. So? It still needs to be pointed out.

Many people haven't heard of it. And it's just one more bullet in the repuke conspiracy to destroy this country.

[CBGLuthier]

6. That may be true but the article is poorly written

It makes it seem this is happening now. Then you look at the press release and you wonder did it take three years to get angry about it or does the author just not pay attention to details.

[xmas74]

9. Maybe because some areas are discussing

the privatization of libraries? That might be a reason for something that happened a few years ago and was left on the back burner to be brought forward once again.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. It was just posted on Alternet

:shrug:

[eowyn_of_rohan]

11. It is a timely issue with all that's coming down. Thank you for posting it! -nt

[Obamanaut]

8. It's a word. We still know that it is a library. We can still go there if we are

in the area.

The public library in my community does not have 'public' in it's title. It is listed as a regional library - I take that to mean it serves this region.

Outrage threshold seems pretty low sometimes, and not even timely considering this event is three years old.

[Wednesdays]

5. Oh, the horror.

:eyes:

[Obamanaut]

3. .A recent thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=1033885

[xmas74]

10. Well, there are some

libraries that are now privatizing. That's really scary, IMO.