America is About to Lose One of Its Best Public Resource: Public Libraries

[Democrats Ramshield]

(Crossposted by Democrats Ramshield from AlterNet and the Daily Kos.)

As an American librarian I am glad to be living in the European Union where library funding isn't under attack to the extent that it is back home in the United States, because readership, literacy and an open based knowledge system that is publicly funded is still valued. In America, library budgets have become low hanging fruit for conservative local and state politicians. Louisiana is the worse case in point where Gov. Bobby Jindal has eliminated state library funding all together. Not only does it beg the question will your state be next but it asks the question what will you do when they come for your library and your kid's summer reading program? Do you really know how many books it's really going to take to make that special child or grandchild in your life a lifelong reader. Do you think you have anywhere near those numbers of books in your private collection?

Please let's remember the voluminous studies that have been done year after year, decade after decade that show us that prison inmates for the most part are functionally illiterate and that teen pregnancy is directly linked to literacy rates.

Christian Science Monitor: November 18, 2013
Louisiana residents choose libraries over jail to receive funds Residents of Lafourche Parish in Louisiana recently voted down a proposal that would have used money currently going to local libraries to build a new prison.

Literacy statistics and juvenile court

85 percent of all juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate.

More than 60 percent of all prison inmates are functionally illiterate.

Penal institution records show that inmates have a 16% chance of returning to prison if they receive literacy help, as opposed to 70% who receive no help. This equates to taxpayer costs of $25,000 per year per inmate and nearly double that amount for juvenile offenders.

Illiteracy and crime are closely related. The Department of Justice states, "The link between academic failure and delinquency, violence, and crime is welded to reading failure." Over 70% of inmates in America's prisons cannot read above a fourth grade level.

According to UNICEF: " Nearly a billion people will enter the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names and two thirds of them are women."

(To continue reading the rest of my article, please click on the link below. Please support our community libraries. Thank you.)
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/america-about-lose-its-best-public-resource-public-libraries

[cali]

1. Happy to rec this.

I read the excerpt you provided and I'll read the rest shortly. It caught my interest.

thanks for posting.

[yeoman6987]

34. Libraries are a dying breed

If they end up closing libraries, it would be because libraries did not keep up with the public needs. When walking into a library it is still that 1950's look of tables and chairs and lines of books. They need to have couches and armchairs when people can enjoy themselves and be comfortable. How about a nice place with large screen tvs where they can enjoy a nice DVD movie or TV show after taking out their books? They need to have a coffee bar and perhaps a place to have a bite if you want people to stay and enjoy themselves. That is why Barnes and Nobels have so far made it as long as they have. The computers in libraries are atrocious. I tried to use one and it was so slow that I ended up going to Fed ex and using their computer which did the job. Libraries are trying to keep the past without thinking about the current and future.

[blue sky at night]

42. my library is anything but what you describe...

I think the demise of Libraries is equal to the demise of reading. I am so lucky because I drive for work and it affords me time to listen to books on DVD's...something that is really big at my Public Library. When I talk to folks I haven't seen in a while I always mention the latest book I am reading and NO ONE ever comes back with the book they are currently reading...I think it either bores the shit out or embarrasses them.

I guess the question becomes, when was the last time you were at your library? I don't buy books, I borrow them, and I go every two weeks.

[yeoman6987]

45. I guess around 2 years ago

And I am not an avid reader, but when I do want the latest John Grisham or someone like that, I buy it at Barnes and Nobles typically because I was always notorious for not returning books. I would take out books, not read a page, forget about them, take them back a year later. I am HORRIBLE! I know it!

[Stonepounder]

54. My wife and I are retired...

And we are incredibly lucky in that we have a library just a few miles from us, and our branch has been voted best library branch in Ky three years running. I usually go a couple of times a week to get books, or DVD's for myself, or my wife. The other day I had to run some errands and return a couple of book. I got to the library about 10 minutes before it opened. By the time they opened the doors there must have been 20-30 people waiting outside.

I can request books on-line if they aren't in. If they are at another branch, they will usually arrive the next day. If I have to use InterLibrary loan, it rarely takes more than a couple of weeks.

Of course the Tea Party wackos are suing the entire library system, claiming that the libraries have been charging too much tax and to reduce the library's income by about 71%. (If anyone is interested in the legal arguments, see http://www.kentucky.com/2013/07/19/2721478/civil-lawsuit-in-anderson-montgomery.html )

Lets all get out with our signs: "The Tea Party - Working to Keep America Dum!"

[yeoman6987]

60. I am so glad that you take advantage of the library

I know I sounded a bit negative on libraries especially my first post, but the last thing on Earth I want to see is Libraries closed. They are important to the community and every person in the area. The Republicans are stupid for wanting this as this is a great place to learn to love reading.

[Enthusiast]

68. You can go back and change your post when you recognize that you are wrong.

Last edited Sun Mar 16, 2014, 07:48 AM - Edit history (1)

Yes, you came off as negative. You also said you are not an avid reader.

The article cited the value of literacy. The value of literacy is off the charts.

[jtuck004]

62. You might do better with a sign that says

"Borrow Books Free for 10 Days
Then gives an address
Open This Monday Thru Saturday For Now"

If you get people using it they won't want it screwed with. Have programs in the library, something. A lot of time it doesn't take but a little effort to get enough votes to defeat the angry badgers.

Or maybe just something they want:

"Free Internet Access"
and the address

Or

"Free Dating Tips"
and the address

Yes? Don't make it about the angry badgers.

I know you were just being sarcastic, but this is happening in a lot of places, and it is just because there has never been a need to promote the library. That's always been done through schools and a variety of ways, and the eyes that would have seen them are on the Internet. Now the library needs to change, figure out a role in the virtual world, and get a plan to go forward. Else they will get attacked and bitten.

[Perseus]

75. It is not only the tea party that wants to keep Amrica dum

Corporations and other forces have vested a lot of effort into that goal as well. If you take a look at regimes around the World where the main goal is power and domination you will find that education is the first one to be attacked because it is easier to control a people who cannot think, they are more easily convinced and guided.

There is a good book written by Sinclair Lewis, I believe he wrote it in 1926, "It can't happen here." which you don't even need to go to the library to read, it is available online:

http://www.goodreads.com/ebooks/download/11371.It_Can_t_Happen_Here

This should be a must read, because "It CAN happen here.", it has already happened in many countries where people said the same thing, and I know because I experienced it.

There has to be a push to make sure that we don't react, that when education (that includes libraries) are gone from our communities, and our country, that we are not faced with the task of trying to recuperate something lost, but instead avoid it from happening. I wish I could have the answers on what to do, but to avoid something form happening like the book I am recommending, we the people, need to be proactive and not reactive.

[llmart]

55. You are so wrong.....

I was in my library just this morning and I could barely get in the front door. The place was bustling! However, this is in a community that is for the most part educated, diverse, middle class, and which supports their library and any millage that comes up every single time! Oh, and it's mostly a liberal community. I was in public library administration for several years and I can't begin to tell you how much libraries have changed. You clearly haven't been in a good one. I wish people who think like you could see what a great library of today is really about.

In 2008 when the economy was in free fall, our library was so incredibly busy. Many people couldn't afford internet at home. Many who were laid off were being told by their former employer that they should apply for unemployment benefits online and a lot of these people had never done anything like that online in their lives, so staff, including me helped people with applying online.

Our library programs always have a waiting list. The children's programs are amazing.

I don't know what library you went in that still looks like the 1950's, but maybe it's in a poor, backwoods community.

Public libraries are the best example I know of a community coming together to share a resource and share the expense of that resource, where the wealthier pay so that those less wealthy than they are can have access to things they may not be able to afford.

As you can tell, I am passionate about public libraries! And I might add that if there's something you would like your library to have or offer, do not be afraid to let library administration know that.

[YOHABLO]

63. The future of libraries is to open a damn Starbucks in it?

No we don't go to libraries to watch televison .. we go there to read. We don't need a Starbucks inside the library either .. Do Americans have to be noshing on some sugary sweet honey bun to read? That's why checking out books is so practical .. you can take that book and read it anywhere. I don't want all the damn peripheral noise that a coffee shop offers .. I am sick of having to listen to music that I do not like ... way too loud. And the computers in my local library work just fine. Enjoying oneself in the library IS ABOUT THE PEACE AND QUIET!

[Perseus]

76. You are 100% correct...

I was thinking the same, it has come to a point where even in Tennis matches, during changeovers, they play loud music...The noise is meant to keep people from thinking, it is all part of the strategy. You go to malls and there is music outside, then inside the mall, then each store has its own music going.

One Christmas we bought my Mom some hearing aids, and the first time she put them on we went to a mall, which we do not do frequently, only when we really need something, and her first reaction was "I didn't know there was so much noise, music everywhere.", and it is noise when the music they are playing is not something you want to listen to.

Anyway...all your points are very good.

[blueamy66]

65. Ummm...my library is great!

Couches, armchairs, laptops and a coffee bar!

Oh, and books!

And a great children's section that is jam packed with kids that are actually reading.

[blackspade]

74. It's called funding...

Without it, your hipster fantasy will never come true.

[Starry Messenger]

83. Libraries in our county have those things.

The main branch even has the cafe.

[earthside]

2. An important point; but not a very good article.

The article, it seems to me goes rather astray over illiteracy and prison incarceration rates, etc.

However, we are seeing the idea and institution of our public library systems diminished in this country.

Library budgets are being cut to pay for law enforcement in many jurisdictions.

And I think this is the greatest danger -- even from liberals and progressives -- that the public library is a relic because of the internet.

Libraries are repositories of information and history and ideas; books are more than just paper and ink and/or digitalized letters on a screen -- the library is indeed a functioning symbol of civilization itself.

Here is my warning to folks: don't let the bureaucrats and cost-cutters turn your community library into a public version of a corporate bookstore where only the most popular ebooks and dvds and music are available. Your local history should be available at your community library; that edition of a Balzac novel should be available to checkout for that one curious person; a librarian should be there to help you find that odd fact from the internet or from a physical book -- that is the undefinable value of a real library.

[hunter]

3. Absolutely. The Librarians are the greater resource...

... and they ought to have the resources they need to maintain the important role they play in maintaining our civilization.

[tooeyeten]

33. The basic premise

Is that people such as Jindal would prefer to cut budgets for political points that impact the welfare of all while seemingly pretending to be a public safety advocate. He's a political animal first and foremost.

[lumberjack_jeff]

58. Part of it is changes in copyright law.

Americans are becoming acculturated to the idea that words, images and ideas are owned by someone, and if you happen to stumble across any of them, without paying Disney or another of the big copyright holders, you are a thief.

Everything about a public library is virtuous. Virtue is sadly not a growth industry.

[hollysmom]

4. this linkis more about the libraries

Louisiana state library funding has been eliminated - See more at: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2012/06/louisiana-eliminates-state-funding-for-libraries.html#sthash.J4JkjMay.dpuf

[earthside]

86. GOP War on Rural Americans

This article makes me realize that a lot of the cuts that the Repuglican U.S. House want to make and a lot of the cuts that Repuglican governor's and Repuglican state legislatures are making are, in fact, probably having a greater negative impact on Americans living in rural areas than they are in 'inner city' areas.

Here is another place where Democrats ought to make an issue -- instead of playing footsie with Repuglicans on cuts to the Post Office, TPP, education, spying, etc.

[hollysmom]

87. on a state by state that is true but

I think t is a general war against the poor both in the cities and in the rural areas. People have to look at the issues instead of believing the Koch funded ads though. Until they stop voting against their interests, they will just be worse and worse off.
Was just talking about the Quakers. I always thought they were a reasonable religion, but turns out in NC there is a branch of gun loving red neck republican yahoos right along side the more stereotyped (this time good) Quakers. I just see so much negative in religion lately, It seems more on wealth and entitlement of the chosen ones than filled with forgiveness and love.

[awoke_in_2003]

6. And we slowly march back to the dark ages...

with religion leading the way.

[redqueen]

7. K&R

[joanbarnes]

8. There will be an uprising..When they come for my Library and My Credit Union

On a brighter note, my county passed a huge library funding referendum last year. Many improvements now in progress. Love it all. Not an employee (though my daughter once was), just a faithful library patron. I go there many times a week. Soaking up all the books, movies and music I can handle.

[asjr]

12. Public libraries are the real wealth

in this country. In the late 1930s and 1940s in Philadelphia we moved around a lot. Somehow my mother always found lodgings very close to a public library. I grew up there. I could read before I went to Kindergarten. I will always remember her for that.

[Arugula Latte]

9. When I was a kid some of the best things about this country were:

- the library system
- the inexpensive public higher education system
- a press that did its job (see Watergate)

All three of those things are going or gone.

[polynomial]

10. Common community data and information

Is a must and a responsibility for all citizens.

It is a new idea for the new millennium to be able to look up important documents via computer. All such public records that are there in local communities not automated now need the physical observations.

A person having to go in to look up the future plans a community mayor offers if any is a real Democracy. Democracy knowing the truth in Local town information, including the current tax base, and all business that is participating in the basic community common wealth make a social system that is basic to the American dream..

List the resume of all persons contracted the community...the list goes on to the basic in local government where each citizen has the freedom to choose to make decisions.

Then America's mainstream media in an ongoing way belts out lies and creates fear constantly. What's interesting is an essay by JUDITH N. SHKLAR a liberal that has a striking quote about the fear liberalism.

The Liberalism of Fear

Quote from JUDITH N. SHKLAR

“Every adult should be able to make as many effective decisions without fear or favor about as many aspects of her or his life as is compatible with the like freedom of every other adult. That belief is the original and only defensible meaning of liberalism. It is a political notion, because the fear and favor that have always inhibited freedom are overwhelmingly generated by governments, both formal and informal. And while the sources of social oppression are indeed numerous, none has the deadly effect of those who, as the agents of the modem state, have unique resources of physical might and persuasion at their disposal.”

With that said " metadata" could be very important sources of social oppression. The Library is the citizen's metadata machine, Snowden may have proved that.

[Scuba]

11. But public libarries are soshulism. We can't have that!

[theHandpuppet]

14. Is that photo for real???

[tooeyeten]

35. Of course

Another example of another Einstein acting against their best interest.

[Enthusiast]

69. Thanks, Scuba!

[avebury]

13. Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern tried to pass a bill a few

years ago that would have denied public funding for any library that did not segregate certain types of books. The bill failed. But this type of bill is typical for Oklahoma.

[MisterP]

23. heck, they started with punishing those against segregating the students

dancing and race-mixing are COMMIE!

[reformist2]

15. Who needs all those old, icky books anyway? And besides, reading old books hurts the economy!!!

[jsr]

32. Ebooks with limited use/expiration are best.

If you can't afford to read, oh well.

[FreeJoe]

16. Libraries need to be reinvented

I practically lived at the library as a child. My children almost never go to one. They do most of their reading on their electronic devices.

We need major changes. We need the first sale doctrine applied to ebooks. We need better online libraries. We need more free access to research papers, especially those publicly funded or subsidized.

[Hekate]

30. I think libraries have been reinvented. Talk to your local librarian about electronic access...

I have gotten ebooks on loan from my public library, hubby orders books via online access, the card catalog is computerized and shared among 3 counties, and so on. They really try hard, but they can't make it without public funding, which means taxes.

[quakerboy]

43. reinvented how?

I dont go to the library often, but its there when I need it, and I will vote for funding it unless there is a damn good reason not to.

When I do go to the library, about half the people seem to be there to use the public access computers, or the open internet on devices they bring themselves. Researching things online, putting in job applications, reading, or playing games, the full spectrum of internet activity, mostly minus the porn viewing.

Another 25% are there for standard paper books. I still haven't found an ereader that is as easy on the eyes as a regular book, nor one as durable in my pocket.

And about 25% are there for other reasons. Classes on tax preperation for elders. Reading programs for kids. knitting. Doing homework. what have you

You dont even have to go in to get ebooks from them, those can be had directly online to your device. But they have them available.

Which part of that needs to be reinvented, and how?

[elzenmahn]

49. There's the $64 Billion question...

...as there are plenty o'tools (like Rhee, Duncan, et. al. ) who want to "reinvent" public education via the corporate backed (and ran) model. Is this how we should "reinvent" the libraries, too? And have corporate strings attached to that money to deal with????

Public libraries need to stay public. And fully funded.

[vkkv]

17. As with cattle..

The very richest of business leaders are trying to 'breed the smarts out of' the American people.

[Puglover]

18. The USA is starting to resemble

Camazotz more and more.

How sad.

[jamesatemple]

19. In this small, East Texas town, a bastion of Tea Party dominated...

Republicanism, our town council sent out a notice that folks could add a recurring or one-time donation to their water billing for the support of the local library. Just about the time I decide that my friends a neighbors haven't any respect for social institutions, they surprise the heck out of me. Like Grandma said, "There's a little bit of good in everybody". Most times, I paraphrase that old mot by thinking that "there's damn little good in this crowd of heathens". And then one of 'em comes along and does something nice for me. I had it all figured out when I was young; I'm havin' trouble makin' sense of it now that I'm old.

[pragmatic_dem]

20. Americans are making choices and

they would rather have this:




Than this:

[msongs]

21. your president, congress, & other elected officials are making that choice, the "people" are not nt

[quakerboy]

46. I dont recall having been presented that choice

on a ballot.

I really wonder what would happen if you got the opportunity to direct your federal tax dollars yourself, at least to a fairly general level. Make the last page of your tax return a sheet with 5 options, Defense, Social services, Education, Transportation, National Debt. Each person gets to decide what percent of your next years taxes should go to each of the categories. Im sure you would have to broaden and define the categories because there's a whole spectrum of things our government does, those were just off the top of my head trying to keep it fairly simple.

I'm sure it would make an unholy mess of things, but it would be very interesting to see where people put their priorities as compared to the budgets our elected officials put out. I'm sure you would have to set aside a percentage to cover previous obligations (ie pensions, interest payments, etc), but i wonder what evolutions you would see in government operations. Customer service and public opinion would probably become a much greater priority, as billion dollar jets that dont fly or NSA spying could negatively effect next years budgets.

[LongTomH]

22. K&R and shared to my Facebook page

Benjamin Franklin fought for the establishment of public libraries way back at the founding of America. The damned GOP isn't just trying to abolish the 20th Century, they're trying to abolish every bit of progressive good this country has seen since the late 18th Century.

[grahamhgreen]

24. Free public wireless internet should replace public libraries.

[Revanchist]

26. Would that include making all literature free also?

A library is more than just a place for internet access, free public wi-fi is not enough. Some libraries are now renting e-books but if you don't have a computer or tablet that is of little use, and I wouldn't want to try to read a whole book on a smartphone. The ability to go into a library to read or check out a book or look up an article in a scientific journal that would otherwise cost you a pretty penny per article or subscription is out of reach for many people. The physical library building is still a much needed resource in today's world.

[grahamhgreen]

31. "Replace" was a bad word, I mean added to the library system, along with e-book rentals....

After all we could have bought T-mobile for 20 billion.... or 10 weeks in Afghanistan.

[Revanchist]

39. I would rather see a public/private partnership to get access to the needy

but I can see your point.

[quakerboy]

47. Why just the needy?

That seems unnecessary. Why not just open it to everyone. Then you dont have to means test and take away their internet access if mom worked some overtime this month, or charge them with a crime if they sold some stuff on ebay and failed to report the income. Or if someone happens to be a non dominant person living in a home where access isn't deemed important, even though the family has money.

[FarCenter]

37. Project Gutenberg has 42,000 free ebooks, including most out-of-copyright that you'd want to read

It has all the great American and English literature books as well as many English translations.

Their most downloaded books.

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/%3Fsort_order%3Ddownloads

[Revanchist]

38. Which does nothing for a poor person without a computer or tablet.

You can have all the books in the world online but if those who want to read them have no way to access the internet when what good are they? I understand where you're coming from and I love that resources like these are available but unless there is a way for everyone to enjoy the benefits then it's just not good enough.

[FarCenter]

40. A tablet is cheaper than a TV, and not many people don't have a TV.

And you can probably find free WiFi closer than a library.

If you can afford to drive or take mass transit to a library, you can afford to read electronically.

[Lancero]

25. Two minds on this really...

One is that I don't see that big of issue with cutting a libraries funding. Given todays technology, the library will soon be a thing of the past.

Technology is making printed literature obsolete. Magazines and newspapers are bearing the brunt so far, and books are soon to follow. Especially with schools forgoing classroom books entirely for digital equivalents.

In it's current form, libraries are going to become a thing of the past. If they manage to adapt for a new age, then part of that adaptation would have them becoming smaller, thus removing a good portion of their funding needs.

I do disagree with what they plan to use the funding for. If they really want to use it for prisons, then it would be better off starting a prison based literacy program. It'd do more good then building a entirely new prison would.

[hollysmom]

27. don't forget this is a state that has closed

offices for applications for food stamps and social security and what ever else aid is needed and they are pointing people to go to the libraries to apply. In that case alone they need to pay the libraries for their services. In state without mass transportation, people are not as mobile. Until there is free WIFI and free smart phones for all, they need these livbraries, although our local library has a ton of services, besides the social one where book clubs meet as well as renting video and DVD and CDs and e-books as well, this is where the free tax help works and where there are tutoring for children with reading issues as well as where authors come to do readings of their books since the demise of small book stores and where the bridge and knitting clubs meet and where there is help training people with computer skills both professional and just basic. Libraries are the only free computer access most towns have.
On the other hand, this is a republican wet dream, a drop in food stamp and welfare aid demand. People dying in the street from ill health and hunger, and increase in crime to feed your family to justify the cost of all those new prisons - more profit for friends.

[YoungDemCA]

29. The rich and powerful don't think that they have any obligation to "the public"

They sneer with thinly veiled contempt at the notion of a "common good."

They are waging one-sided class warfare, and are winning.

[quakerboy]

48. Libraries offer much more than just printed paper

Many (i would guess most) offer internet access to patrons who may not have it at home.

Many offer Ebooks, exactly those digital equivalents you mention

They also often offer community programs. Things like Reading programs for kids. Which are needed and useful whether the words and pictures are on a piece of paper or a tablet screen. Volunteer tax preparation assistance. Movies and music (admittedly usually outdated, but many still make use of them). Basic computer use courses for those who dont know how. Adult ESL courses. These are just a few of the things ive seen notices up for at my local library as I walk through.

[Enthusiast]

71. Jesus Christ.

[antiquie]

84. Books are not dead!

Wink: daily reviews of remarkable books that belong on paper
Books are not dead! The newest thing in the digital age are solid paper books. Not all books deserve to be printed on paper, but some books do, and these are the books that Wink celebrates. Every weekday Wink reviews one remarkable book that demonstrates what paper books can do. This might be an attractive oversized book that wows your coffee table, a craft book that includes materials to get you started, or a how-to book sporting an unusually handy binding. It could be a pop-up book, an atlas with pull-out maps, a stunning picture book for children, an unusual tome printed on exquisite paper. Or it could be a hardback graphic novel whose illustrations pop better in ink than in pixels.

[Lancero]

88. Not dead...

But dying.

[YoungDemCA]

28. The attack on the libraries is intentional, and it is connected to other attacks on public resources

The same crowd that is responsible for slashing funding for public libraries is also responsible for cutting food stamps, unemployment benefits, public school funding, infrastructure spending, and the privatization (partial or complete) of a rapidly growing number of public goods.

These people only see "the public" as a means to an end-private profit and accumulation/concentration of wealth into a small number of hands. Nothing is sacred to them. Nothing is off limits. All public goods are merely goods for private consumption that are paid for by the public. That is the neo-liberal modus operandi: private gains, socialize the losses (or "externalities.&quot

It is long past time for us to fight back, in any way possible. They are leaving us no other choice.

[Zorra]

56. It's ALEC. ALEC. ALEC....ALEC. ALEC must be eliminated.

Through ALEC, Global Corporations Are Scheming to Rewrite YOUR Rights and Boost THEIR Revenue

Through the corporate-funded American Legislative Exchange Council, global corporations and state politicians vote behind closed doors to try to rewrite state laws that govern your rights. These so-called "model bills" reach into almost every area of American life and often directly benefit huge corporations.
In ALEC's own words, corporations have "a VOICE and a VOTE" on specific changes to the law that are then proposed in your state. DO YOU? Numerous resources to help us expose ALEC are provided below. We have also created links to detailed discussions of key issues, which are available on the left.

http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed

What is ALEC?

ALEC is not a lobby; it is not a front group. It is much more powerful than that. Through the secretive meetings of the American Legislative Exchange Council, corporate lobbyists and state legislators vote as equals on ‘model bills’ to change our rights that often benefit the corporations’ bottom line at public expense. ALEC is a pay-to-play operation where corporations buy a seat and a vote on ‘task forces’ to advance their legislative wish lists and can get a tax break for donations, effectively passing these lobbying costs on to taxpayers.

Along with legislators, corporations have membership in ALEC. Corporations sit on ALEC task forces and vote with legislators to approve “model” bills. They have their own corporate governing board which meets jointly with the legislative board. (ALEC says that corporations do not vote on the board.) Corporations fund almost all of ALEC's operations.

Participating legislators, overwhelmingly conservative Republicans, then bring those proposals home and introduce them in statehouses across the land as their own brilliant ideas and important public policy innovations—without disclosing that corporations crafted and voted on the bills.

ALEC boasts that it has over 1,000 of these bills introduced by legislative members every year, with one in every five of them enacted into law. ALEC describes itself as a “unique,” “unparalleled” and “unmatched” organization. We agree. It is as if a state legislature had been reconstituted, yet corporations had pushed the people out the door.

http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/What_is_ALEC%3F

Fascist scum.

[madinmaryland]

36. Interesting. Here in southwest Ohio they approved a nearly $200million bond issue

which will modernize, upgrade, expand and build new libraries in our county.

[DeSwiss]

41. K&R

''…we are led by the least among us – the least intelligent, the least noble, the least visionary. We are led by the least among us and we do not fight back against the dehumanizing values that are handed down as control icons…'' ~Terence McKenna

[Dopers_Greed]

44. Why doesn't the publishing industry fight this?

Libraries surely add up to a big chunk of their revenue. In protest, the industry could refuse to publish any books written by politicians and pundits until this course is reversed.

[kentauros]

50. Well, then thank goodness for the advent of the digital library!

BiblioTech - my kind of library

Some quotes from the link above:

"Without any physical books at all, the branch raised a few eyebrows, but head librarian Ashley Eklof tells Library Journal that after a few months, the ebook-and technology-centric project has been so successful it already has its own spinoff at the county courthouse."

"We still have requests from people who want traditional services like help finding information, doing research on our databases, and writing resumes, but we spend a lot less time shelving and a lot more on our patrons."

"What’s the question you get most often at BiblioTech?
“You can really check out ereaders here?”

[sulphurdunn]

51. When places like libraries,

post offices and public schools become obsolete, the public can't be far behind.

[Zorra]

52. Good News: It Pays to Love Your Libraries (and Librarians)

The Arizona Library Association shared good news on Valentine's Day/Statehood Day—the defeat of HB 2379:

Dear AzLA Members,

Due to the overwhelming response from library districts and counties and really great meetings with our rural House members, Representative Olson will be striking his language off of HB 2379 and will instead be running language that requires a public notice and majority vote of the county board of supervisors before increasing a levy in a library district (as well as jail and public health services districts). His bill will no longer seek to limit the amount library districts can levy. This is great news for our library districts. It's not a complete ideal situation and we will continue to work with the County Supervisors Association closely on this bill, but removing the levy limit language is a huge win for us.
---
Hooray! Thank you to EVERYONE who helped spread the word! If Arizonans love their libraries, then their libraries love them even more!

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2014/02/19/good-news-it-pays-to-love-your-libraries-and-librarians

I live in a rural community, and my library is 9 miles away. I love my library, and my librarians. I always have at least two library books at home at all times, and currently have seven on hold. Our local library is almost always bustling with patrons.

If they mess with our library, I will start a revolution.

Thank you, Democrats Ramshield.

[fujiyama]

53. Some areas have great libraries, like in my metro Detroit suburb...

It is fully modernized with wifi, couches, coffee bars, ebooks, and DVDs as well.

I find it really sad that these great institutions would not be adequately funded, especially by a person of Asian descent. When I go to a library it's largely filled with Asians and Indians. My parents use to take me to them all the time and I think that helped me develop a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and learning. Granted, I don't go as often now due to the lack of time, but they're great if I need a quiet place to get some studying done with few distractions.

[blkmusclmachine]

57. drip drip drip

[certainot]

59. many of our colleges indirectly help close them down by supporting right wing radio stations.

over 28% of limbaugh radio stations pay universities to put their team logos on their megaphones. the total number of rw stations that support rw radio like this may be close to 35%.

https://sites.google.com/site/universitiesforrushlimbaugh/

that brings community cred and big advertising dollars. but the money is miniscule compared to the defunding and budget cutting those stations cause to public education, community services, and anything the billionaires feel might cut into their advantages.

republicans/ALEC/etc don't like public libraries and those stations have been crucial for passing the kind of budget cutting bullshit that threatens libraries.

[spanone]

61. k&r....

[Liberal_in_LA]

64. omg

[Enthusiast]

66. I didn't realize the significance literacy played in delinquency, violence, and crime.

It's clear. Rather than investing in law enforcement and incarceration we should be investing in literacy programs. Instead, because of this wrong-headed Reagan/Norquist inspired drive to eliminate taxes, we are systematically underfunding libraries and education.

In Ohio Governor Kasich is pushing to lower taxes again. These tax cuts will do nothing to stimulate investment or commerce, but they will jeopardize vital programs and services.

Can you imagine the United States if these knuckle draggers had been in control during the 20th Century? No dams, bridges, highways, research and investment in institutions of higher learning. We would be living in an entirely different nation, one completely lacking in progress.

Those in power, the ones that would take advantage of us and harm the nation, fully understand that the greatest obstacle in their way is an educated public.

[Enthusiast]

67. K&R! This post really should have hundreds of recommendations.

I suppose there are DUers that would say libraries are a thing of the past. I have a name for those DUers.

[myrna minx]

70. K&R

[Woodwizard]

72. Library alive and well

First post, long time lurker, our library in our tiny town was built with volunteer labor, grants and donations it is quite the nice spot it also houses a museum dedicated to the making of the NYC aqueducts.


We have a large lounging area with comfortable chairs 20 computer stations wifi and a few real books tossed in. they give free computer classes and have many children's activities.

My involvement was making the furniture in the pictures, the outdoor area is very pleasant.
The indoor furniture is going into the research room it will be a nice spot away from the main area, I sometimes use the carrels? to get away from the house to do design work.

[URL=http://imgur.com/B3E02jP][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://imgur.com/SYM3xIh][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://imgur.com/DUb0tjr][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://imgur.com/5SOg0zM][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://imgur.com/Fvw5gN6][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[suffragette]

80. Welcome to DU!

That's beautiful furniture you made for a great institution.
Love libraries!

[madokie]

73. Our little town just added a public Library

and its growing by leaps and bounds. Very successful endeavor

[SunSeeker]

77. IMO, the best municipal libraries are in Santa Monica, CA.

The community has high property values and a good tax base, and a progressive city government which invests in its libraries. The main library is a model of innovation, serving the entire community. I love renting my DVDs there--its free. And they just announced they're building another branch library. There's no hour cutting. The libraries have generous evening and weekend hours. It is heaven for a library patron. It's also a beautiful seaside town, with a low crime rate and high achieving kids.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

78. Here's what Michigan libraries are doing

Link fron the Detroit Free Press.
Still spreading learning and culture.

Adding to the adventure: Michigan Activity Pass program adds 32 new venues

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2014303160064

(Sent from Free_Press)

[fredamae]

79. Get rid of

a Free and Open WWW and charge significant Fees to access....Get rid of Free Public libraries....and there you have it.

More ways to Dumb America Down.
Make access to information impossible and/or extraordinarily difficult and you end up with a country full of people who don't know wtf it's government is doing...it's hard enuf Now...Just wait until This little project is completed.

[suffragette]

81. Libraries are a living symbol of much that the right wing hates

Libraries are centers of knowledge. In addition to books (nowadays in various media), there are reading programs, job searching assistance, language programs and more.

They provide free access to this, regardless of social status. You don't need to have bought services or products frequently to be a member and you won't be turned away or treated rudely based on how you look or dress. They are the egalitarian community centers of their cities.

They are a physical demonstratation of the purpose and value of learning being available and achievable by all in society. This is a radical stand at a time when evermore ideas are being placed under virtual lock and key as patented or copyrighted material, accessible only to those who can pay the price demanded.

They are centers of resistance to attempts at authoritarianism across our society. Librarians are vocal in demanding and providing freedom to read and think about views that may not be popular at particular times or are regarded as dangerous by some segments of society. Banned book weeks address this head on. Librarians were active in fighting against secretive actions of targeting people through the Patriot Act. They fought for the privacy of people exploring knowledge.

They stand for freedom of thought and expression and the availability of learning and growth for everyone, ideals which the right wing want reserved only for themselves and denied to others.

[treestar]

82. Just rebuilt several of ours in our county

Upgraded with more computers, modern systems. Meeting rooms and such. Seems very lively to me and not likely to be going away.

[librechik]

85. Like pay phones, the Elite don't need public libraries, so goodbye.

And Tough Shit on the poor.