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Post by cato on Jan 15, 2019 14:44:55 GMT
One of the few things I like seeing my taxes spent on by government is the grossly underfunded library service. I think libraries bring such quiet joy and provide a vital understated service often to people who would be unable to avoid the wonderful but pricey luxury of books.
I don't use my library card as much as I should but it is a precious little (free) asset that enables me to borrow books or dvds anywhere in the Irish Republic. Staff are always helpful and friendly. In fact they are the one group of public servants I find actually embody an ethos of service. Public transport staff please take note.
And now for the fly in the ointment- Dublin City Council have abolished library fines in an attempt to get more users or to lure back guilty people who have that Agatha Christie from 1957 they have yet to return sitting in the bathroom. You might think a conservative would welcome the abolition of a tax/fine. However fines do bring in a cool 85,000 each year about .5% of a small library budget. I could buy a lot of books with that little sum . The DCC hasn't indicated if it will cover that short fall.
My inner puritan also finds it hard to believe this will not make people careless with public property. What incentive is there to return a late book? Fewer and fewer of us are that civic minded.I return my books in part because of that fine. Before Christmas I paid out €5 in fines because I didn't want to have to pay more later. I wonder could I get a refund?
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Post by Maolsheachlann on Jan 15, 2019 15:57:46 GMT
I have to admit to experiencing a spasm of anxiety when I heard about this. I can't help wondering if it is a first step in doing away with books entirely. Considering Joe Orton and his gay lover were jailed for six months for defacing library books, I do think it's fair to say that reverence for libraries has rather diminished. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Orton#Crimes_and_punishment
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Post by cato on Jan 15, 2019 16:28:17 GMT
I would love to know who thought of this silly idea. Do they use libraries or do they even read books? It sounds like a recommendation from a focus group or a citizen's assembly.
I do periodically fear for the future of the book. I was alarmed at the emergence of the kindle but it appears to be dying off. I can a pleasant feeling everytime I see someone reading a book in a public place. It is comforting to know there are like minded souls out there.
I have resolved to read more real books particularly the unread ones on my own shelves this year.I ll try the local library for the new or the obscure.
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Post by Maolsheachlann on Jan 15, 2019 16:44:14 GMT
Just this afternoon I was dealing with a student who asked if we could get a hard copy of a book that we only have in e-book form. She was almost apologetic about her preference for the hard copy.
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Post by cato on Jan 15, 2019 16:59:44 GMT
Just this afternoon I was dealing with a student who asked if we could get a hard copy of a book that we only have in e-book form. She was almost apologetic about her preference for the hard copy. At moments like that I wish there was a conservative version of the gold star small children are awarded for various daily achievements at school.
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Post by Séamus on Jan 16, 2019 8:01:15 GMT
I know people that started using alternatives to books, e-readers and things, and gave them up soon after. The last edition of International Express mentions that "30 million pounds has been wiped from (British) (public) library budgets since the turn of the decade... Councils have shut 700 libraries since 2010, with the pace of closures accelerating last year when budgets were slashed by 30 million pounds, forcing 127 to close...with more than 1500 losing their jobs over two years. Volunteers are now increasingly being left to stack shelves and are being relied on to keep branches open...50,000 volunteers had to put in almost 1.8 million hours last year to keep services going" One would have to know a bit more about the amount,etc of libraries in Britain to see the full picture. Critics seem to fault the government's funding rather than any declining demand for libraries. The article concludes that 8 million citizens are library members and 30,000 petitioners have asked unsuccessfully for direct government funding- the two names heading the petition are a slight turn-off though: Rowling and Pullman!
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Post by cato on Jan 16, 2019 21:13:02 GMT
Libraries are also free public spaces where people can meet and form friendships and meet like minded people. In our busy world where everything is commercialised and has a price tag it is important that there are public spaces where the leisure , entertainment and learning books can provide are offered to all. Libraries offer meeting places for local groups , study environments and help people access important local services.
They have a very important social role especially for isolated individuals. It can be hard to put a price on the valuable work they do.
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