Re: OT: Public libraries

On 4/21/2025 8:23 PM, Don Y wrote:

We've been discussing the long-term relevance of public
libraries and the funding thereof.  It seems like this is
something that will likely be fading from municipal budgets,
largely from disuse and ease of other entities picking up
any such use that is shed in their absence.

Six new town libraries are either under construction or recently opened in Massachusetts, at a total cost of maybe around $200 million, so maybe people in different parts of the US tend to value different things..it something municipalities around here do continue to spend money on.
<snip>

Ebooks don't seem to have as broad an acceptance; likely because the
licensing model is stupid:  how can you have *one* copy of an ebook?
The author/publisher should, instead, charge PER USE.  200 patrons
waiting for one copy of an ebook -- at 4 week renewal times -- is
likely not going to result in more "sales".  Instead, 200 patrons
ALL having access to 200 copies of the book WHILE IT IS IN DEMAND
seems like a better business model (are you going to wait a YEAR
to read an ebook?)

Ebooks are hugely popular

So, my questions, for those of you who frequent your public
library, what trends do you see and where do you see the
resource "evolving"?  Bulldozed to make room for more parking
for the other nearby businesses??

My librarian girlfriend read this post over my shoulder, rolled her eyes and after the fumes stopped coming out of her head noted dryly: "He declares public libraries obsolete, after literally admitting he uses his local branch for two or three different services." You're not alone..
Many town libraries in this area provide a lot of novel services: 3D printing/Glowforge , "Library of Things" free rentals of stuff like tools and musical instruments, study rooms for school...the big ones I've stopped into recently seem to have no shortage of patrons.