Re: OT: Public libraries

Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> writes:

>
But, what do you see in terms of investments, other traffic, trends,
etc.?  Are they making changes that increase their relevance?  Or,
destined for obsolescence as the services they offer prove to no
longer be uniquely provided by that sort of organization?
>

I think they are trying to become more "relevant" in various ways. A lot
of that are trends that I don't like...

(1) Increased promotion of DRM/JavaScript laden ebook rentals (I hate
DRM). The catalog system directly links with the ebook offerings, so
that something like 1/3 or 1/2 the results are ebooks or other digital
resources.

(2) An increased focus on providing a social space for young people,
including dedicated teen areas, and more pornographic and occult fiction
materials.

(3) An increased focus on propaganda displays where books with trans,
CRT, and other left-wing agendas get a great deal of special attention
in the middle of the library.

Our library recently had a major renov. The main features added were a
cafe, selling the usual overpriced, under-satisfying dainties that
people love to get at a cafe; more space for the teen area; more space
in the young childrens area; and more meeting rooms.

Their "poor man's box office" DVD collection is very popular at my
library (I think they have a blue ray section too) and it doesn't seem
like it will be going away anytime soon. I keep wondering if this will
be the year that streaming services kill off DVD production, but so far
it hasn't happened.

They have been doing "educational gaming" childrens computers for ages,
I think, but a more recent addition is tablets that you can check out,
if the desk computers are all in use.

--
Christopher Howard