Re: OT: Public libraries

On 4/23/2025 10:50 AM, Christopher Howard wrote:

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.

Increasingly, "service" is being outsourced.  E.g., the online catalog is
now handled by a Canadian firm.  Streaming is handled by "other" firms
(I think they may have more than one such "provider").  Ditto with
eBooks.
The actual physical inventory is still managed, on site.  But, with
increasing cuts to staff (e.g., they are only open for a total of
40 hours -- yet none of the staff are THERE for the full 40 hours!
I.e., they are all "part time" employees.  There are frequent complaints
about their hours being cut -- as well as reassigned, etc.  Likely
a legal dodge to avoid treating them as full-time employees -- benefits,
etc. -- as well as increase their frustration with the organization
to perhaps quit?

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

There are "youth" areas of varying age levels -- likely to help
them find the content they seek.  I can't speak to "porn" offerings,
though.
The (outsourced) catalog is set up as a social-media-wannabe; inviting
people to choose their own monikers, review the materials they've
borrowed, etc.  It doesn't seem to have caught on, particularly.

(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.

The titles displayed (promoted?) in each library are selected by the staff
  of THAT library.  I've been pleased by the items that have been brought
to my attention.  But, can't claim any are "propaganda" of a sort.

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.

We had a major renovation at our branch some 20 years ago (doubling
the size, adding a very large meeting room, setting aside space
for computers, providing better workspaces for the staff (internal),
etc.
The *furnishings* seem to be largely under control of the local manager.
E.g., they brought in all new stacks -- 6 ft tall.  Some time later,
these were replaced with shorter stacks -- likely to open up the sight
lines across the space (libraries seem to want to emphasize an openness;
the one in my home town could almost support a basketball game in the
middle of the space!).
Then, they discover people can't reach the titles on the bottom shelf
so the shortened stacks get even shorter.  Etc.
Carpet was replaced a few months ago -- which meant tearing everything
down for the repair.  More "renovations" expected in the coming months
(which will take our branch out-of-service for the duration).
Nothing for sale in OUR branch.  Some of the branches in the less
affluent areas will have vending machines INSIDE the space.  No one
has thought to add a "Starbucks"...

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.

The casualness with which titles are discarded ("This hasn't been
checked out in /a while/; lets toss it") suggests it won't be
long before titles are no longer available on physical media.
I've requested ("Suggest a purchase") some titles that they had,
previously -- and would be available on Amazon, etc. -- and
was told "Our supplier does not have this title".  Another example
of how they have artificially constrained themselves.

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.

No tablets.  No ereaders.  There are almost always enough public computers
at our branch.  In a pinch, the 4 or 5 that are reserved for catalog access
can be put into service as general workstations.
But, other libraries will often have 30-50 machines in continuous use.
The uses being whatever the patrons deem appropriate (all have
polarizers to act as privacy screens, of a sort -- though walking BEHIND
any seated patron gives you a clear view of their content)