In Defense of Libraries
NOTE: In Logan, Utah, and other cash-strapped communities, discussions focus on whether tax rolls can afford to keep libraries. In Buffalo, NY, the Buffalo News wonders if the community can afford NOT to fund its public library.
“Without libraries, accessible and active libraries, people are tragically less likely to keep their minds growing and their civic awareness up to speed. And those are factors in everything from a community’s poverty and crime rates to its ability to attract businesses and professionals (and retirees).”
Editor’s Note: A society’s intellectual vitality may be measured by its reading list.
Today’s Wish-I-Were-Here Photo: Cache Valley Doldrums
NOTE: Today’s WORD on Journalism is now on Facebook! Join up and rant daily!
Libraries need to be around! I say this because it's convenient for middle class and lower class families to borrow books, C.D's, movies, etc for a certain period of time then return them or ask for more time and not pay a cent. (unless late) The lower and middle class population is greater then the rich and libraries keep books alive. Classics that shape childhoods can be found at libraries. Books can be accessed online now and if cities/states start closing down libraries it will be the beginning of the end for books. Kids are surrounded by gossip, "celebrity bio's" (like the cartoon showed) and they're not expanding their brains neither are adults. I'm with George Plye on this. -Romina Nedakovic
ReplyDeleteYeah? Well, let Mr. Grouchy cut in with his observation of the Republicans' clear awareness of the advantages of just as ignorant an electorate as possible. The withering of legitimate news outlets and the burgeoning of bought-and-paid-for TV and radio networks, inflammatory talking heads, and cooperative religious leaders has provided the means to attract and inflame the clueless with hard right causes. And much of the red meat of this attraction is total garbage, for example, Obama is not a US citizen, Elena Kagan was made a Supreme Court Justice as a reward for quashing lawsuits to reveal Obama's foreign birth, Obama is a Muslim, blah, blah, blah. This stuff is all over the map and local equivalents are seething re: the November election candidates. Wouldn't ya just love to see the reading lists of dedicated Tea Party troops?
ReplyDeleteIf the Republicans whale in November --- as they are predicted to do --- look for all sorts of cultural things being cut out in order to "save money and reduce the national/state/local deficits."
Oh, and Ted, have a nice day! Harry