Cory Doctorow at 10:44 PM Wed
When I give talks to library groups, I always finish by reminding librarians that they're powerful advocates for fair use and privacy, because "you look like a total jerk when you criticize librarians."
Case in point: this Fox Chicago piece proposing that Illinois shut down its library system:
But keeping libraries running costs big money. In Chicago, the city pumps $120 million a year into them. In fact, a full 2.5 percent of our yearly property taxes go to fund them.
That's money that could go elsewhere - like for schools, the CTA, police or pensions
One of the nation's biggest and busiest libraries is the $144-million Harold Washington Library in the Loop. It boasts a staggering 5,000
Our Cincinnati libraries are severely underfunded, especially in rural areas. Our Governor (a democrat) just cut a bunch of funding for them to balance the budget. Well funded, cutting edge libraries (and lush public parks), are important aspects of the welfare state that often get neglected.
ReplyDeleteI think they're worth the investment.
More butter, less guns...
ReplyDelete