Libraries change lives. They should be protected at all costs

[T_i_B]

Excellent article. And I do worry about the current trend for volunteer run libraries offering less services to the public.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/aug/05/why-libraries-are-about-so-much-more-than-books?CMP=share_btn_tw

Two things really annoyed me recently: 1) Banksy paid for Bristol libraries facing closure to be kept open and 2) some economics professor wrote a piece for Forbes magazine about how Amazon should replace libraries with physical stores.

To clarify: I’m not annoyed at Banksy. It’s incredibly generous of the artist to continue to support local projects, initiatives and institutions in his home city despite being one of the most famous artists in the world. I really don’t think it’s Banksy’s responsibility, though. Banksy should not be putting his hand in his pocket to save libraries. No way.

Because of government cuts to local funding, councils are under immense pressure to save on spending. And there are core services that they need to provide. However, I believe that a library is a core service and should be protected at all costs. Libraries change lives. They are more than just big rooms with stacks of dusty books and a librarian shushing people. Libraries provide so much to communities, from information and support, to free access to the internet, to entire worlds and universes contained in said dusty books. They are communal spaces and offer a basic level of support, community and knowledge that we should all have access to. And I would find it grotesque if libraries were replaced with a physical Amazon store. (Aside: maybe if Amazon paid fair taxes, libraries would be better funded and not at threat of closure.)

Whether you use your library or not, the very fact it is there sends a message out to our communities. It says, this belongs to you. It is yours. Come in. Use it. Read. Apply for jobs. Have a cup of tea in one of the many support groups. Steal a nap at the back. This is your space.