We're losing libraries at a terrible rate in the UK. And it makes me sad. Once a library is gone the chances of it ever coming back are slim to zero. Libraries are havens of calm, a place to relax...
We're losing libraries at a terrible rate in the UK. And it makes me sad. Once a library is gone the chances of it ever coming back are slim to zero.
Libraries are havens of calm, a place to relax and escape some of life's harshness, somewhere to meet people and build community groups, a place to learn new things like language, or local history, a route to easier integration into a new country, internet access for the disadvantaged, a place free of pressure or judgement. A place for parents to start making education fun for their young children. In fact the benefits of a good library are too many too list.
Oh, and they have books. Lots and lots books. And if they don't have the one you want they'll get it for you. Without libraries I'd probably have read less than a quarter of what I have. Books are expensive.
Yeah, modern public libraries used to be (and still are) the great socioeconomic equalizer in the Western world, providing those without the financial means access to entertainment, educational...
Yeah, modern public libraries used to be (and still are) the great socioeconomic equalizer in the Western world, providing those without the financial means access to entertainment, educational materials and general information. We have the Internet now which can serve a similar function and is also relatively easily accessible even to those of limited means, but it's far from a perfect replacement, especially since it's also full of insane amounts of horrible bullshit that libraries aren't. So it's really a shame to hear about public libraries slowly disappearing everywhere and makes me all the more thankful that in Canada they are still decently financially supported (even being expanded and upgraded rather consistently in most populous regions) and the national public library system here in a reasonably healthy state as a whole.
I am also very much not a "physical books > digital copies / e-reader" kind of person since I adore my Kindle and haven't bought a physical book in a very long time now thanks to it, however even I find something sad and a bit worrying about us slowly losing so many physical locations and mediums in favor of the purely digital.
I'm thinking of Roald Dahl's story Matilda, and how the knowledge-hungry child in the abusive family finds solace in the village's public library, where a kind librarian is caring and willing to...
I'm thinking of Roald Dahl's story Matilda, and how the knowledge-hungry child in the abusive family finds solace in the village's public library, where a kind librarian is caring and willing to help.
It makes me sad indeed to think of their disappearance due to funding cuts.
This is one of the most important reasons I love my local library. There are barely any other public places that are as free from advertising and marketers as libraries (parks are too but they...
Most of all, libraries are a valuable community space. Along with parks and playgrounds, they are part of our social infrastructure. Shops and cafes and pubs are fine but it’s important to have spaces where you’re free to be a citizen not a consumer.
This is one of the most important reasons I love my local library. There are barely any other public places that are as free from advertising and marketers as libraries (parks are too but they aren't as accessible in extreme weather conditions where I live). I am glad the libraries around me are well-funded.
I am confident people will realize what they are missing out on with libraries, and if we are fortunate they will realize it sooner rather than later.
I'm going to play a little bit of devil's advocate here. Libraries, in a traditional sense, have a much less important social function than they used to. And by that, I am referring to them in the...
I'm going to play a little bit of devil's advocate here. Libraries, in a traditional sense, have a much less important social function than they used to. And by that, I am referring to them in the form of a book repository; the internet provides a ubiquitous source of knowledge in the public domain, and it is (arguably) better arranged and made accessable to the public.
The social value of a library traditionally was that it made very expensive usually non-fiction books available to anyone, helping the public to enrich themselves. Now books are as cheap as they have ever been, and mostly contain information that could easily be researched on the internet.
Modern libraries do still fulfill an important social function, and that is that they allow you to read fiction. They provide you a curated selection of culture. And with access to music, movies, and the internet, they do that function extremely well, I would say.
But if we want to have libraries be useful like they used to be in the past, libraries need to expand their services in new ways. And, to be fair, some of them are. In order to return to a place to learn, libraries need to become places to learn practical skills. They need to have workshops where you can borrow expensive tools and a space in which to use them. In other words, libraries need to become hackerspaces.
My library has evolved to include a hacker space with multiple types of VR setups and workshops on how to program them, laser cutters and CNC machines, 3D printers, electronics labs with the...
My library has evolved to include a hacker space with multiple types of VR setups and workshops on how to program them, laser cutters and CNC machines, 3D printers, electronics labs with the ability to make your own PCB coming soon, gaming stations, and so much more. It is one of the most popular places to go in my area.
Just for the record, I already know that there are libraries like this. What I am saying is that more libraries should. I'm not sure if VR has many educational uses at this point in time, though.
Just for the record, I already know that there are libraries like this. What I am saying is that more libraries should.
I'm not sure if VR has many educational uses at this point in time, though.
I used to love my local library. Then due to budget cuts, energy costs, or possibly undiagnosed cataracts, the lighting has been noticably dimmed. This is anathema to those of us coping with aging...
I used to love my local library. Then due to budget cuts, energy costs, or possibly undiagnosed cataracts, the lighting has been noticably dimmed. This is anathema to those of us coping with aging eyes. I still visit their e-shelves regularly, but I miss that clean, well-lighted place.
We're losing libraries at a terrible rate in the UK. And it makes me sad. Once a library is gone the chances of it ever coming back are slim to zero.
Libraries are havens of calm, a place to relax and escape some of life's harshness, somewhere to meet people and build community groups, a place to learn new things like language, or local history, a route to easier integration into a new country, internet access for the disadvantaged, a place free of pressure or judgement. A place for parents to start making education fun for their young children. In fact the benefits of a good library are too many too list.
Oh, and they have books. Lots and lots books. And if they don't have the one you want they'll get it for you. Without libraries I'd probably have read less than a quarter of what I have. Books are expensive.
Yeah, modern public libraries used to be (and still are) the great socioeconomic equalizer in the Western world, providing those without the financial means access to entertainment, educational materials and general information. We have the Internet now which can serve a similar function and is also relatively easily accessible even to those of limited means, but it's far from a perfect replacement, especially since it's also full of insane amounts of horrible bullshit that libraries aren't. So it's really a shame to hear about public libraries slowly disappearing everywhere and makes me all the more thankful that in Canada they are still decently financially supported (even being expanded and upgraded rather consistently in most populous regions) and the national public library system here in a reasonably healthy state as a whole.
I am also very much not a "physical books > digital copies / e-reader" kind of person since I adore my Kindle and haven't bought a physical book in a very long time now thanks to it, however even I find something sad and a bit worrying about us slowly losing so many physical locations and mediums in favor of the purely digital.
I'm thinking of Roald Dahl's story Matilda, and how the knowledge-hungry child in the abusive family finds solace in the village's public library, where a kind librarian is caring and willing to help.
It makes me sad indeed to think of their disappearance due to funding cuts.
This is one of the most important reasons I love my local library. There are barely any other public places that are as free from advertising and marketers as libraries (parks are too but they aren't as accessible in extreme weather conditions where I live). I am glad the libraries around me are well-funded.
I am confident people will realize what they are missing out on with libraries, and if we are fortunate they will realize it sooner rather than later.
I'm going to play a little bit of devil's advocate here. Libraries, in a traditional sense, have a much less important social function than they used to. And by that, I am referring to them in the form of a book repository; the internet provides a ubiquitous source of knowledge in the public domain, and it is (arguably) better arranged and made accessable to the public.
The social value of a library traditionally was that it made very expensive usually non-fiction books available to anyone, helping the public to enrich themselves. Now books are as cheap as they have ever been, and mostly contain information that could easily be researched on the internet.
Modern libraries do still fulfill an important social function, and that is that they allow you to read fiction. They provide you a curated selection of culture. And with access to music, movies, and the internet, they do that function extremely well, I would say.
But if we want to have libraries be useful like they used to be in the past, libraries need to expand their services in new ways. And, to be fair, some of them are. In order to return to a place to learn, libraries need to become places to learn practical skills. They need to have workshops where you can borrow expensive tools and a space in which to use them. In other words, libraries need to become hackerspaces.
My library has evolved to include a hacker space with multiple types of VR setups and workshops on how to program them, laser cutters and CNC machines, 3D printers, electronics labs with the ability to make your own PCB coming soon, gaming stations, and so much more. It is one of the most popular places to go in my area.
Just for the record, I already know that there are libraries like this. What I am saying is that more libraries should.
I'm not sure if VR has many educational uses at this point in time, though.
Neither do a lot of books but we still have them at the library. Nothing wrong with a bit of fun at libraries.
I used to love my local library. Then due to budget cuts, energy costs, or possibly undiagnosed cataracts, the lighting has been noticably dimmed. This is anathema to those of us coping with aging eyes. I still visit their e-shelves regularly, but I miss that clean, well-lighted place.