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Comment by mechagodzilla | Hacker News Reader

Libraries frequently have dedicated local history collections, or work with local historical societies, although not always. Generally the mission of public libraries is to provide an actively used collection of resources to serve their community, not to act as a book repository to preserve human knowledge (particularly knowledge that doesn’t circulate).

In our local system, there is one branch that is a designated book repository, and frequently keeps one copy a book that has been culled by all the other branches (and sometimes it is stored offsite, and takes a day or two to retrieve). People generally just have romantic notions about libraries (especially if they don’t really use them, but have strong opinions about what the collections should contain) that aren’t really compatible with serving the local community well.

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I came to that conclusion, and quit going entirely for 10 years. I didn't need a sort of cut-rate bookstore with well-thumbed books in it - I can buy my own thank you. And not get badgered about returning them on schedule, with fines exceeding the cost of the book.

I'm not actually sure if libraries as described, are doing anything at all for most of us. You see mostly kids and the homeless (or people looking like they are homeless) wandering in there.

I don't feel the need to purchase every book I read just so it can sit on a shelf in my house when I'm done. So I use the public library unless it's a new release that I want to read right away.

That is an issue - my house is full of books. Which somehow I don't really mind. So not an obstacle for me.

What IS an obstacle is having to read a book on a schedule. Having available to read only new-ish books on popular subjects. Getting fined many times the cost of the book if I break the rules. Guilt when I mislay a book (I left a library book on an airplane once; the library never replaced it).

You do know you can renew a checked out book or check it out again? Checkout time for my local library is a month, and you can renew for additional month(s). Fines are 10 cents a day, and you can renew overdue books.

Guilt for losing a book? If you feel that bad just buy them another copy and donate it.

If it doesn't fit your use case that's fine, but you're over exaggerating a bit.

One of the big problems with maintaining public resources like libraries, public parks, public transit, etc. is that some people with money actively avoid and attack them in order to avoid associating with lower socioeconomic classes who depend on them.

That's the part you fastened on to?

I reiterate: most of us are not served. So I choose to quit going. Good for the rest of them; I harbor them no ill will. Yet I believe there are other facilities to house the homeless (I'm sure of it; my church sponsors one) and educate the young. Why warp libraries to serve this role? How can that help them justify their existence? Doing something badly that other public institutions already do?

I think that you saying you are not served by libraries is about like saying you aren't served by publically-supported vaccination. We are ALL served by having human knowledge available to ALL of us.

Unfortunately, every library cannot necessarily afford to be the best university library. That's largely a public policy issue where funding is directed elsewhere and then librarians have to perform triage to keep operating.

I do think there are interesting questions about how the information age could or should change the face of libraries. But I certainly hope it isn't by closing up shop and saying we can just use Amazon or pound sand. Something like the Google book scanning project seemed like a perfect idea for me, particularly if it went after the rare/university library scenario to have a back catalog that would not quit.

But now, in response to a thread about under-served poor people creating their own public lending library, you're:

1) arguing that public libraries are unneeded because you have enough money to buy your own books (and asserting that 'most of us' can similarly afford our own books, and therefore are not served by public lending libraries)

2) complaining that library collections are 'well-thumbed', while complaining that your favorite book got culled.

Sure; because I observe that most of us are not in the library. Not an argument; an observation - most people don't use it. So they either don't need it, or don't want it, or ?

And thinking changes - I used to appreciate libraries until they screwed me over, left my interests and needs behind, and became a daycare center. I don't want to read romance novels nor juvenile fiction, regardless of how well-thumbed they are.

Okay, but you're just one data point. Don't make a bigger deal of it than it is.

Since the books are well-used, that pretty obviously shows that the library is popular and doing a good job at serving some customers.

"Push-pin versus poetry"

The concept of the utility of media is important.

If Family Guy was 24/7 every channel, approval ratings and viewership may still stay high.

Is that a proper way to measure utility, or value?

For any readers who are interested in actual statistics on library usage:

http://www.pewinternet.org/2016/09/09/library-usage-and-enga...

Good data points: half of America don't visit their public library even once a year. The rest, maybe once a year.

If we curated public buildings like libraries curate books, we'd all sell our libraries for $1.

Have you tried making requests at your local library? They've always been very accommodating.

Sounds like you have a crappy library in your town. My town's library is linked with all of the other libraries in my county. Books can be requested and shipped to my home library within a couple of days. This has lead to librarians working together and "specializing" in certain materials. All of the libraries have a good selection of popular material.

My library tends to have a larger non-fiction section than most. Another town houses a huge collection of movies. Yet another hosts a tremendous audiobook collection. A simple online request will deliver any of these materials nearby or I can wander in and browse if I'm looking for something more mainstream.

Perhaps you should consider getting more involved if your library isn't meeting your needs.

I put a hold on books I want on my library's website, then go pick them up when they're available. I spend less than 5 minutes inside it during a visit. I can buy books, but I just don't have the space to have a copy of any book I was or am curious about.

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