No, not a library hater, actually just coming to realize as I write that libraries are obsolete, underutilized, expensive to maintain.
Those stats for instance, from Alaska. Bigger libraries have nearly a million visits per year! (smaller ones, hundreds, but it's Alaska after all).
But consider: even a mildly avid Library Guy might visit once a week. Add a couple of thousand of that type, and we've covered 25% of the visits with 6000 people. 25% are using the internet. The other half? Declining.
Sorry, that just slipped out. Didn't mean to ruin your day with more facts.
{Edit} Btw did you object to the actual points I raised? Was I wrong? Is your library experience different? I'd welcome a response to any of them.
>Sorry, that just slipped out. Didn't mean to ruin your day with more facts.
Those aren't facts. Those are numbers you just made up.
Or do you deny anybody uses the library once a week? How are they returning their books to avoid late fees? Or do they borrow just once or twice a year, return them a week later, and never return?
The defence of libraries HAS to presuppose Somebody is borrowing the dang books, right?