What does a "property tax freeze" get you, besides votes? Well, if you actually follow through and spare the average suburban home owner a tax hike that approximates the cost of a single night out in a restaurant, you can begin to kiss public amenities like libraries goodbye:
All across the United States, large and small cities are closing public libraries or curtailing their hours of operations. Detroit, I read a few days ago, may close all of its branches and Denver half of its own: decisions that will undoubtedly put hundreds of its employees out of work. When you count the families all over this country who don’t have computers or can’t afford Internet connections and rely on the ones in libraries to look for jobs, the consequences will be even more dire. People everywhere are unhappy about these closings, and so are mayors making the hard decisions. But with roads and streets left in disrepair, teachers, policemen and firemen being laid off, and politicians in both parties pledging never to raise taxes, no matter what happens to our quality of life, the outlook is bleak.“The greatest nation on earth,” as we still call ourselves, no longer has the political will to arrest its visible and precipitous decline and save the institutions on which the workings of our democracy depend.
Onward toward total isolation and homogeneity. On the plus side, you saved $120 this year!
Read the rest at: A Country Without Libraries by Charles Simic | NYRBlog | The New York Review of Books
I found this blog post I couldn't stop until , even though it wasn't just what I had been looking for, was a great read though. I will instantaneously get your feed to keep informed of any updates.
Posted by: anton martinez | May 19, 2011 at 02:18 AM
The current generation is the future of portable devices for reading material and beyond. They will be visiting "clouds" rather than finding the need for libraries. Libraries in schools are already being reduced by digital media. That's the demand.
The library for the purpose of relieving isolation may need to be combined with community centers. Take taxes (or lack there of) out of the picture and it won't change the fact that literature, research, and study are all evolving. Ben Franklin just might have been excited about an iPad, Kindle and iBooks, don't you think?
Posted by: Janet Evans | May 20, 2011 at 01:53 AM
More food for thought before I reply -
From a story called, "Now That We Have Starbuck, Do We Really Need Libraries Anymore?" (http://www.hartfordadvocate.com/news/opinion/ht-now-that-we-have-starbucks-do-we-really-need-libraries-any-more-20110519,0,2501632.story)
"In California, Governor Jerry Brown wants to eliminate the $30.4 million the state sprinkles on its 1,116 public libraries each year and leave their financing entirely up to local municipalities. In New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants to cut $40 million from the public library system's $260 million annual budget. In 2009 and 2010, 15 percent of the nation's 9,221 public libraries reduced their operating hours as a result of diminishing state and local revenues."
Posted by: John Michlig | May 20, 2011 at 08:31 AM
As you well know, under Gov. Walker’s budget plan, when the “sky falls,” elected officials in Wisconsin cities, school districts, etc., can raise taxes through a referendum.
Janet makes some valid points. Being an inventor himself, I would agree that Ben Franklin would have been excited about the iPad, Kindle and iBooks--Thomas Jefferson, even more so.
Posted by: Fred Keller | May 20, 2011 at 07:43 PM
"Ben Franklin just might have been excited about an iPad, Kindle and iBooks, don't you think?"
Both of you are going to have to tell me what that has to do with strangling libraries, the last non-retail Public Commons that exists.
Both of you have access to Google - - do I have to tell you what they said when MOVABLE TYPE was invented?
If you went to the library, you could look it up - - and perhaps get the able assistance of a librarian.
Apparently, everyone can afford internet access, a computer, an iPad, or a Kindle?
"The library, I believe, is the last of our public institutions to which you can go without credentials. You don't even need the sticker on your windshield that you need to get into the public beach. All you need is the willingness to read." Harry Golden
Posted by: John Michlig | May 20, 2011 at 11:14 PM
My longer (still incomplete) response:
http://fullyarticulated.typepad.com/sprawledout/2011/05/my-post-entitled-enjoy-your-tax-freeze-part-1-a-country-without-libraries-elicited-a-couple-of-comments-from-two-local-tax.html
Posted by: John Michlig | May 21, 2011 at 09:25 AM
"Apparently, everyone can afford internet access, a computer, an iPad, or a Kindle?"
I agree, they can't. I know for a fact there are families in the Franklin Public Schools who can't.
And therefore, they may not be able to afford, "the cost of a single night out in a restaurant" either.
Every time someone wants something it is equated to a few cups of coffee,a night out at a restaurant... how about a tank of gas? Who are we to judge what anyone can afford now?
More in a comment on your next post.
Posted by: Janet Evans | May 21, 2011 at 05:49 PM
We just visited two threatened libraries this week Troy Public Library and Detroit Public Libraries Main Branch. (Thankfully DPL is not closing branches: http://www.detnews.com/article/20110521/METRO01/105210351/1409/Library-board--All-branches-will-stay-open--no-layoffs--) and TPL is open for the time being:http://www.freep.com/article/20110516/NEWS03/110516075/In-Troy-library-gets-reprieve-residents-vote-tax-hike
Visiting these places reminded us ("us" being a mom, a dad and two little girls) what libraries are all about: so much more than just books.
We're writing articles on our experience at both this week (http://www.booksforwallsproject.org) --from help for homeless to learning about our past (DPL's Genealogy archives are unreal...)and for the 13-18 year old set there is nothing that compares to their Helping Young People Excel program... inspired!
Posted by: The Mom | May 21, 2011 at 10:24 PM
I had heard that Detroit was closing nearly every branch library - it's a relief to know that some remain open!
Posted by: John Michlig | May 22, 2011 at 06:14 AM
Here is article on Detroit Public Library! http://www.booksforwallsproject.org/2011/06/rediscovering-detroit-public-library.html Very happy place ;)
Coming Soon Troy Public Library! Happy Weekend!
Posted by: The Mom | June 11, 2011 at 06:58 AM