Popularity proves libraries are loved

Escondio Library
It should be noted that not everyone has a computer in their home, and of those that do not everyone has a laptop computer that they can take everywhere and utilize a city wide wireless network. Is the network going to be free? If it is free is someone going to provide the citizens with computers so they can take advantage of it? Anyone can use the library, if tax dollars are going to be spent on a wireless network, then everyone should be able to use it. Escondido also has broadband internet providers that may not be happy about city tax dollars being used to compete with their services. The library serves a universal population, and many of the services a library offers are unique, i.e., childrens story hours, cultural programs, and yes, books, media, and a place to read a newspaper.

IMHO libraries provide a valuable community service for a very small amount of tax dollars. Escondido is fortunate to have their library facility and its staff. If the citizens want to build a new facility more power to them.

 

well, not in AZ…
Only citizens (according to propistion) may use the library here, (which in my humble opinion is a problem).

some thoughts
While it’s easy to bash Mr. Trageser, that doesn’t mean he’s *all* wet.

I definitely have issues with his blithe assumption that the internet can easily replace books. Point of fact, very few books are actually *on* the internet, and so far, we’ve been steadily preventing new ones from getting onto the net. Thank you copyright buzzards.

And you can go to the library and get some (if not most) of the most current books available. Try-before-you-by is one of the best things, besides an extensive reference section, that libraries offer.

http://paulgraham.com/hs.html

Mentions the problem of finding good books (good essay as well), and that’s been a central theme in my time on this ball of rock.

The smallest bookstore still contains more
ideas of worth than have been presented
in the entire history of television.
— Andrew Ross

All of the books in the world contain no more
information than is broadcast as video in a
single large American city in a single year.
Not all bits have equal value.
— Carl Sagan

And the bits in the library are good bits 🙂

But, point does stand: it is government employees picking information. Right now, we’ve innoculated them with good values, and pride, etc. However, that is easy to change. Change the selection criteria, and you can have quite different instituions, especially given the average age of library workers, and their average length of stay. What we should be working on is a way to ensure that all parts of the community are reflected in book purchasing and in weeding. I don’t know how to make that happen, as it sounds expensive, and politically radioactive….

— Ender, Duke_of_URL

illegal aliens
Well, they’re trying to hit illegal aliens.

Of course they’re also going to be hitting anyone who doesn’t happen to have a 1996 or later ID card on them, which has implications for ambulances/paramedics, etc, etc. As they are suppossed to ask for ID before providing services.

This was a prop written by legislators who were too cowardly to back it in public, and put on the ballot as an ‘initiative’. If I have time available, this elecetion cycle or next I’m hoping to write an initiative which will identify these on the ballot, so people will know who’s actually written and sponsored the initiatives so it will be apparent that it’s people choosing to push their agendas as ‘the people’s will’.

I also believe that this hasn’t come into effect because of legal challenges….

— Ender, Duke_of_URL

15th (unless a weekend) and 30th/31st (depending)
Twice a month pay sucks. I would say biweekly, but that’s a term that’s open to various interpretations… 😀

— Ender, Duke_of_URL