3 ms·
Not to be a totally wet blanket, but I often hear a lot of "it didn't used to be like this" or "the purpose of libraries" thrown out in discussions like this.
by secstate 3y ago
Not to be a totally wet blanket, but I often hear a lot of "it didn't used to be like this" or "the purpose of libraries" thrown out in discussions like this.
Carnegie's vast wealth single-handedly forced the idea of libraries that weren't just for rich university students, privileged religious orders or the mind-bendingly affluent. He loved books and wanted to share them, which is very noble. But he also had no room for slackers. To quote wikipedia, quoting, Carnegie:
> Carnegie believed in giving to the "industrious and ambitious; not those who need everything done for them, but those who, being most anxious and able to help themselves, deserve and will be benefited by help from others."
This vision of the public library as public welfare's physical manifestation is a modern invention that is not anchored in history. That doesn't mean it shouldn't be. My partner was a librarian for a long time and loved helping those in need. But let's make sure we're accurately remembering the past, not designing a convenient past to justify the budgets to do the work we see we need done in the present.
- chkaloon 3y agoNot sure libraries wanted that role foisted on them. Sounds like they became the default because they were open access, and society gave up on things like mental institutions (yes, there were abuses, but imo we went too far and threw the baby out with the bath water) and aren't dealing with the issues effectively. Libraries are dealing with them because they are all there is.
- lapcat 3y ago> This vision of the public library as public welfare's physical manifestation is a modern invention that is not anchored in history. It didn't need to be. It wasn't like they were turning away the homeless with library door security guards back then. It simply wasn't a problem. From the article: "In every public place, the evidence of a social welfare system that has been chipped away at for decades is on display." The library has become a last resort, by default. The solution is "doing things that are much more difficult: building more social housing, hiring more social workers, investing in mental health workers, schools, community centres, and everything else needed to address problems before they reach the library’s doors"
- WalterBright 3y agoWhen I came to Seattle in 1979, the only homeless I ever saw was maybe a wino in Pioneer Square. That's it. The poop on the street started maybe 15 years ago, along with the tent cities and the "ranching" of RVs.
- robotresearcher 3y ago> Carnegie's vast wealth single-handedly forced the idea of libraries that weren't just for rich university students, privileged religious orders or the mind-bendingly affluent. The UK Public Libraries Act is from 1850. Boston Public Library was 1854. The first Carnegie library was opened in 1883, a whole generation later.
- Turing_Machine 3y agoA library in Boston, Massachusetts is not remotely the same as a library in Talladega, Alabama.