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Like so many nice things, it's a wonder that they even exist at all in the US. Nothing like a library could be built today. The country has become so corrupt

Like so many nice things, it's a wonder that they even exist at all in the US. Nothing like a library could be built today. The country has become so corrupt and the only solutions that anyone seems to believe could ever work are free market services that commoditize every part of life. The enshittification of the entire country will probably be complete in the next 20 years, as even the most basic infrastructure like roads crumbles, never mind nice things like libraries or trains or clean drinking water.

armitron 3y ago
“The door refused to open. It said, “Five cents, please.” He searched his pockets. No more coins; nothing. “I’ll pay you tomorrow,” he told the door. Again he tried the knob. Again it remained locked tight. “What I pay you,” he informed it, “is in the nature of a gratuity; I don’t have to pay you.” “I think otherwise,” the door said. “Look in the purchase contract you signed when you bought this conapt.” In his desk drawer he found the contract; since signing it he had found it necessary to refer to the document many times. Sure enough; payment to his door for opening and shutting constituted a mandatory fee. Not a tip. “You discover I’m right,” the door said. It sounded smug. From the drawer beside the sink Joe Chip got a stainless steel knife; with it he began systematically to unscrew the bolt assembly of his apt’s money-gulping door. “I’ll sue you,” the door said as the first screw fell out. Joe Chip said, “I’ve never been sued by a door. But I guess I can live through it.” ― Philip K. Dick, Ubik
- nwoli 3y ago
  Smart door handle entrepreneurs mouths start to water at the thought of a subscription fee like this
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
    New library slogan: "Share And Enjoy"
    - Karellen 3y ago
      Go stick your head in a pig (h/t Douglas Adams)
- jackcviers3 3y ago
  With smart lock services requiring hosting and registration and ip-block and cloud IOT expenses, I'm surprised that this isn't happening already to be honest. Also that per token issue fees aren't being assessed by open id or sso providers. They could especially game the system by decreasing the ttl of tokens to smaller durations, and by instituting load-based pricing .
keiferski 3y ago
Well, widespread public libraries mostly exist in the US because of private entities like the Carnegie Library, so I don’t think it’s really that simple. Prior to Carnegie, most libraries were subscription based.
- flir 3y ago
  He donated to build a few in Europe, too (my local when I was growing up). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Carnegie_libraries_in_Europe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Carnegie_libraries_in_... Although they were probably a drop in the ocean, in the UK at least.
  - Anthony-G 3y ago
    There are a lot of Carnegie-funded libraries in the Dublin area. All of the libraries that I’m familiar with are beautiful buildings and stand out architecturally within their locality. A local historian recently gave a talk about how the Carnegie Foundation funded the building of public libraries in the early 20th century: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku-jU4I0hZ8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku-jU4I0hZ8
memefrog 3y ago
Many libraries in the US come from the hypercapitalist era of robber barons. They predate the word "capitalism". They predate the idea that there could even exist something other than capitalism. People generally prefer free market solutions to problems because commons solutions like public libraries only work when there is sufficient social cohesion. Libraries work if people respect them. They do not work if people treat them like homeless shelters. Public libraries will disappear if their management continues to be dominated by far-left ideologues who prioritise being "inclusive" over having a safe, enjoyable and quiet environment.
- NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
  Libraries are a valuable resource to the homeless and those who have nowhere else to go. If such people are respectful and treat the library as a library, then nobody will begrudge them an hour's nap or their refuge from midday heat while they read books or use a computer. Homeless people can even sign up for library cards and use them, almost as if they were real patrons. Of course it becomes known that a library doesn't mind the patronage of the homeless and disenfranchised, then people begin to abuse the hospitality. People try to shower and shave and brush their teeth in the restrooms. People drag in half a shopping cart's worth of bags and personal belongings, and camp out with a pillow and blanket. People deface or steal books, DVDs, and other materials. People have mental health crises in front of the other staff and patrons. Of course these disruptions are not the sole purview of the homeless. But they cause security to be tightened, and big signs that prohibit lots of stuff are posted, and the collection dwindles to whatever nobody wanted to steal. Man, I've really felt the pinch there. COVID-19 did libraries a favor in this regard, because they had a plausible excuse to flush anyone and everyone out of the building and off the premises, and do a great reset of the whole situation.
- n6h6 3y ago
  Capitalism is a relatively recent invention, so no. It's disappointing that there are people who think that "far-left ideologues" have anything to do with the decline of public libraries.
  - 3y ago
Vinnl 3y ago
It'd be interesting to run a survey in the US, asking people who are in favour of public libraries in general: "If public libraries had never existed, would you support their creation today?" Like, not just "Do you support continued funding of public libraries", or even "Do you think public libraries could be introduced today", but an actual reality check of how much their actions align with their actual preferences. I wouldn't be surprised if people would actually admit to hypothetically opposing something they are in favour of in practice.
justin66 3y ago
> Nothing like a library could be built today. The country has become so corrupt and the only solutions that anyone seems to believe could ever work are free market services that commoditize every part of life. People do vote for levies to pay for libraries, and libraries are still built. The places with the best libraries willingly pay a lot for them.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
carlosjobim 3y ago
> Nothing like a library could be built today. The best and largest libraries in the history of the world are being built and expanded right now on the internet, with free and unlimited access for everybody.

armitron 3y ago

“The door refused to open. It said, “Five cents, please.” He searched his pockets. No more coins; nothing. “I’ll pay you tomorrow,” he told the door. Again he tried the knob. Again it remained locked tight. “What I pay you,” he informed it, “is in the nature of a gratuity; I don’t have to pay you.” “I think otherwise,” the door said. “Look in the purchase contract you signed when you bought this conapt.” In his desk drawer he found the contract; since signing it he had found it necessary to refer to the document many times. Sure enough; payment to his door for opening and shutting constituted a mandatory fee. Not a tip. “You discover I’m right,” the door said. It sounded smug. From the drawer beside the sink Joe Chip got a stainless steel knife; with it he began systematically to unscrew the bolt assembly of his apt’s money-gulping door. “I’ll sue you,” the door said as the first screw fell out. Joe Chip said, “I’ve never been sued by a door. But I guess I can live through it.” ― Philip K. Dick, Ubik

nwoli 3y ago
Smart door handle entrepreneurs mouths start to water at the thought of a subscription fee like this
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
  New library slogan: "Share And Enjoy"
  - Karellen 3y ago
    Go stick your head in a pig (h/t Douglas Adams)
jackcviers3 3y ago
With smart lock services requiring hosting and registration and ip-block and cloud IOT expenses, I'm surprised that this isn't happening already to be honest. Also that per token issue fees aren't being assessed by open id or sso providers. They could especially game the system by decreasing the ttl of tokens to smaller durations, and by instituting load-based pricing .

keiferski 3y ago

Well, widespread public libraries mostly exist in the US because of private entities like the Carnegie Library, so I don’t think it’s really that simple. Prior to Carnegie, most libraries were subscription based.

flir 3y ago
He donated to build a few in Europe, too (my local when I was growing up). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Carnegie_libraries_in_Europe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Carnegie_libraries_in_... Although they were probably a drop in the ocean, in the UK at least.
- Anthony-G 3y ago
  There are a lot of Carnegie-funded libraries in the Dublin area. All of the libraries that I’m familiar with are beautiful buildings and stand out architecturally within their locality. A local historian recently gave a talk about how the Carnegie Foundation funded the building of public libraries in the early 20th century: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku-jU4I0hZ8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku-jU4I0hZ8

memefrog 3y ago

Many libraries in the US come from the hypercapitalist era of robber barons. They predate the word "capitalism". They predate the idea that there could even exist something other than capitalism. People generally prefer free market solutions to problems because commons solutions like public libraries only work when there is sufficient social cohesion. Libraries work if people respect them. They do not work if people treat them like homeless shelters. Public libraries will disappear if their management continues to be dominated by far-left ideologues who prioritise being "inclusive" over having a safe, enjoyable and quiet environment.

NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
Libraries are a valuable resource to the homeless and those who have nowhere else to go. If such people are respectful and treat the library as a library, then nobody will begrudge them an hour's nap or their refuge from midday heat while they read books or use a computer. Homeless people can even sign up for library cards and use them, almost as if they were real patrons. Of course it becomes known that a library doesn't mind the patronage of the homeless and disenfranchised, then people begin to abuse the hospitality. People try to shower and shave and brush their teeth in the restrooms. People drag in half a shopping cart's worth of bags and personal belongings, and camp out with a pillow and blanket. People deface or steal books, DVDs, and other materials. People have mental health crises in front of the other staff and patrons. Of course these disruptions are not the sole purview of the homeless. But they cause security to be tightened, and big signs that prohibit lots of stuff are posted, and the collection dwindles to whatever nobody wanted to steal. Man, I've really felt the pinch there. COVID-19 did libraries a favor in this regard, because they had a plausible excuse to flush anyone and everyone out of the building and off the premises, and do a great reset of the whole situation.
n6h6 3y ago
Capitalism is a relatively recent invention, so no. It's disappointing that there are people who think that "far-left ideologues" have anything to do with the decline of public libraries.
- 3y ago

Vinnl 3y ago

It'd be interesting to run a survey in the US, asking people who are in favour of public libraries in general: "If public libraries had never existed, would you support their creation today?" Like, not just "Do you support continued funding of public libraries", or even "Do you think public libraries could be introduced today", but an actual reality check of how much their actions align with their actual preferences. I wouldn't be surprised if people would actually admit to hypothetically opposing something they are in favour of in practice.

justin66 3y ago

> Nothing like a library could be built today. The country has become so corrupt and the only solutions that anyone seems to believe could ever work are free market services that commoditize every part of life. People do vote for levies to pay for libraries, and libraries are still built. The places with the best libraries willingly pay a lot for them.

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

carlosjobim 3y ago

> Nothing like a library could be built today. The best and largest libraries in the history of the world are being built and expanded right now on the internet, with free and unlimited access for everybody.