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They are the largest remaining example of indoor public spaces.
Libraries are great and many have more features and services than just books. I mainly just use the ebooks borrowing even though that has gotten on the enshittification bus along with so many formerly great things. Thankfully the library in my neighborhood is spacious enough to avoid being near other people most of the time if I actually go in. Also decent priced restaurants in the same complex.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
On TikTok, Earls posts selfie videos showing him studying, journaling or reading in front of the Bryant Park library’s breathtaking beaux-arts backdrop.
(Colleen Hoover, #booktok’s favorite author, shot to the top of bestseller lists due to viral endorsements; other recommended books often fall into the “romantasy” young adult category.)
Last year, Mayor Eric Adams of New York City slashed funding to public libraries, cutting Sunday service in the five boroughs – and drawing the ire of Cardi B, who went on an Instagram Live tirade over the news.
A series of library-related bills are making their way through Idaho’s legislature that would restrict material it deems inappropriate for minors and allow family members to file $2,500 lawsuits against libraries that violate the law.
This week, Chaya Raichik, the rightwing influencer behind Libs of Tiktok, was appointed to a library advisory position for Oklahoma’s schools, which means she could help determine what books are “appropriate” for students.
Arlo Platt Zolov is a 15-year-old who lives in Brooklyn and has what must be one of the all-time-best after-school jobs: running the information desk at the central branch of the public library, steps away from Prospect Park.
The original article contains 1,415 words, the summary contains 194 words. Saved 86%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
My library carries everything, you can even borrow tools and devices. My library also carries video games so I haven’t paid for a game in ages. Every new game that comes out is available to borrow within a week
I’d love to know how regularly the physical books at the library are checked out. Outside of children’s sections, most folks I see there when I go are just looking for a place to chill/work/ use a computer. If the data matches that observation, I wonder if we could better serve our communities by focusing less on physical books and more on providing a community center.
My local library has a lot of wasted space… and I’d love to see more community activities.
That’s not to say we couldn’t have physical books, just maybe it’s a request/pickup situation. Probably fewer MLSs needed that way as well.
I’ve checked out 38 books last year, and I’m not the only person who checks out books :) I also got a bunch of them from browsing shelves, not from looking for them specifically. Let’s fight for more community spaces − if we have enough, libraries will be able to be actual libraries!
I’d support additional community spaces for sure! Just seems like that’s impossible for whatever reason, but overall I agree!
In my proposal, I wouldn’t eliminate books just their space on the floor. How would you feel about being able to place a hold on a book and picking it up from the library/community space? Would it matter to you that you wouldn’t be able to peruse the stacks? (Except virtually)
As I said, I get a certain number of books (about one third) from perusing stacks. I am generally against « over optimization » in community spaces − I enjoy serendipitous discovery, finding out things exist while I’m there and stumble upon them, and would not spend that time on a computer. I do place holds on all the other books I get :)
Fair enough! Thanks for the take
