Comments on: Keeping Libraries Open http://www.dystel.com/blog/2016/02/keeping-libraries-open/ Mon, 26 Jun 2017 15:15:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.15 By: D. C. DaCosta http://www.dystel.com/blog/2016/02/keeping-libraries-open/comment-page-1/#comment-44558 Sat, 05 Mar 2016 03:40:37 +0000 http://www.dystel.com/?p=12431#comment-44558 I’m not sure…but it seems to me that libraries today don’t offer the types of services the community needs. Like books, research materials, and professional knowledge.

In the towns I’ve lived in, the library has become:
– a computer lab, mostly filled by homeless people who are killing time;
– a place for conversation;
– an art gallery;
– video/DVD rental shop
– an after-school “hangout” for teens…to talk and play games.
Oh, and this all includes a coffee shop.

I can agree with the library being the town’s CENTER for civic events (special films, guest speakers, political fora). But when you walk in and have to ask, “Where are the BOOKS?” there’s something wrong.

]]> By: Kevin A. Lewis http://www.dystel.com/blog/2016/02/keeping-libraries-open/comment-page-1/#comment-44522 Sat, 27 Feb 2016 20:14:31 +0000 http://www.dystel.com/?p=12431#comment-44522 The termite in the walls here is a little critter called “tax activist”; a species that was rampart out here on the West Coast till we threw most of their sponsers out of the state legislature. Of course, libraries are a vital part of the general infrastructure (Check out a classic Hitchcock film from ’42 called Shadow Of A Doubt where the heroine has to do a last-minute info check at the library…Which stays open till…9 PM!!!) along with police, fire fighters, schools-all of which begin to crumble when TA’s get a foothold. The irony is, that however militant tax activists happen to be, they’ll never stick around to enjoy the fruits of their labor-when the crack pipes and bullet holes start to appear, they’ll move to somewhere else that has good schools and a library. In case you haven’t noticed, this is an excellent premise for a sociosatirical novel-so get to work, already!

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