Diary Tuesday
You Get What You Pay For

I was talking to a friend about the current state of libraries and she commented that people get what they pay for. I think this is actually the problem with libraries. People get what they pay for--and they never know what it would be like if they did pay for it! It's not that libraries aren't useful, even essential services, it's that underfunded libraries often aren't.

A lot of people say the library never has anything they want, or they don't read for pleasure and they can get more information from the internet. Sadly, this is true in a lot of cases, but if you neglected any public service to the level most libraries are neglected, this would be true.

For example, if our public school system consisted of a raving homeless man on the street (not to say in some places it doesn't, but that's for another post...), then you could bet people would ask themselves why we need a public school system at all when kids would learn more plopped in front of an internet access computer (they'd also see a lot of porn, but that counts as anatomy, right?)

I have seen libraries that are palaces of learning and community. The Columbus Metropolitan Library has millions of books, so many free movies that you would never need Netflix, and a downtown building of awe-inspiring white marble, with a Rosetta stone of braille and huge metal globe hanging from the soaring ceiling. Not to mention the topiary garden in the back. Is this because Columbus has more money than other places? Hardly. But they have a community who knows what they're paying for and frequents this wonderful library often. Unfortunately, this is not the norm for libraries.

Many libraries do make valiant and even successful efforts to stay relevant even when funds are low. But the homeless man can only do so much to gussy himself up. So next time you wonder why your library doesn't have this or that resource, remember, you get what you pay for.