Given the current USA climate, would publicly funded libraries even exist? Have modern libraries exceeded their mandate?

Question

First off, ITS lib-R-ary with an "R" NOT "LIBERRY"!

STATEMENT: Project 2025 and Libraries

EveryLibrary opposes the Project 2025 framework by the Heritage Foundation because it would dismantle important parts of how public libraries build communities, how schools support students and families, and how higher education supports the next generation of scholars.

It is essential to recognize libraries' role as neutral and inclusive spaces dedicated to providing readers with access to a wide range of information and books.

The Heritage Foundation has been calling for the closure of the Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS), the only source of federal funding for public libraries & state libraries. In Blueprints dating back to the mid-2010s, they say that Congress should have no role in ensuring that libraries are strong and available to everyone. We disagree, and so have Congresses with both Republican and Democratic majorities, which have repeatedly rejected their proposals.

Project 2025 would dismantle much of what makes K-12 public education the great leveler of American society. From proposals to eliminate the Department of Education and phase out Title I support for the poorest of schools to scaling back Civil Rights enforcement in the name of parents' rights. They advocate for increased censorship and threaten criminal penalties on educators. This will discourage school librarians from providing diverse materials, limiting students' access to comprehensive educational resources.

Across Higher Ed, Project 2025 proposes significant changes that align with a broader agenda aimed at reducing federal oversight and funding with substantial negative implications for academic institutions, students, and the quality of education. The broader cultural and educational policies proposed could undermine academic freedom, restricting access to research and materials that are essential for higher education and critical inquiry.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Some people these days are advocating for libraries to be saved for various reasons, often though do not use them themselves. Here's why I think libraries should be allowed to die.

Given the current USA climate, would publicly funded libraries even exist? Have modern libraries exceeded their mandate?

1. They are Obsolete

In 2019 the entire content of every single library in the world not just my basic local library is available to me on a tiny hand held device such as an i-pad and that's up to date information not encylopedias from the 1920s. A portable reader like a Kindle or iPad, the convenience of accessing books on a beach, up a mountain, or anywhere else for that matter, can be irresistible. The sheer speed of research and interactivity of the internet make it an altogether richer experience than traditional libraries.

2. Environmental & financial reasons.

Libraries are large buildings that are mostly vacant except for the books inside, but these buildings need to be heated and maintained. Many are very old buildings which makes maintaining and heating them extremely costly, and to make them more environmentally sound would be expensive and not very effective. There's also the staff that have to be paid which costs the taxpayers money as libraries do not generate any money. Then there is the effect on the environment with all the trees from the Amazon being cut down just for the paper alone. All this completely unnecessary considering a person can access all the information they want on their tablet warm in their own home with minum co2 and monetary expenditure.

3. Libraries are misused.

Libraries are now places where all manner of people congregate such a drug users, alcoholics homeless people, peadophilles and other sex offenders and though I sympathise with homeless people though many are violent and unsanitary the money used funding large empty buildings would be better spent on homeless shelters. Honestly I can't imagine taking kids to a public library these days. Old people like to congregate there to read & sit or whatever but they can do that in coffee shops, community centres or old people homes. Some would argue that libraries now are mostly to do with internet & computer access for those that have no access which is fine, so a building with no books a free internet openzone for wifi access, a few tablets and about 20 computers in a room or small building that doesn't cover half an acre with books would suffice that need. My local library is a notorious place for teens to snog though it's recently become synonymous for dogging, combined with the alcoholics, drug abusers and pervs it's a recipe for disaster.

4. Books are vandalised.

You know what I'm talking about some cretin has gone to the bother of drawing penises & boobs in a book you've picked up or worse left you a gift in the green form of boggars on the page. Once i picked a photography to find the pages with female nudes stuck together.( of course boys will be boys). I read books that people have edited, some have been censored while others have had their endings revealed midway through the book or even the last pages of a climatic ending ripped out.

5. Libraries are not needed as a local forum.

Engage in local democracy some might say, that Community forums in libraries are the perfect place to meet and engage in local politics because they're neutral, non-judgemental spaces, that Libraries do so much more than just give information, there are community discussion groups and reading groups where you can talk about green initiatives or economic issues. Well again this is really grasping at straws there are other places you can do that from town halls to community centres, places that actually serve a real purpose in soceity in 2019.

6. Most things a library can do is surplus to requirement

From entertaining kids with puppet shows, to art exhibits, to reading programmes for kids, to information awareness, to charity you name it can be performed by another organisation. Want to teach kids to read or lend them books or show them a puppet show well why not use the local school library. Having an art exhibit then why not a gallery or the town hall. Having a charity event well why not anywhere else?

7. Libraries have changed

What we think of as "The Library" is no longer the Library, "The Library" is now a global digital database not some dusty old building that houses the relics of the printing press. There's been a revolution in how we access information, it's time we all got with the times.

8. Books are heavy

Part if the reason libraries are obsolete is that books are heavy. Carrying around any real amount if knowledge in book form is damaging. Who knows how many school kids grew up to have bad posture and develop back problems thanks to all the heavy text books they had to hump around to & from school, thankfully those days are soon to be over for good.

Conclusion:

Arwen06 · Accepted Answer

America would be a much better place if they had a higher literacy rate. But a majority of Americans have a reading level of a sixth grader, and a quarter are completely illiterate. It's a failure of the gov to properly fund education , because an ignorance and anti intellectualism is the key to keeping the status quo of capitalist hegemony and exploitation

WhiteSteve · Accepted Answer

It’s funny, we used to have this right wing loon named Gerry Callahan on our local sports radio “morning drive” program. I’m driving to work, trying to enjoy 45 minutes of what happened the night before in SPORTS, but this guy (along with partner John Dennis) just INSISTED on making it a right-wing grievance forum. Always calling people “liberal pukes”, things like that. Tremendous piece of shit, just on a broad scale.

But one of the things I never understood, this guy, a career WRITER, and a pretty good one, as I understand it, was SO anti-library. Books are what you DO, bro. Make it make sense.

But it turns out he was just one of these usual lazy-thinking “I don’t want to pay for that” taxation opponents.

All of y’all, listen up: for all the flaws, we still are living in the best fucking country in the world, and that’s due in large part because we have the best (or at least most expansive, if sometimes inefficient) infrastructure, paid for by…. wait for it…. waaaiiiittttt forrrrr iiiiittttttt…TAX REVENUE. Without all the taxes we pay, America wouldn’t be what it is today, in its positive aspects.

So all you wannabe 1776 Boston Tea Party re-enactors need to PLEASE SHUT THE FUCK UP, and just pay what Uncle Sam tells you to. Let’s act like adults here. All the “b-b-b-but muh tax rate” shit is kiddie pool shit. Go live in the third world if you want low taxes and not a soul benefits from your work. That’s not what America is. You would HATE the America that resulted if we did things your way, you’re just too short-sighted to see it.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I went to a public library for a Halloween event my relatives attend every year.

These are the books that were showcased. Not just in the library but again showcased. And they are intentionally being targeted at kids and young people.

Now I wonder how many kids actually spend their time reading real books nowadays instead of using library. But still the agenda is very real at many libraries. Our tax dollars at work here to push woke ideology on young people

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Good! Libraries are expensive & have exceeded their mandate - it's JUST BOOKS!

bobby_bush_eater · Answer

In the modern way the library has just simply lost so much appeal. There's so many alternatives. I only have been to my library just to use the apps for audiobooks and ebooks.

Also Trump publicly denounced project 2025 a million times, not sure why you're mentioning it.

Lliam · Answer

I think libraries are essential.
I absolutely oppose that Agenda 25 proposal. In fact, I opposed everything that the Heritage Foundation stands for.

I support federal funding. The only problem with that is, it gives government the power to use carrots and sticks to dictate. For instance it might censor politically incorrect books like Huckleberry Finn and Catch 22. Or it might demand "inclusiveness" with Drag Queen Story Hour or highlighting LGBTQ material.

lightbulb27 · Answer

I could argue libraries become the new schools or part of it. you should see nyc schools and the books they buy... and throw away. the waste in our country is unreal.

does information chagne that much at 1st grade level to justify all the waste... nationally... globally?

libraries have support... I think.

Anonymous · Answer

Publicly funded and federally funded are two VERY different things. If local communities want a library and their citizens are happy with raising the funds in local taxes, good for them. If individual states would like to provide funding for poorer communities that's great too. But zero reason for this to be a federal thing.

Anonymous · Answer

The public Library is a local institution for the promotion of knowledge.

Today far more knowledge is available for free online so the Library either functions as a free internet cafe and hosting site or its obsolete and redundant.

exitseven · Answer

Federal funding of libraries and public schools just leads to indoctrination by the liberal teachers union. Defend rhe whole thing and let the states have local sovereignty

Snakeyes7 · Answer

I still like libraries. I personally use them to study.

Juxtapose · Answer

Why are you mentioning Project 2025 when it's not even relevant?

jshm2 · Answer

To be honest, most Americans probably have not opened a book for years. They want it all read to them, or to watch it. I suppose libraries can still pull in support from other sources.

OddBeMe · Answer

Toughy because they are essential in poor communities mainly for people to access the internet or print stuff. Not sure the books are being read...

Maybe_Maybe_not · Answer

No one cares, just close every public buildings, keep the saloons and the hats. But  ditch the piano , sounds awful.

msc545 · Answer

Nope - after all, Libraries have BOOKS, and BOOKS encourage people to think, and thinking is dangerous according to conservatives.

Twalli · Answer

Not everyone can afford to buy books. Going yo a library to get them is sometimes your best choice

seeyounexttuesday · Answer

show me on the doll where project 2025 touched you.

Given the current USA climate, would publicly funded libraries even exist? Have modern libraries exceeded their mandate?

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What Girls & Guys Said

Good! Libraries are expensive & have exceeded their mandate - it's JUST BOOKS!

Given the current USA climate, would publicly funded libraries even exist? Have modern libraries exceeded their mandate?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Good! Libraries are expensive & have exceeded their mandate - it's JUST BOOKS!

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