Thread

1. akman · 1789595265 · focus · HN ↗

   As the author noted, I see libraries becoming more and more centers of community, notably in the Bay Area (California, USA). Just check out the events at all of the Santa Clara County library system (8 libraries that share books): <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;sccl.bibliocommons.com&#x2F;v2&#x2F;events?_gl=1*11u0hec*_ga*MTI0MTAxODk0NS4xNzg2NTEyMjY1*_ga_G99DMMNG39*czE3ODk1OTQ5MTMkbzMkZzAkdDE3ODk1OTQ5MTQkajU5JGwwJGgw*_ga_C5XQHLX1NN*czE3ODk1OTQ5MTMkbzMkZzAkdDE3ODk1OTQ5MTQkajU5JGwwJGgw*_ga_C79ES1D7Q4*czE3ODcyODU5NjUkbzIkZzAkdDE3ODcyODU5NjUkajYwJGwwJGgw" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;sccl.bibliocommons.com&#x2F;v2&#x2F;events?_gl=1*11u0hec*_ga*M...

   Many events aren&#x27;t even book related-- see events for Lego building, homework help, even Dungeons and Dragons events.

   I wonder if there&#x27;s a resurgence across the world where libraries are places of community sharing.

   1. lurk2 · 1789651950 · focus · HN ↗

      &gt; I wonder if there&#x27;s a resurgence across the world where libraries are places of community sharing.

      Libraries have become obsolete as the public’s media consumption patterns have changed. The premise of the public library system was that knowledge would be made freely accessible so that it couldn’t be gatekept by elites. In practice, however, most libraries have turned into the fiefdoms of the librarians who manage them; these librarians will appeal to the access-to-knowledge premise the institutions were built on only to turn around and tut at patrons who expect the facilities to be clean, quiet, and dedicated to accessing knowledge.

      Librarians don’t want to be put out of the job, so they have redirected funding into operating as community centers. Patrons also abuse the spaces to use them as remote offices and daycares. All three practices result in a degraded experience for those who are still interested in using libraries as libraries.

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