Comment on Editorial: Why spend $50 million on the “last library?” by Dave Morgan

Well written. Provocative! Thank you for your contribution to the debate!
“Libraries foster education opportunities.”
First off, simply putting a library in the midst of the masses only offers “education opportunities.” More and more parents are voting with their computer-equipped dens and bedrooms to access educational opportunities for themselves andfor their children. The explosion of on-line high school and university degrees is ample proof of the re-direction of “educational opportunities.” High school and college graduation rates in Clark County, where they have an abundance of libraries, are among the lowest in the country.
Next, “building libraries provides jobs.” So does building a second high school so we’re not warehousing our students to the extent that some of our brightest high school students are opting out for private and on-line charter schools. The “construction jobs” justification is neutral at best.
“Libraries help the poor and otherwise disadvantaged bridge the ‘digital divide.’” True, but bridging that divide is already being very effectively performed at the Carson City Senior Center where they have a small ocean of computers and an army of volunteer instructors that provide tech-help at a price that is a tiny fraction of building a $50 million library ($25 million cost, paying off bonds over 20 years). Other digital divide bridging efforts are going on at Computer Corps off Highway 50E. A modest annual grant to those folks, and others that would likely pop-up later, could satisfy the community’s bridging need at a very low cost.
“The internet encourages, not replaces, library use.” True again. But the internet also encourages more internet use! And all the referrals to books, magazines and research materials are far more conveniently available on the internet and they’re likely to be more up to date than you’ll find in your average library, unless, of course, you use the internet at the library! If libraries are becoming expensive boxes for housing computers let’s create boxes that don’t cost so much money. Again, senior center, Computer Corps styled thinking. There are also school districts around the country that are very active in using their already considerable (and expensive, but already paid for) educational resources to assist in getting important information services across the bridge. Duplication of services, verrrrrrry expensive.
“Libraries serve the critical service of social and intellectual interaction.” Well, kinda. The last I looked you’re supposed to be quiet in a library, but they are allowing something between quiet and a low murmur. To be fair, they do have meeting rooms, but so do other, less costly facilities that provide income to worthy groups and organizations.
“Libraries restate and reinforce our community values.” So do theaters, meeting halls, schools, universities, electoral processes and our courts. For the cost of a new library, we got our recently built City Courthouse at Musser and Roop. I know, I know, if we had more libraries we’d have less crooks. Sorry. Families that grow young criminals don’t hang out at libraries. Additionally, those courtrooms spend a lot more time mitigating civil issues rather than criminal.
“Libraries are an investment in our childrens’ brains.” So are their parents, their schools and school libraries, local bookstores, internet surfing, colleges and universities, local museums, low income student nutrition programs, free/reduced cost medical care, public television, national public radio, local theater performance halls, all of which we already have without putting another $50 million burden on an already cash-strapped community.
What we have to come to grips with is our own deeply fond memories of our own long-ago experiences in a library. But they are mere memories. They should not be confused with how to move forward in what should be everyone’s life-long mission to continuously better ourselves through education, in all forms. Libraries are wonderful places indeed. It’s just that they are becoming their own museums. And we should treat them as such. Honor them. But don’t let them consume scarce financial resources that should be used for more effective and productive educational delivery systems. We’re surrounded by these new, leading edge opportunities. Those should get our attention and our precious treasure! Not the “last library.”