I think the average library gets about half (what is the %?) of its funding from the federal government. What do you see happening to your local library — do you think it will shut down entirely? Or just become shitty with less staff and less resources?
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I think the average library gets about half of its funding from the federal government? What do you see happening to your local library — do you think it will shut down entirely? Or just become shitty with less staff and less resources?
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>How do you think libraries will cope with the loss of federal funding?
I didn’t know this had happened until I saw your comment.
A quick Google News search showed me:
>Washington library programs are facing potentially “devastating consequences” after receiving notification last week that federal funding has been eliminated for programs like libraries at state prisons and support for rural and tribal libraries.
>[Federal funding pulled from WA state libraries — Seattle Times]
[EDIT] Also…
>As National Library Week begins, California is suing the Trump administration after millions of dollars in grants to the state’s libraries were terminated abruptly when the federal administration illegally dismantled a federal agency.
>[California sues Trump administration after funding for critical library services threatened]
That’s going to vary a lot. My local libraries here in Portland are going to be fine – they’re funded almost exclusively through county property taxes. I’m guessing it’s the libraries in remote or underserved areas that are more dependent on federal funding and many of them may have to close.
Republicans are already itching to shut down my local library.
At a city county meeting two weeks ago, a lady got up and proposed that the library be closed, because it’s a “money pit” and because “libraries are an outdated idea” anyway.
Do we need the same old public libraries?
Based on this article people are using libraries differently then they have in the past. There is a lot more virtual traffic and a lot less foot traffic.
This in turn would mean we would not need as many local libraries and could shift to more regional ones.
https://statescoop.com/public-libraries-alive-well-gen-z-millennials-digital-collections/
To be clear I have mixed opinions about this trend. There is a level of information freedom we would loss consolidating libraries…. at the same time I don’t go to my local library any more now that my children are older.
Well. It will vary. But it could look like less days open, not as many books, no databases, no Libby. Less staff. No periodicals or news papers. No streaming or limits daily. I’m in the south. It’s going to hit hard.
In red states, they will probably turn into state-run churches. Nothing but books that reaffirm the Christian worldview and events that spread that message.
It depends on where it’s located.
Blue states and local governments may just raise their own taxes to replace the funding lost. Red states and local governments might just leave em to rot.
Depends on how willing the people and the governments are to raise taxes to replace lost federal funds.
My local rural library, which is great, gets a lot of its funding from the county. I’m not sure how much, if any, comes from the feds. Rest assured though that the the local fascists are doing their best to deny funding because of a spat over some lgbt-themed books.
The library will probaby lose either funding or control. One way or the other, it’s going to be less awesome in the future.
I think many of them will close.