Many people may not see it to a certain percentage of users, but they are more of a library service that is essential to others. But it’s interesting (and it makes me frustrating) that your library appears to offer the usual “library experience” that most people want. EG, warm up or cool off, a safe place to use your computer at your own pace and check your materials. What is your beef? And what are you fixing by competing with public libraries and providing another option that could potentially take away the circulation numbers so that it can be “fully funded” (this makes sense, and you’re strongly doubting how the costs will fall apart in your public library)?
Libraries’ experience is subjective, but as a public librarian, you can tell that libraries are not everything to everyone. And that’s a shame. But the answer is not to provide competing services. The answer is to get involved with local governments and pass a referendum on collecting taxes to pay more and better library services, and (among other things), understand usage = funds. They don’t support the community by building their own private libraries. But perhaps it was never your goal
Source: Cup of Jo – cupofjo.com
