Many times I find that we Canadians share different values than our US neighbours. It’s strange because while it is very difficult to discern a Canadian from an American in many social situations, once a discussion on personal values arises, the lines in the sand begin to appear. It would appear that I share different values with one American on yet another issue. That issue is that of public libraries.
There’s a discussion about funding of public libraries over at Morgan Hill Review that illustrates the division. Whereby the author looks at the situation as a potentially poor use of tax revenue, I personally hold public libraries in much higher regard. The Morgan Hill Review talks about the costs associated with a library as compared to the costs associated with meeting those same needs by putting the same amount of money in the people’s hands.
The author’s arguments are fair, but certainly do reflect what has traditionally been a US principle. The principle is that taxes should be used to provide only the barest of minimums and the individual is left to get whatever else they want. Few would argue that a public library is a strict necessity, so his argument is valid. In Canada we have a tradition of being taxed and tend to be far more accepting of it than our neighbours. As such, I personally see a public library as a vital element to a community. There is a very fair question of usage and it sounds as though the Santa Clara County library may not be as heavily used as others. If so that’s a terrible shame, but a harsh reality. In Halifax, I’ve found the libraries to be very heavily used and well worth the investment, but I can imagine their expenses coming into question if they weren’t well used.
Library relevancy is being challenged in a big way. In today’s digital age, there are now alternatives to the library from the average citizen’s perspective. Just because there’s an alternative to them, doesn’t make libraries irrelevant on its own, but this is the first time that libraries have really had to “compete”. Given that there’s very little organizational culture within libraries that include competition as an element, they are sometimes ill-equipped to meet the new needs and expectations of their communities.
I’m new to libraries as organizations, but today as the US wraps up national library week, I have no doubt that the questions raised over at Morgan Hill Review are being raised elsewhere. My personal hope is that libraries throughout the world adapt and effectively communicate their changes and relevancy to their communities. The millenials are addicted to information and everything I’ve read so far shows that they are some of the heaviest library users out there, but they also are some of the most impatient people when it comes to retrieving information. Their expectations are high so the libraries must step up to the plate and meet those expectations head on. Libraries will survive as an entity, of that I’m sure. The immediate danger though is access in smaller communities as they work to justify their costs and meet their new users’ needs. Their loss would truly be sad.
We, as Canadians, should pay attention to situations like this in the US. While we don’t blindly follow their lead through change, they often do act as a barometer to the winds of change. Taking note of this development can help us begin discussions early, before the situation reaches the difficult stage they are in down in Santa Clara County.
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20 responses so far ↓
1 Irene Rose // Apr 21, 2008 at 5:49 am
the traditional library still has one advantage over online libraries. you get to read your stuff in total silence. whereas if you are online then you might want to listen to music or chat with someone. sometimes tradition helps.
2 Ling // Apr 21, 2008 at 11:25 am
Actually a hotly debated subject, this. Sunnyvale, CA recently had a multi-million dollar library expansion proposal rejected on the ballot last year. There’s just not enough interest to make library budgets a priority. Afraid libraries are fighting a losing battle, and they’ll end as a collection of binary numbers on the Google server farm…
3 James // Apr 21, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I don’t know if it’s really a US/Canada values difference. I think that tax money should be used to build libraries and I am an American citizen and I know a lot of fellow Americans who feel the same way.
4 LMstuff // Apr 22, 2008 at 7:31 pm
I live in Southern Oregon and all the libraries closed here for almost a year because of a funding issue. The US government abruptly stopped a funding program that funded the libraries in order to have more $$$ to fund the IRAQ war. It’s sad that 1 days cost of the war would have kept all those libraries open for another year! The county/towns created alternative funding now to reopen the libraries on a limited schedule. All the employees were let go and had to reapply for their jobs to a sub-contractor. Less or no benefits and pay cuts!
It’s very sad!
5 Marc // Apr 22, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Wow LMstuff, that’s so very, very unfortunate. Iraq has proven to be, if nothing else, astronomically expensive. I can’t imagine in how many other areas and locations similar stories have and continue to occur…
6 ep // Apr 25, 2008 at 11:30 am
I like your blog contents. But I do not feel good with your sponsor’s popup when landing on your blog. I just say the truth.
7 ch // Apr 25, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I think the library system in Orlando is doing well. I think they make good money off of overdue DVDs. All of our branches are stacked with internet connected PCs. We can order books and media online from home and have it delivered by mail. So, our traditional library is adapting to the culture by providing digital alternatives along with the traditional books on the shelves.
8 Sarah // Apr 25, 2008 at 8:02 pm
I am an American and I feel as you do that libraries are to be held in high regard. It seems that there are many who use these institutions as a place to hang out or a place for the homeless to get warm. When I use the local libraries including one on a college campus I find people do not seem to use them for what they are intended for which is an extreme annoyance. In any case the libraries are a fundamental institution in our society and there is no reason why they should not continue to be subsidies. Information is the best tool we can have.
9 fr // Apr 27, 2008 at 6:01 am
You are right Canadians share different values than our US neighbours. Canadian rae better then American in many social situations.
10 ggs // Apr 27, 2008 at 6:50 am
hmm Canadians are really good citizen.but all also know about there neighboring country.what they are really capable of.
11 Zeta // Apr 29, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I think Canadians are good citizen too.
12 Gillian // Apr 29, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Since I saw Bowling For Columbine, I wanted to know more about Canadians and their culture. And it is always interesting to see how US media is bashing the Canadians. Thousands TV shows do that every day.
I found out they are more appreciative nation and that have much better social circumstances. If you ask me would I like to live in US or Canada, then Canada is my choice.
13 psi man // Apr 29, 2008 at 9:38 pm
I am an American, and I wouldn’t mind paying higher taxes for better services, such as libraries. The problem here is that we our tax money gets spent on things that don’t benefit the general community about half of the time.
14 Sandra Prangenberg // Apr 30, 2008 at 10:43 am
I always prefer traditional libraries as they give you that feel to sit and read peacefully.But online libraries has its own advantageous.
15 Mario // Apr 30, 2008 at 11:30 am
I think that libraries are beginning to become absolete. Everything, as you stated, is moving online. It is all going to be digital, and it is useless to throw away money at a library when most information can be freely accessed online.
16 c & r // Apr 30, 2008 at 3:17 pm
One of the things about America as a society which is different from europe and canada is that we value greater freedom over greater comfort. What this means is that american society tends to value the freedom to do what you want with your money, rather than having your money controlled by the government, the way your allowance is controlled by your parents.
The result is a country where we may not have the best government utilities, but we do have a passionate entreprenurial spirit.
There should be countries where both ideals are available, and citizens should move accordingly
17 lcb // Apr 30, 2008 at 9:54 pm
I would gladly pay higher taxes to build up our community resources in America, instead of building them in the sand across the ocean. I’ll be paying either way, so I’d like to get some use out of it.
18 Marc // May 1, 2008 at 11:00 am
There are some great points being brought up here. I’m happy to see people from the US chiming in with their opinions on the issue.
The Internet’s digital offerings are vast indeed, but they pose no immediate threat to libraries since much of the content that libraries offer is copywritten material. The only way to access it digitally is for the libraries to pay licensing fees and make it available to their patrons only. That means that there’s a wealth of high quality information that will continue to be available only through libraries for the time being.
19 Abunza // May 5, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Wow, that’s so unfortunate! Iraq has proven to be, if nothing else, extremely expensive. I can’t imagine in how many other areas and locations similar stories have and continue to occur.
20 Odzyskiwanie Danych // May 6, 2008 at 8:10 am
In my opinion public libraries ARE a necessity. Seriously,a developed society like ours gets dumber by the generation. why ? well, if you are financially secure there is little incentive to actually learn and work on your skills, at least for most people. Public libraries provide what is needed most - education for those that choose to seek it. If we take them away, we will get even dumber and I think no one really wants that.