My town just built a library. Why? (Pittsburgh, Carnegie: sales, to buy)

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by Copanut

I met some great chicks in the library back in college, try doing that on line. Oh, wait, Face-book, at least mine were real.

Hey, thanks to eHarmony or chemistry.com, you can not only find chicks but get a better match. Let's see a library do that! <- librarian

[SteelCityRising]

I've utilized the Carnegie Library in the Hill District several times since moving here, and each time I've gone it's been like a game of musical chairs to score a computer. I am fortunate enough to be able to afford high-speed Internet access at home via Comcast; however, I don't have a working printer and go to that library whenever I need to print anything. I've always found the staff there to be very helpful and courteous. Call me a moron I suppose, but I never knew you could borrow DVDs from the library. Methinks that's a much better option than Redbox at the Gian' Iggle.

As far as the inquiry of "Do we need more libraries?" is concerned, I tend to think individual neighborhoods like Mt. Washington, Lawrenceville, and, yes, the dreaded Hill District having their own libraries is wonderful for those who have limited financial means and do not own vehicles.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Hey, thanks to eHarmony or chemistry.com, you can not only find chicks but get a better match. Let's see a library do that! <- librarian

Meh. Each time I've met someone from an online dating site their primary goal was to get into my pants as quickly as possible. My current partner and I met the old-fashioned way---through a mutual friend trying to play matchmaker.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

That's like suggesting that the nearest library for Wheeling WV is in Pittsburgh. No, a regional library would be much closer. Allegheny county might have 8 or 10.

In a 740 sq. mile county? Not acceptable.

[happywithbraddock]

Why do we need so many libraries? Robert Frost stated it best. Way leads onto way. Not everything comes down to a google entry or a database query. The best education can often be had standing in a library, perusing the stacks, pulling down one book to read a little, then another, following references and connections in a seemingly random, but personally meaningful pattern as we let books enter and shape our lives. I can't imagine losing that visceral and tactile connection to learning. Nor am I alone. I'll make you all a deal. I won't ask you to put one red cent into our country's (excessive???) library system if you don't hit me up for money to operate traffic lights and sewer systems around all your beloved strip malls.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Hey, thanks to eHarmony or chemistry.com, you can not only find chicks but get a better match. Let's see a library do that! <- librarian

I like to check out the merchandise in person, thank you. No doubt you photo shopped your photo for eHarmony.

[gg]

Here is a little more on this.

New library opening date set | YourFoxChapel.com (http://www.yourfoxchapel.com/herald/article/new-library-opening-date-set - broken link)

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by happywithbraddock

Why do we need so many libraries? Robert Frost stated it best. Way leads onto way. Not everything comes down to a google entry or a database query. The best education can often be had standing in a library, perusing the stacks, pulling down one book to read a little, then another, following references and connections in a seemingly random, but personally meaningful pattern as we let books enter and shape our lives. I can't imagine losing that visceral and tactile connection to learning. Nor am I alone. I'll make you all a deal. I won't ask you to put one red cent into our country's (excessive???) library system if you don't hit me up for money to operate traffic lights and sewer systems around all your beloved strip malls.

Robert Frost came from the card catalog era. If you remember that you'd know how inefficient that was and how limiting. And going through indexes was a chore and then I'd have to hunt down the volumes one at a time. With computers and the internet, I can not only see what is in my nearest library but if necessary request one from across the country. But in another case, instead of wasting the fuel and money to have the book sent from California, I got access to the book on-line. I can keyword search it and I don't have to carry it around.

The only possible trade off of not perusing the shelves is the loss of serendipity but even keyword searching and following links can lead to discovery of a different sort and since it is so easy, one is more apt to try.

But resistance is futile. We are headed for an electronic information future and economics will ultimately pare down the number of libraries. Only romantic notions will make them linger longer than they should. But movie theaters haven't disappeared as people still like to go out and do stuff but theaters had to morph into a new business model. Libraries can live on but as public spaces and for now the librarian lives on as a profession only because librarians insist on hiring other librarians.

[wrcousert]

DSL can be had in most areas for as little as $15 per month. A used Pentium 4 can be had for free if you look hard enough.

The costs have come down so much that all but perhaps the homeless can have their own internet connected computers.

I think libraries will be replaced with a service similar to Netflix. Unlimited access to just about any books ever published for a modest monthly fee.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by Copanut

I like to check out the merchandise in person, thank you. No doubt you photo shopped your photo for eHarmony.

You'll eventually get to that part anyway. Might as well cast a broad net and filter the field for compatibility first.