Vote NO for Fairfax County Library bonds on Nov 2020 ballot and Why (loan, home)

[sprklcl]

We have the internet. And for those rare books still just in paper form, the Library of Congress in DC is only 10-25 miles away. Why plow millions in buildings. And for those way in the minority without internet or need quiet study space, scaled down sized buildings with study cafes and a minimum selection of books on site (library staff can order others from a central large location) at lower costs capital and operating would make more sense. If vacant county owned property not already available, in this economy, plenty of empty warehouse space available locally that can be rented for cheaper for central storage.

In similar sense, its something other retail has been doing for years with examples as Capital One Bank cafes and smaller Walmarts such as the one at Tysons. We do not need copies of thousands of books at around two dozen library branches across the county.

[Ffxdata]

Spoken like someone who doesn’t use the library.

I’ve borrowed $18,000 worth of physical books from the library since the start of 2020. We read around 40 books a week in our family.

They wouldn’t be buying books if they aren’t getting used. Trust me. They are.

[SteelCityRising]

Oh, look, another socioeconomically-privileged and out-of-touch NoVA resident railing against poor people. Nice!

Originally Posted by Ffxdata

Spoken like someone who doesn’t use the library.

I’ve borrowed $18,000 worth of physical books from the library since the start of 2020. We read around 40 books a week in our family.

They wouldn’t be buying books if they aren’t getting used. Trust me. They are.

When I first moved to Pittsburgh and was penniless I RELIED upon our local library to use the Internet and Microsoft Word to search and apply for jobs and to type up resumes and cover letters, respectively, as I could not afford home Internet access or a laptop at the time.

I am now much more affluent, but I will always be grateful for our libraries, hence why I voted in favor of a new tax for our libraries shortly after moving here. Libraries are such an incredible resource for families who can't afford home Internet access (yes, they do still exist in 2020 in what is supposed to be the "richest" nation on Earth).

[Old Guard]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Oh, look, another socioeconomically-privileged and out-of-touch NoVA resident railing against poor people. Nice!

When I first moved to Pittsburgh and was penniless I RELIED upon our local library to use the Internet and Microsoft Word to search and apply for jobs and to type up resumes and cover letters, respectively, as I could not afford home Internet access or a laptop at the time.

This is not about libraries in Pittsburgh. Also I am sorry you are still bitter about not making it here.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Old Guard

This is not about libraries in Pittsburgh. Also I am sorry you are still bitter about not making it here.

Are you implying there's no parallel in NoVA? There are no socioeconomically-disadvantaged households within the confines of NoVA who could be benefit from access to a public library?

[Old Guard]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Are you implying there's no parallel in NoVA? There are no socioeconomically-disadvantaged households within the confines of NoVA who could be benefit from access to a public library?

I am saying that your personal experiences seem to be very limited and that you could not make it in this area so seem very bitter and jealous. Sorry you could not afford to live here but if you had a more competitive skillset then you probably would have had a chance. No need to keep crying about it.

[nva06]

Libraries one of the main parts of local government. They are absolutely necessary in the building of a strong community. Libraries are used by all populations. Poor to rich, adults and children. They not only provide community services essential, are also a safe place for kids to gather. Multiple studies show that libraries have become even more in demand during COVID-19 and before COVID library rates were steady. Libraries are essential to a community.

But I don’t see a reason for Fairfax County to expand its libraries. Almost every person is five minutes away from one which I think is a bit to excessive. Fairfax County already has a whopping 23 libraries. Stafford County currently only has two and I think it could benefit from two more. I think a library bond for Fairfax County is a bit unnecessary. Not because libraries are unused, but because they already have a good enough library system and don’t need more money. 90 million for improvements for four libraries is something the county can find without a bond. And it is irresponsible for the county government to undertake a bond at a time when many county governments are facing budget shortages, and the dire economic state many people are in due to the pandemic.

[Lillie767]

Libraries are not just for borrowing books. They are a wonderful resource and a good librarian can make the whole world available to you.

But I use the library for the books. The tactile feel of the book enhances the mental stimulation of reading it. The smell of a book - ink and paper. Glorious.

[Tarheelhombre]

I voted YES on
September 18.

[webster]

A few things about the Library of Congress: its not open to people under 16; you can't check anything out; the stacks are closed, unlike many libraries which let you roam through their bounded magazines and just browse, you can't do this in the Library of Congress, you have to know what you are looking for. It will not order a book for you to check out through interlibrary loan, since you can't check out a book.

There is in other words things a local library can do that the Library of Congress can't.