So, as a result of the state budget crisis and legislation impasse, the entire Free Library of Philadelphia system is set to close October 2, 2009. I sent a letter to the state representative, snail mail and email, as I'm sure a million other people did and I'm sure it isn't going to do jack shit. I just recently started going to the library again. I know at this point it's looked at as kind of an ancient dinosaur ritual, but where the fuck else can you go and walk out with 5 graphic novels, 5 movies, and a biography on whatever president you feel is the most badass at the moment, and not have to give any money to anyone. Unless of course you're late, but then that just means you're a fucking idiot since it takes two seconds to renew the shit online for another three weeks. Don't have the internet? They do!
This city is shit. Our Mayor is shit. I hate the fucking economy and the way people deal with it when it's in a crisis or a "slump" Whatever the fuck that means. Hey you know what we don't need anymore? Books. It's not good enough that people these days are already getting dumber by the second (not to mention poorer), let's take away the most important source of FREE education and information that they have. Yeah, and while we're at it, fuck fire departments too! This way peoples apartments will catch on fire, the fire company won't come because there isn't a fucking fire station near you because of the economy, and then everything in your house will burn to the ground including all those pesky books that you never returned to the library! Problem solved. I'm glad there are smart people in charge that can make these great decisions for me and my family and friends.

Here are a list of things that will be exterminated in about two weeks:

* All branch and regional library programs, including programs for children and teens, after school programs, computer classes, and programs for adults, will be cancelled.
* All Parkway Central Library programs, including children programs, programs to support small businesses and job seekers, computer classes and after school programs, will be cancelled. We are exploring the possibility of relocating the Philadelphia Author Series programs to other non-library facilities.
* All library visits to schools, day care centers, senior centers and other community centers will cease.
* All community meetings at our branch and regional libraries, and the Parkway Central Library, will be cancelled.
* All GED, ABE and ESL programs held at Free Library branches will be discontinued, students should contact their teacher to see if other arrangements are being made.

Gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

Everyone should visit http://freelibrary.org/ and try to help out, especially if you're in the area....though right now it's probably a moot fucking point.

You know what Fast Eddie is thinking will be the solution, right? It's two-fold...

1) Keep going on Daily News Live before and after Eagles games.

2) Casinos.

***Simple as that. Dudes a douche.

Wow, amazing this would happen in the city of Benjamin Franklin.

Wow, that sucks. I don't know what I'd do without the library since I don't really like buying books (usually only read them once, expensive, take up a lot of space, and I move a lot)

I remember on another forum I visit that one guy asked if they had a Netflix for books, where you could just rent books

That other forum was failblog.

The whole forum is a fail for one poster? What is this Planned Parenthood or Acorn?

Surely, a private library system will take its place.

While I think it's stupid that libraries are closing I don't exactly see people clamoring to pay more taxes. I can't see this being a very cost effective plan. The libraries are still going to be there, the books are still going to be shelved. Basically all they'll save is some payroll. You would have thought that they could have found a way to keep the libraries open with reduced services or something. Or look for benefactors willing to fund the libraries privately.

We're going through the same thing where I live. The government is running a 4 or so year deficit due to lower revenues. People are up in arms about it, but then complain even louder when a program faces cuts or cancellation or the mere mention of a tax increas. They can't have it both ways. When basic math skills are beyond people it gets quite funny.

The library system was originally created out of charity.

How much would the average person's taxes have to be increased to save the libraries? It can't be more than a few percentage points, right?

Look folks, this is how people get spending bills passed. This won't happen. Politicians always say that the cuts are going to come in areas that people won't tolerate. Schools, teachers, libraries, policemen, firefighters. It's to coax rival politicians to support passing spending bills. Nobody wants to be the guy that voted to shut down the cities libraries. It's just a weapon. It happens in lots of places. It happened in Orlando and Orange County. They were gonna cut HUNDREDS of positions in the school system. Yeah, never happened.

Anybody wanna place a wager that libraries are shut down for no more than a week?

Maybe Rush Limbaugh can fund a system of libraries across the country when he dies with no heirs or anyone else who loves him.

I doubt even that much. Hell, I would think if you charged just 25 cent borrowing fee that not too many people would be put off or unable to afford to use the library and it would be able to cover bare bone services (or more).

Yeah, it just seems libraries are one of those things where a little bit of spending goes a long way. I love them.

You could even have free borrowing for low income people, and it would still probably work.

Maybe he will, maybe he won't. But I'd put down a solid wager that whatever is left when he dies will go to some charity.

lol @ thinking a few percentage points is not a lot of a tax increase

I have a different plan, how about we take that money and buy ebook readers and everyone can get books free from google? Limit them to a couple of checkouts per two weeks. It makes much more sense if the idea is to provide the information to widest span of the public in the easiest fashion possible. Why stick to the old B&M distro system?

other than nostalgia, are libraries even needed? i realize that not everyone has an internet connection, but i would imagine that enough do that it sorely affects how many people have not renewed their membership

Who's to say the residents of Philadelphia deserve a public library system?