Libraries

[bunn]

 Caught a section on the radio earlier today about the library closure protests. They were saying: use them or lose them. 

This is a call to action that works well for, say, local pubs or milkmen.  I don't think it should necessarily apply to libraries though. I live in a rural area, and am currently,  relatively time-poor and shelf-rich.  It makes sense for me to buy books rather than driving to a library during opening hours.   I am not a customer that particularly needs a library at present: in fact, using one would be something of a pain. 

However, I have certainly been shelf-poor and time-rich (or more conveniently located) in the past, and very likely will be again in future.  The fact that I am not using the library much *now* should not be interpreted as a vote to close the place!  

 I'm not using the local primary school, police station, hospital or prison either, but nobody thinks that means I never will.   Surely public services should be used primarily by those that need them, not by those that merely think that they should remain open...?

Comments

Food Miles

[bunn.livejournal.com]

LOL, so true, here's our local food miles tale :

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1307305/Cornish-pastys-250-mile-journey-factory-Tesco-store-door.html

Re: Food Miles

[kargicq.livejournal.com]

I must admit that when I was in the US, I balked just a little at buying cheap fresh flowers (hardly a staple item needed to keep the nation going) flown from Ireland, but I think that says something about the taxation of aviation fuel as much as anything else.