Whenever someone attacks libraries, you get an excuse to talk about why libraries are great. So when Forbes published an opinion piece suggesting that libraries should be replaced by Amazon - a piece so well received that it was soon pulled and Forbes issued an apology - it was a good reason to highlight all the good libraries do within our communities.
Last time libraries were under attack, when they received a large drop in funding from the provincial government – since reversed after public outcry – I used it as a chance to highlight all of the non-book services that libraries offer. And this is still true, go to the Yorkton Public Library on any afternoon and something is happening. Our local library is especially good at kids programming – there is something going on for kids constantly, with different programs for every age group and interest.
But since we’re talking about someone suggesting replacing a library with a book seller, I’ve decided to focus on the books themselves for this go around. Libraries are, after all, most famous for books, no matter how many other things they might offer on any given day. And one of the great things about the Parkland Regional Library is just how accessible it makes books in the region.
Libraries exist to promote literacy, and for a lot of people, they are really the only source of reading material that they might get on a regular basis. We forget that in a small town, the library is simply the only place that has a large number of easily accessed books. There aren’t book stores, sometimes there aren’t even grocery stores – that was certainly true of one of the towns where I grew up – so if you want a book the library is it.
The terrible editorial argued that you would save money in taxes, but buy a stack of books and your money is gone, while borrowing from the library it is not, plus your taxes are funding more than books. And keep in mind that an online seller – the only other option in a small town – does not fund anything local. I’d much rather see my tax dollars fund the thousands of things the library is doing here instead of having to go online and help Jeff Bezos buy another spaceship.
Small towns are often forgotten by the people with bad opinions, but let’s remember some of the challenges that they come with. They are often remote, they have fewer resources in general, they are more difficult to ship to, and they can’t sustain businesses like book stores. If you want easily accessed books in a small town, the library is the only viable way to do it, and if you visit a nearby small town library, you might be amazed by what they’re doing for their communities with a relatively small budget.
Every time you see someone trying to attack the library, you realize that in Yorkton and surrounding area, we have it pretty great with the level of service our regional library offers.
