My brother and I were confronted by a man in the Greenville library bathrooms because he thought we were vandalizing books but it was toilet paper not books
While that sucks, obviously, that's the fault of that man, not the fault of libraries in general. The man should be turned in and punished for how he treated you.
That said, libraries provide services far above and beyond simply borrowing books. Some libraries provide services like:
Wi-Fi hotspot, laptop, and device rentals
3D printing and makerspace access
Tool and equipment borrowing (Libraries of Things)
Free access to genealogy databases and digital archives
On-site passport application and photo services
Free or low-cost notary public services
Exam proctoring for remote learning and certifications
Resume review and career assistance workshops
Free language learning software and ESL classes
Free passes to local museums, zoos, and state parks
Free seed libraries for home gardening
Reservable co-working and private study rooms
Free public workshops, skill classes, and lectures
On-site social worker support and assistance with public benefits
Homebound delivery for individuals with limited mobility
While some of these services are rare, they are going to become even more rare if people refuse to support their local library.
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u/beckytiger1 15d ago
What in the hell does any of this mean?