Libraries in America - who is using them?

As a kid in the 70's, I was in the library all the time and throughout the 80's and some of the 90's. I've rarely a need for them, now. My couch is a way more comfortable place to sit and read. I went to the library for a couple of days for the first time in years, right after Hurricane Irma. I work from home and had to find a place to work while our power was out.

 

Gen Y is what we now call the Millenials. Gen Z are the kids born from around 1997-1998 to now. My sons are both Gen Z.

 

My kids went to the library as needed for school and sometimes for fun. It's too easy to look on line now and my boys are very busy with working and school work. They are 25, 22, and 16.

 

Of COURSE I influenced them (to be readers). What sort of shitty parent doesn't encourage their kids to read?

Electronic devices are not 'magical' in the same way books are.

 

It's more for the earlier school years (say 5 - 15, and university).

 

I don't think you do A single terabyte drive can hold.

Five terabyte are under $200 bucks these days 5-6 million books in your personal library. Ya I'm sure you're missing something here

 

Sounds a bit reactionary to me.

 

Talk about low information. Library don't CHARGE for their books.

Step back and take a breather. Your hate is clouding your head.

 

We took our kids to the library growing up and went through the ritual of getting them library cards. They did go, particularly in connection to school work, but like anyone else nowadays, it's hard to beat the internet for the convenience.

When I go there I notice, unlike the observations of others here, that there are a great deal of Black and Hispanic kids. There is a middle school nearby so a lot of them hang out there after school plus a lot of single moms check out movie DVD's there. The library is a 21st Century Blockbusters.

 

We have few homeless here, but the libraries will let them get relief from the 110 deg. heat factor. The furniture is fairly comfortable. The old main library had a moat with koi in it, so they would pull out a small net and grab a few fish on the way back to camp -- a man's got to eat. I doubt they knew how expensive koi are.
The reference librarian wanted to put some bullheads and bream in the moat but was overruled -- no fish farm for you!

 

I always felt like I got something for nothing in the library, but of course, that was not the case. I started checking out Haynes repair manuals and appliance repair manuals rather than go buy one, and then I got interested in other books, even some actual bona fide literature. I liked the atmosphere in the library, the quietness, the losing track of time, the aha's.

 

haha .. yes they are good for DVD's! ours keeps a really good collection of obscure documentaries and BBC productions, along with mainstream movies etc. a most wonderful resource!

and agree, regular trips to library work best in younger kids. mine were beyond that by about 14. now they go in groups with friends, and sit for hours in the student zone (which is very well set up .. bathrooms, charging ports, funky sofas, etc). they say they're studying, but I suspect they're studying each other.

 

You captured the magic of a library perfectly!

Total escapism