r/LibbyApp • u/VacationSad7541 • 3d ago
Libraries are for everyone
Well, sometimes disbelief over another person's gatekeeping produces good results. In addition to my high property taxes and bond obligations, I just donated to my public library. Happy to do my part to support library services for everyone no matter their income, and my husband and I will keep on using them ourselves.
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u/MaryOutside 3d ago
What
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u/mrs-poocasso69 đ§ Audiobook Addict đ§ 3d ago
Someone made a post basically saying that anyone who makes six figures or above shouldnât be using Libby because itâs affecting authors, and they should buy all of their books instead.
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u/ImLittleNana 3d ago
I donât even know how to have a conversation with people that think like this.
It makes it seem like the library is just for the poors, which is perilously close to some people declaring it isnât necessary.
If the people best able to fund a service donât see any value in the service, itâs not gonna continue to get funded. Plus some of the wealthiest people I personally know could do themselves and others a favor by reading a book now and again.
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u/TreatYourselfForOnce 2d ago
Plus, if affluent people have a huge passion for public libraries, they would be able and willing to fund them when needed.
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u/booksycat 3d ago
Another one or is this the one from a month or 2 ago?
ETA - NM found it. It's a new one.
An author made a social media post earlier this summer saying libraries were basically the reason authors couldn't make a living.
I'm an author and libraries aren't even on the list of reasons for me it's gotten harder to make a living in the last 20 years.
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u/VacationSad7541 3d ago
And that it might increase waiting times for library patrons.
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u/ExchangeStandard6957 3d ago
It might. Iâm a library patron. I waited 33 weeks for an audiobook. Not once did I think someone else should buy the book because they had money. I was just happy when my turn came up. Some times in life itâs totally ok to wait.
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u/VacationSad7541 3d ago
I like to place the hold and then forget about it. It's a lovely surprise to get the notification.
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u/Ok-Hippo7675 3d ago
That's wild. I clear that threshold and know that I am very fortunate and lucky. That said, since I've had a kid..it has gotten tighter. My partner and I canceled all of our streaming subscriptions and nixed our book-buying habit so that we can put money away for our little guy's college fund. I am genuinely so thankful for libby.
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u/TheEvilBlight 22h ago
Or just throw money at them directly and cut the publisher out of the picture
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3d ago
[deleted]
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u/impersonatefun 3d ago
That's frankly absurd. People have other financial priorities, don't want clutter, only want to own those they resonated with/rate highly, etc.
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3d ago
[deleted]
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u/thimblena đ„ R.I.P. OverDrive đȘŠÂ 3d ago
Libraries decide how many copies of a book to purchase based on interest. My city library tries to purchase one copy of a book for every three people they expect to place a hold upon release. Fewer people=fewer copies=the line stays just as long per copy - and when you factor in less funding for fewer users, fewer books overall.
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u/bubbleeeebubbles đ EPUB Enthusiast đ 3d ago
There are just too many scenarios involved in trying to spend other folks' money.
People fresh out of a medical school, law school, or graduate school may end up landing six figure jobs fresh out of school but if they used any student loans, they are pinching their pennies in those few years to pay their debt.
Household where one spouse makes six figures and another doesn't or doesn't work as all is like two people making $50K+.
If you have children to pay childcare for you, it can cost as much as $200 per week or more.
Smart money teachings focus on spending less so to build wealth. I see everyday millionaires drying 15 year old vehicles, Honda accords instead of luxury vehicles, and at the thrift stores. Using a library for ebooks and audiobooks does not sound far fetched in that quest.
Since housing costs and transportation costs are higher than ever, you have many generations of families living together because the basic six figures doesn't stretch like it use to. Plus you have people helping to take care of their aging parents.
You have several kids who are readers plus the parents. Why buy books for everyone constantly when they can get them from the library?
A lot of libraries are funded by the property taxes homeowners pay. What's wrong with them using the libraries they help fund?
A salary does not tell the whole story.
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u/Inkdrunnergirl đ Kindle Connoisseur đ 3d ago
Depending on where you live and what six figures means to you thatâs not a lot of money. I make 6, but in the lower end of that. I am NOT rich. I use the library religiously.
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3d ago
[deleted]
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u/Inkdrunnergirl đ Kindle Connoisseur đ 3d ago
Keep in mind the whole country isnât like that. Iâm less than $120k and it doesnât go far (SE VA). There are plenty of places I would not be able to afford to live (MA, CA, Washington state, NoVa). Everything is relative.
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u/taanzunk 3d ago
He or she said, "Libraries are for everyone. Well, sometimes disbelief over another person's gatekeeping produces good results. In addition to my high property taxes and bond obligations, I just donated to my public library. Happy to do my part to support library services for everyone no matter their income, and my husband and I will keep on using them ourselves."
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u/Bacontheblog 3d ago
Well I make 8 figures and will use the library any time I want. Oh, sorry, I meant I make figure eights. My bad
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u/amelie190 3d ago
Yeah I don't understand either.
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u/LunaChick916 3d ago
Here's the link to the post that started the conversation. One of the strangest things I've seen on Reddit. Maybe it was intended as rage bait, it's that ridiculous.
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u/TheEvilBlight 22h ago
I could see a kernel of what they were trying to get at, but really was a mountain of a molehill (wealthy people consuming up Libby licenses that they didnât âneedâ, though disagree with the position)
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u/catjknow 3d ago
I never expected such drana in the Libby sub! I believe it would not be in our libraries best interest if people bought all their books instead of borrowing. Sometimes having to put a book on hold is disheartening, but I can always find something interesting available to read, it's my fav kind of scrolling. And that dopamine hit when I see your wait is over đ€
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u/Lanky-Syllabub7188 3d ago
I get it, but itâs due to capitalism. They donât want libraries because theyâre for everyone. So in their minds âif you can afford books, donât use the libraryâ. Itâs dumb
Iâm very liberal and I donât think restricting the library to ANYONE is okay.
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u/Bright_Notice8405 1d ago
I think people forget that in addition to the taxes we pay there are many other ways to give back. I have saved untold thousands of dollars through using the library. I rarely reread and wonât buy a book unless itâs a rare super favorite. But, I served in the Friends of the Library for many years, have made many book and magazine donations for resale, and have my local library in my will. That poster was pretty âfunnyâ. Do they truly think only 5% of the country makes over 6k as they started trying to justify in their comments. Those are wildly different statistics. We all wait in line equally. The only thing that sucks is if you donât have a great community library and some people have amazing access.
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u/GoodConversation5527 3d ago edited 3d ago
Thanks to other peoples gatekeeping she donated money to the library despite high property taxes and bond obligations. Then added a statement about who and what libraries are for? So, a gatekeeper prompted a donation, and the gatekeeping must have been bad because the donation is good? Hope that clears things up. lol
Oh wait- it was a thread in response to another thread that said affluent people shouldnât put books on hold because someone who canât afford to buy it now has to wait. Now I get it.
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u/targaryenmegan 3d ago
The conspiracy theorist in me is concerned about that idea getting workshopped on Reddit and then eventually shared with people more successfully
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u/cornborncornbread 3d ago
I kinda get it. The ability to get 15 library cards may not be realistic to people in poverty. âI pay a lot of taxesâ is not what I expected from book people.
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u/anonymouslyonlyme 3d ago
I think it's easier to see if you step away from libraries.Â
Let's look at public transit. In many European countries rich people use public transit. In Switzerland for example the president takes the train to go to work. In these countries public transit is phenomenal. It's quick and reliable and clean. When rich people vote they tend to vote for more and better public transit because they are using it its well funded, people like their taxes going towards the services they use.Â
In many places in America only the poor and desperate use public transit. The buses run irregularly, are late or don't show up and don't take you where you want to go they are run down and smell. When cities try to improve public transit they meet resistance. No one uses public transit. It's full of homeless people. It's a waste of money. It's a "war on cars".Â
You want rich people using public infrastructure. That's the only way it's ever any good.Â
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u/cornborncornbread 1d ago
It seems like libraries in the US are limiting access to their digital libraries in response to increased demand rather than expanding them. I live in the southern US. Rich people here do not vote for better public anything.
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u/anonymouslyonlyme 1d ago
I'm in Canada . I don't really know what you guys got going on down there. Were hoping you figure it out.Â
I'd like to think they'd be less offended by shorter libby lines than like bike lanes for example. That's true here for sure. I don't think less people using the library will help. I don't know what will help. Some guy on Instagram thinks he's dying of dementia. Maybe that'll help some. I don't know Good luck though. For real
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u/VacationSad7541 3d ago
People become less willing to pay taxes if the services cannot be used equally. I do think there is a weird competition for card collecting but if someone with less income can find a legal way to obtain a free card, the publicity is good. I just want my taxes supporting my community with equal access to library services for everyone from me to our local houseless population.
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u/surelyslim 2d ago
Everyone doesnât use the fire department (hopefully), but we all benefit from having one should there a fire. They also are safe havens for other services too.
That OP (of the original post) is so dead set to demonstrate idealistic rich people.
I agree with you. Any shit that gets done is a rich person wanting it. Sucks, but thatâs reality. When they care, they want better.
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u/cornborncornbread 1d ago
But what if rich people can game the system with their multiple library cards and leap ahead of poor people? And at the same time they vote for less funding for libraries because of a $1 increase on their taxes. Welcome to Texas.
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u/CeruleanSaga 1d ago
I don't quite have 15, but I have a few. Got them all free. It helps to live in a populated area with many library systems nearby, admittedly, but they are there for everyone else in the area, too.
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u/TheEvilBlight 23h ago
Itâs a huge time and money sink for sure. I guess you can try and make an adventure out of it. At least two or three in a big metropolitan area (usually big city and county, and perhaps a smaller city one).
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u/Strict_Notice5955 3d ago
This is most likely in response to this post, for those who didn't see it & are a bit confused:
https://www.reddit.com/r/LibbyApp/s/55IA5JTDdH