Anti-Library Movement

[hooplady]

Well, BridgeTroll, if you look anything like your avatar, its no wonder they don't bother you! 

No, in real life BT could never pull off the "loin cloth and boots" look.  He's more a post-modern Hawaiian shirt kinda guy.

[BridgeTroll]

    I only try the loin cloth and boots look at home...

[avonjax]

Oh yeah, lets transform our city's Main Library to an overrated department store; That makes perfect sense. You're clearly an elitist, who looks down on unfortunate people.
Wow I-10?
For you anything more than Wal-Mart is overrated and over priced.
And anyone who likes to buy nice unique merchandise and shop in a store that offers selection and variety, is an elitist.
Thank god I'm an elitist!

[avonjax]

And by the way I love the DT library. And of course I don't think it should be converted into a department store.

[I-10east]

Wow I-10?
For you anything more than Wal-Mart is overrated and over priced.
And anyone who likes to buy nice unique merchandise and shop in a store that offers selection and variety, is an elitist.
Thank god I'm an elitist!

Elitist usually look down on others, because of financial status (homeless, janitors etc.). I wouldn't necessarily call someone who like nice things an elitist. Most of the upscale stores in Jax are in the burbs, and you (avonjax) really hate it out there, so what does it matter anyway? Nice Walmart dig, even though it's not totally accurate.

[fatcat]

to enter a library, one should need a current library card. to obtain library card, one need to provide proof of residence and pay a fee. The shelters are not qualified as residence just like hotel should not be used as residence. Imaging someone from California stayed at Marriot for a week and borrowed all the large print Harry Potter books and never return. 

[fatcat]

What is "elitist"? I find people lack of vocabulary or logic or both love to hit the crowd with  big sticks. If you disagree with me or I do not like you, you are an un-America, communist, elitist, racist, Fascist, (Right or Left) extremist, M@#$ F#$% son of B#$%. It does not matter if the context applies or not. Can we just call a spade a spade?

[macbeth25]

Not unless you make sure people know you are talking about cards and not about anything else.  Otherwise, someone is going to get rather annoyed with you.
Just couldn't resist saying that given one of the more unpopular meanings of the word.

[Deuce]

You might have something there fatcat that could control or eliminate the problem with the homeless using the library as a shelter. Might need some tweaks. As always, what are other cities doing to control this problem.

I don't think there's an anti-library movement in this country as much as an anti-intellectual movement. Not to be too political here but it expanded greatly during the Bush administration. I even recall a quote from Cheney early in the administration about someone having too much book learning. It reminded me about that expression about a person being too smart for their own good. Disgusting. If anything people aren't educated enough in this country. Personally, I am always trying to educate myself on the vast nothingness I don't know.

As for the support of the library, although I don't use it, I think it's important to keep it well funded. I might be in the minority, but I have no problem raising taxes or fees if it means keeping the library fully funded.

[mtraininjax]

Raising taxes to keep the library fully funded? Should we raise taxes to keep the Adult Senior centers open as well? What about the Animal Shelter on McDuff? Raising taxes does not take into account ALL of the programs out there in the 1 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET. Forget the library as the single point of issue.

Why does Mandarin need 2 libraries 4 miles apart from each other? Murray Hill, Willowbranch, Main, are all close enough so that Main could support all of those with the need for library services. The people who built all these libraries, so close to one another, should, and I repeat, should have found a WAY to pay for the services each and every year. If I see another editorial by another board member bleeding on the need for taxes, I'll make sure to send my vomit to them COD.

I have a bad feeling we are all going to get screwed by the courthouse costing us more and more every year, as the city cannot find a way to control its own costs, and NEXT year is going to be far worse than this year.

[JMac]

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not anti-intellectual.  I may have a problem with liberal bias among college professors and some of the psuedo-intellectual, politically-correct stuff that is being taught because students are disserved, but I don't wish for anyone to miss out on the opportunity for a quality education.

I just think it's a shame that many libraries I've visited have become homeless hang outs.  I suspect that the Main Library actually attracts homeless downtown.  If it wasn't there, less homeless would be hanging out in Hemming Plaza and more businesses might succeed in that area.  It's just wishful thinking though, obviously the library isn't going anywhere.

[fatcat]

I remember in MA when enter the library one must show library ID and check the bags. I also remember to have to make "cat steps" because even the slightest noise get frowned upon. Library has very specific function. Anyone who is not there for that function should be asked to leave. I think the library can and should just ask the "free shower users" to leave.

[Lucasjj]

I agree about the noise. I grew up with the thought process that the library is a quiet place where you talk at a whisper, if at all, and refrain from noise as much as possible. It suprises me when people hold regular volume conversations and think nothing of it. Also in this day and age, cell phones do not help the matter.

[avonjax]

Wow I-10?
For you anything more than Wal-Mart is overrated and over priced.
And anyone who likes to buy nice unique merchandise and shop in a store that offers selection and variety, is an elitist.
Thank god I'm an elitist!

Elitist usually look down on others, because of financial status (homeless, janitors etc.). I wouldn't necessarily call someone who like nice things an elitist. Most of the upscale stores in Jax are in the burbs, and you (avonjax) really hate it out there, so what does it matter anyway? Nice Walmart dig, even though it's not totally accurate.

I never said I hated the "burbs." The thing that makes me crazy is as long as there is single plot of land, our society wants to cover it with cookie cutter subdivisions. And most of the subdivisions that were built in my lifetime have been abandoned by the pioneering suburbanites and have become our new ghettos. I know there are some exceptions. But if you ride around in many of them that were built in the 50's and 60's you will see what I mean. By way I do go to SJTC and it's upscale stores and I love the place. Wish we had some downtown; maybe one day.

[avonjax]

Raising taxes to keep the library fully funded? Should we raise taxes to keep the Adult Senior centers open as well? What about the Animal Shelter on McDuff? Raising taxes does not take into account ALL of the programs out there in the 1 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET. Forget the library as the single point of issue.

In what part of Jacksonville do you live?

Why does Mandarin need 2 libraries 4 miles apart from each other? Murray Hill, Willowbranch, Main, are all close enough so that Main could support all of those with the need for library services. The people who built all these libraries, so close to one another, should, and I repeat, should have found a WAY to pay for the services each and every year. If I see another editorial by another board member bleeding on the need for taxes, I'll make sure to send my vomit to them COD.

I have a bad feeling we are all going to get screwed by the courthouse costing us more and more every year, as the city cannot find a way to control its own costs, and NEXT year is going to be far worse than this year.