Anti-Library Movement

[cityimrov]

It looks like there's two sets of issues in this.

1) Library
2) Homeless

I seen homeless people in the library.  For a lot of them, they spend quite a lot of time reading and learning.  I've seen them read books on various different subjects and quite a lot of them are vet's who once served this country.  I don't see a major problem with most of them if they aren't disturbing/annoying other people.    If the odor is the problem, maybe we should have a public shower somewhere nearby for them to use.  That might help restore their dignity and presentability. 

I am curious about issue #2. 

Let's say you ban homelessness in downtown Jacksonville (like so many people want), where will they go?  If I loose my house and I'm now stuck in the street - homeless - where will I go?  It might take me a few weeks or months to dig myself out of that situation.  If I was one of those vet's who served my country and that service caused me to go insane, what happens to me now? 

[JMac]

I don't know.  Where did Guiliani send them?

[fatcat]

I don't know.  Where did Guiliani send them?

new Jersey

[macbeth25]

An outfit called Work Source also works through many libraries to help people find and get jobs.  If you like, take a look at their website: http://www.worksourcefl.com/

[Scarlettjax]

I go about three times a week to the South Mandarin library, and get books, music and videos.  I usually ride my bike up there, but hey, if you close it, then I'll drive or get otherwise transported to the Kori Road Mandarin branch.  I also go to the Main library downtown to browse about every couple of weeks, occasionally I'll find something there, too.   One of the most tangible assets I have as a taxpaying citizen of Jacksonville!  I have consistently survived the experience thus far.

There are a lot of folks, many seniors, who can't afford home internet access that use the computers.  Without the library, many would lose what little on-line access is available. If we choose to close some branches, let's look at which ones are most used and go from there.

I love me some library.  Good stuff.  Cut it out and I'll have to enter a 12-step program.

[gmpalmer]

Wow.  Reading a lot of these posts it's clear that many of you need to spend some time in a library with a grammar book.  Srsly, dawg.

JMac -- one -- Federated (that is, Macy's now) ain't comin' here -- and they certainly wouldn't come downtown.

two -- where the homeless folk gwain go?

and Julie-Annie din't send em to Joisey.  He sent po'folks to Joisey.  He shot dem homelefs.

Now, shootin our homelefs folks sho wood be a big help

but it's mighty on the evil side o things.  You gwain start the shootin, JMac?

[JMac]

gmpalmer - thanks for the heads up about using proper grammar, that's really helpful.

My point is the library downtown attracts homeless transients.  If it weren't there, maybe some of them would move on and a major retailer would be willing to set up shop downtown.  It's seems clear that this community would rather have the library.

[copperfiend]

I don't know.  Where did Guiliani send them?

To work at Gracie Mansion?

[JMac]

I think he may have sent them to Florida.

[thekillingwax]

The main library has someone who is pretty awesome that does the music showcases, I don't know who it is but I like their style. When it first opened, I said it was an amazing space that I'd only have a short time to enjoy before it became a bum daycare and I was right. For that reason, we try and visit the other locations or go after the shelters/schulzbacher opens and it clears out. It's just sad to see it decline so rapidly and I wish there was something we could do but everything is met with cries of discrimination. Excuse me for wanting a library visit that doesn't involve some crackhead trying to discretely pleasure himself under the desk.

Maybe we'll fix it one day. In the mean time I think a lot of people now view the library as obsolete when compared to the internet and sometimes it's a lot quicker but nothing is quite as satisfying to me when you actually get to dig into a big old book and extract whatever you're looking for.

[JaxNole]

gmpalmer - thanks for the heads up about using proper grammar, that's really helpful.

My point is the library downtown attracts homeless transients.  If it weren't there, maybe some of them would move on and a major retailer would be willing to set up shop downtown.  It's seems clear that this community would rather have the library.

If you're implying we eliminate a civic asset such as the main library and allow a national retailer to move in, I think that's ridiculous.  Many major cities (that's what we're striving to become, right?), have main libraries whose frequent visitors include the homeless.

Should the Boston Public Library close and ask Nordstrom to set up shop because of the homeless population?  At least some of the homeless read and are educating themselves or using internet access to search for jobs.  I have even walked by some terminals and saw some visitors taking training courses online.

How many books, articles and other reading materials (not including blogs, tweets or tabloids) are read by the average Jacksonville resident?  No wonder our functional literacy rates are abysmal.

Keep the main library open.  Support local businesses.  Make downtown inviting for business owners to move in and make it a viable, not hostile, environment to make a living.

[Jerry Moran]

http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174799/ward_how_the_public_library_became_heartbreak_hotel

One asks "Where to send the bums?"

I say, "To the Jacksonville Municipal Barracks, located somewhere out on Yellow Water Road".  Unfortunately, our City Leaders do not have the foresight or backbone to construct such a facility.  So, we have the Library ,such as it is.

[thekillingwax]

If I were in  charge, at the main library, I'd section off that one big open area that has the great view of downtown and turn it into a "premium zone" of sorts that charged a fee, like $4/day to get into, had better seating and enforced more reader-focused rules like no kids and maybe a staff member dedicated to that section. It'd keep the bums out and provide extra revenue for the library.

[Deuce]

I'm with Jerry and I think I've voiced that before as have others. Create a center of some sorts away from downtown and the distractions of urban life where the homeless, bums, whatever, have a place to sleep, eat, and crap. There would be medical facilities to aid them, drug treatment programs for those who need it, mental health counseling for those who need it, and job training.

Of course this would cost a ton of money but with land values being considerably less in the country than the city, it might cost less per person to accomplish this. Where to get the money? Well, not to poke at the wound of raising taxes, but I'm sure most of the Downtown/Riverside/Springfield residents would support some sort of one time fee/tax to rid themselves of the transient population permanently (the city would have to ensure that any new or returning bums would be extracted quickly). As for other funding, extract it from the Churches. Make them put their money where their mouth is and do the Christian thing, help others. This action would not just help the transients, but also those who live and work downtown, and possible everyone in Jacksonville.

[fsujax]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/nyregion/29oneway.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

maybe this would help solve the problem.