• UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldOP
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      2 days ago

      Libraries provide a host of public services beyond “warehouse for books”. A big part of our digital archives come from library digitization programs. And knowing how to sort, store, and distribute this information is a vital piece of library science.

      Losing libraries means losing the tools we use to organize information on a national scale.

      • librejoe@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        yes. Personally, i use libraries because I cannot afford buying a book (mostly programming) and I don’t like split screen and can’t afford another monitor. I have used the library here in Toronto so many times they know me by name now at two branches.

  • therealjcdenton@lemmy.zip
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    4 days ago

    I don’t care if libraries get used or not, they NEED to be kept open. For the sake of information keeping and internet for those who don’t have any at home

  • DigitalTraveler42@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    As the cousin of a NY public librarian, fuck mayor Adams, but for so many more reasons than this.

    Stop voting cops in as mayor’s, because at the end of the day they’re still just corrupt cops.

  • SOB_Van_Owen@lemm.ee
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    7 days ago

    It’s shocking to see the assault on libraries across Appalachia. Sad to see it’s a broader problem. For as little finding as they require they provide critical services. So many nasty politicos trying to win some points with the lowest common denominators of humanity must see them as an easy target.

    • MonkeMischief@lemmy.today
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      7 days ago

      Yeah, across the whole country even, I think people have been discouraged from reading in general. (Heck, it’s hard to feel like you have time to just sit and read a book…Audiobooks FTW…)

      But I’m convinced this recent anti-library culture-war push is absolutely just a big PsyOp by private and public owner-class types.

      Making it about drag queens and racy books on the surface is an easy way to rile up the uneducated, to remove public free access to information without commercial motive.

      Further discouraging education by cutting off access to cultural and community events, outreach, and collections is a great way to isolate people back down to consumer-individuals and grow the hate-base.

      Libraries are absolutely under attack for being easy targets too, you’re right. And often from the inside! Our local library district has an immensely corrupt board and executive staff. It’s likely seen as an easy stepping stone to pad a resume for big CEO jobs or public office. They can get away with a lot without many people really looking too hard…

      • NιƙƙιDιɱҽʂ@lemmy.world
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        7 days ago

        is absolutely just a big PsyOp by private and public owner-class types.

        Bro, I think people just don’t ready physical books anymore lol

        • cheesepotatoes@lemmy.world
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          7 days ago

          Libraries offer far more than just books. They often double as community centers and offer lots of free services that could really help lower income demographics. They actually also offer audiobooks a lot of the time.

          Besides all that, of all government services that are available, they’re cheap as fuck to operate comparatively speaking. The only reason to target libraries is because it gets the mouth breathers thumping. Nobody burning books (metaphorically and literally) has ever been on the right side of history.

        • Gigasser@lemmy.world
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          7 days ago

          Nah they definitely still do. But reading stuff takes time, and many people in the US just don’t have that time to dedicate. So many people have to work long ass hours, and then they come back home and do you think they want to read? If they have a family or have a significant other, I think it far more likely that they would think it’s the best usage of their time to spend time with them, and in alot of ways it is. Lack of leisure time is the problem.

        • Glytch@lemmy.world
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          7 days ago

          That’s why a lot of libraries let you check out ebooks and audiobooks through apps.

          Properly funded libraries keep up with technology to better serve the community.

        • surewhynotlem@lemmy.world
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          6 days ago

          Do you think that company owners want to pay more or less for employees?

          Do you think you would pay more or less for an employee that doesn’t have any other good options for a job?

          What is the best way to expand your job options?

          Companies and politicians are absolutely incentivized to keep a good portion of the populace stupid. Critical thinking and education are detrimental to both, except where you provide some service that requires it.

    • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      It was wild to see, but New Yorkers seem to love picking the guy who promises to be the biggest asshole to homeless people.

      • Crikeste@lemm.ee
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        7 days ago

        I had the homelessness situation described to me yesterday as such: When people see homelessness, they equate it to crime. But when people think of crime, they think of violent robberies and murders. This makes those people view the homeless only through a lense of prosecution. And this view and subsequent treatment only exacerbates the problem.

  • randon31415@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    The picture included makes me think we should challenge the mayor’s hotshot skier son to a race down Triple Diamond run, and if we win the library will be saved for us punk kids to use on Sundays.

  • commie@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    7 days ago

    I asked nypl to let me pay for a library card. they won’t issue. they will issue if I walk into a branch, but it’s a temporary card unless I can prove residency.

    I don’t think they should have their budget cut but I would pay a subscription fee to access it from out-of-state.

  • moosetwin@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    7 days ago

    why is it called ‘new york public library’ if it only serves downstate new york

    that is less than half the state, I live in new york and there are no new york public library locations near me

    are you really going to let us be beaten by new jersey? new jersey?

    disclaimer

    I have a public library 5 minutes away, (though I guess not a ‘new york public library’) this comment was made mostly for the funny and more importantly to shit on new jersey

    this comment was written after staying awake over 30 hours and I am (very faintly) hallucinating the factorio express belts moving on my screen

    • Venator@lemmy.nz
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      6 days ago

      As a general rule of thumb, “New York” refers to the city, unless otherwise specified such as “New York State”, or in a list/map that’s obviously only listing/labeling states.

  • umbraroze@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    Oh no. You know shit is really terrible when they cannot even afford to communicate at 8 bits. It’s 5 bits Baudot code. Capital letters only. They actually had to pay extra for @, #, and $. Thankfully, by 1870s, % was part of the character set. My heart’s with anyone who can’t just blast UTF-8 out wherever they can.

    (Edit: In case you’re wondering why it has a weird gif attached to it: The Memelord, Musky Elon, has decreed that you can actually attach a shitty random gif FOR FREE. So of course any cash strapped institution will do so.)

  • greenskye@lemm.ee
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    7 days ago

    Edit: apparently people can’t read as I already said I support libraries and want them to exist for those that benefit from them. This was never a ‘it doesn’t help me so screw you’ type of comment. I was just sharing my experience of liking the concept, but failing to find any personal benefits and wondering if others experienced the same.

    I like the idea of public libraries, but honestly I just don’t have a lot of use for them in my life personally. Unfortunately the books I read are primarily published under Kindle unlimited, so they can’t be checked out of a library either in digital or paper form (not that many of the titles ever even have a paper copy). I don’t really watch that much TV or movies, and the ones I do watch are generally acquired from the high seas anyway, which is honestly easier than checking them out of a library. I support the concept and want them to be available to others, I just don’t personally feel like I get any value from them.

    • I_Clean_Here@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      It’s not always about you, mate. It’s a public service for all the other folks you can’t afford that shit otherwise.

      • greenskye@lemm.ee
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        7 days ago

        Which is why I said I support them and want them to be available to others?

    • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      My condo building has three stations where people can get a doggie bag to pick up their dog shit.

      Two are outside the gate and can be used by anybody.

      I benefit from people picking up their dog shit even if they don’t live here, so it’s worth it that my HOA dues go to keep those stations filled.

      Same difference. Even if you don’t use the library you benefit from people in your city having access to the services that libraries provide. You also benefit by NYPD having $53,000,000 less to spend on weapons.

      • greenskye@lemm.ee
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        7 days ago

        Yes, which is why I specifically said I support libraries and want them to be available to those of use.

        • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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          7 days ago

          The tenor of your comment was largely dismissive and negative, though. Regardless, apologies for the misunderstanding.

    • JasonDJ@lemmy.zip
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      7 days ago

      Does your local library support Libby?

      Libby is an app that allows you to use your library card to check out ebooks, audiobooks, and digitized magazines. Free to anyone with a library card (at a participating library).

      That’s one of several resources that a lot of libraries provide. Hoopla, as well, for shows and movies. And some have maker spaces, or 3d printers, or loan tools. And they usually have discount passes for local edutainment attractions (museums, aquariums, zoos, etc).

      Some give you a month subscription to genealogy sites. Lots of stuff for little kids and families, usually activities or story times or craft classes. Classes for grownups too.

      Tons of stuff at/from your local library. More than just books.

    • RBWells@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      Most of my Kindle books are checked out from our library system, and if they are missing one book in a series or don’t have something available I can request and results have been pretty good.

      There is a LOT of content for the Kindle at the library and I’m in Florida, can’t imagine we lead in this.

      Amazon keeps pushing the Kindle unlimited but I can’t see the value yet. You like it?

  • Emerald@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    I know it’s a bad situation but they could cool it with the caps. Worse legibility and readability.

    • JimSamtanko@lemm.ee
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      7 days ago

      If you have trouble reading capitalized versions of letters, the meme isn’t the problem.

      • Emerald@lemmy.world
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        7 days ago

        People don’t like reading things that don’t look appealing. For example, people could read a paragraph in Jokerman, but it’ll be more difficult and they might decide it’s not worth the effort.

        Also capital letters are less legible because we don’t just read letters, but rather their shape. And when in all caps, the letters all have the same rectangle shape.