Philly to close Free Libraries
Philadelphia to Close All Free Libraries
Wow! I have written often about the financial problems of various libraries all around the country, but this announcement is the biggest shut-down I have beard of to date. All Free Library of Philadelphia branch, regional and central libraries will close permanently at the end of the business day on October 2, 2009. The shut-down is “permanent” unless new funding is found.
City residents and others will lose more than 6 million items, ranging from books and magazines to art, music, film, and other media, as well as a number of special collections.
I wonder what Ben Franklin would say?</em>
Ben Franklin would say we’re living in a time of completely screwed up priorities. A nation that refuses to educate itself is one that will eventually wither and die. Now Philadelphia, like most large cities, is hurting, and this move was probably unavoidable in the short term.
But when we find ourselves at a point in history when our economic system can’t sustain libraries and swimming pools, then we need to rethink our way of living.
