ddickinson: Governments seem to be putting all their eggs in the internet basked. When the small library I used to work at closed, the reason given was that with the increase of internet users and more people using ebooks, that the use of libraries is becoming obsolete and with the recession, it was just not viable to keep open. This was despite the fact that the library had a very good footfall (it was a medium(ish) library that catered for all of the nearby villages and was always well used). Even school libraries are closing, with the schools relying on internet for the student to use as a research tool.
It seems somewhat narrow minded, as not everyone likes ebooks or using the internet for research and education. We used to get a lot of older people who came to borrow books and to socialise (which is viral for their health - isolation can destroy a person, especially an elderly person) and because they had no idea, or inclination, how to use a computer, they relied on the library as their source of education and readiing.
One of the authors I read made a very good point. With ebooks, you need an initial outlay in order to get an ebook reader. You also need an internet connection to download the books.
Some people can't afford the electricity to charge the reader, let alone to buy it!
What this is doing in effect is limiting reading to the middle class and above. Anybody below the breadline need not apply. This is discrimination. Not the sign of a balanced society. :(
We also see an awful lot of traffic from the unemployed who use our computers to search and apply for jobs. They make and print out their CVs. In fact, the Job Centre tells them to come to us. They tell them to use the library resources to better themselves.
There's no risk of the library closing here, but our service has deteriorated massively. We couldn't handle the volume of traffic that came through sometimes, and now they've also cut more jobs.
4 people to handle a 3 storey library? The computer says "yes", reality says "no".