Closing the Book on Libraries

When a friend sent me this notice "Philadelphia's Libraries are Closing", I thought it was a joke; some satire of an intellectual cynic who is frustrated with the top three headlines of the day coming from the most high-brow and predictable of human development, the Video Music Awards. But it wasn’t. It wasn’t a joke or satire, but a headline and notice far more jolting. The closing or the threatening of shutting the Free Library of Philadelphia’s branches, the first book loan started by the America’s Enlightenment age, represents the nadir of the city and state government. Living in this area for the majority of my life, I am well aware of the constant attacks against the library system when money gets tight. I remember the consolidation seven years ago and the pleas to become friends of the Library with tax deduction donations. I even recall one notice that the library couldn’t buy any more books because their budget had depleted. This newest notice is not surprising, especially since they have not passed a budget and some emergency personnel have not received checks in months. But I thought I’d take a moment reminiscing about my experience with the library and finish with my new found conclusion of this mess.

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