'Twaddle': librarians respond to suggestion Amazon should replace libraries

[sl8]

From https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jul/23/twaddle-librarians-respond-to-suggestion-amazon-should-replace-libraries

'Twaddle': librarians respond to suggestion Amazon should replace libraries

Piece in Forbes magazine said libraries ‘don’t have the same value they used to’ and cost taxpayers too much

Kate Lyons
Sun 22 Jul 2018 23.38 EDT Last modified on Mon 23 Jul 2018 00.01 EDT

Librarians are in uproar after an article in Forbes magazine proposed replacing all public libraries in the US with Amazon bookstores.

Panos Mourdoukoutas, a professor of economics at LIU Post in New York, wrote for Forbes that libraries “don’t have the same value they used to” and should be replaced permanently by Amazon book shops.

“At the core, Amazon has provided something better than a local library without the tax fees. This is why Amazon should replace local libraries,” wrote Mourdoukouta. “The move would save taxpayers money and enhance the stockholder value of Amazon all in one fell swoop.”

...

More at link.

Forbes article:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2018/07/21/amazon-should-replace-local-libraries-to-save-taxpayers-money/#3875fe2960a8

[Aristus]

1. No doubt spoken with the unshakeable assurance of the functionally illiterate...

[mrs_p]

2. I noticed the article wasn't up this morning.

I’ve tried several ways to access it. Maybe Forbes took it down?

[sl8]

12. The link doesnt work for me now, either.

It worked for me a few minutes before my original post, but didnt work a few minutes later.

[sl8]

13. Link to archived page:

http://archive.is/dQmJp

[Freethinker65]

3. Thankfully I live in an area that values its library

It is well used throughout the community both in person and online. The library also offers space for learning programs, for community discussions and meetings, for WiFi use, for lectures, for entertainment (book/movie/game/knitting/etc.), for senior programs, etc.
The function of a library is not to sell a product.

[Initech]

4. Same!

In fact my city's library is moving out of its' facility and into a much bigger one, and that squashes this stupid idea. I swear the idiots are taking over!

[RKP5637]

7. Idiocracy is alive and well in the US championed by a moronic fool at the top. n/t

[struggle4progress]

5. "We libertarians don't really have any ideas. But we do have an ideology!"

[RKP5637]

6. Utterly stupid proposal! n/t

[CrispyQ]

8. He's a professor?

Oh, of economics. Got it. "...enhance the stockholder value of Amazon..."

[FSogol]

9. My county is building & rennovating their libaries. They are more busy than ever. n/t

[BeckyDem]

10. Our library and nearby town libraries are expanding, even their parking lots.

Their value is priceless.

[genxlib]

11. Idiotic elitism

Because only people with money should know how to read.

My wife works in the City library system and it is a thriving place. While the traditional book lending is down, they are finding new ways to serve the community through programming, classes and online lending.

Ironically, the biggest challenge they have is that they have become unofficial homeless shelters because they are the only place the homeless can find a comfortable spot out of the heat. No doubt because assholes like the writer declared real homeless shelters not worthy of the tax money.