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Re:The last thing libraries need is Silicon Valley “disrupti... by bobthepanda on Friday July 27, 2018 @04:49PM (#17629257)
It becomes another quiver in the arguments of small-government zealots. Why do we need social services when good Christians donate to charity? Why do we need public transit when Lyft and Uber are here to save the day?

A more pertinent link: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2018/01/02/question-li...

> But Hale and Schmidt point to at least one place where Little Free Libraries are seen as a substitute for true public library services. When budget cuts caused the El Paso (Tex.) Public Library to implement a $50 annual fee for nonresidents to use the library system, the tiny town of nearby Vinton came up with a plan: five Little Free Libraries spread around the community. The town would build them, and keeping them stocked with books would be up to the people of Vinton themselves.

> When Detroit Public Library (DPL) closed its Gabriel Richard branch in 2011, 4th graders at a local elementary school installed a colorful painted bookcase and a sign reading “Outdoor Library” in front of the shuttered building. It was one of four libraries to close that year—two have since reopened, though only two to three days a week.

Re:The last thing libraries need is Silicon Valley “disrupti... by kasey_junk on Friday July 27, 2018 @05:44PM (#17629672)
Again in both of those places the book boxes were reactions to changes in the library funding not causes.

I see the argument could be made. I’m wondering how often it is.

And I’d be shocked if it was ever made by people who are housing book boxes. Quite the opposite I’d bet they were generally strong proponents of public libraries.