[markbnine]

Our local library is more like a free internet shop with half the terminals taken up by transients and the other half by kids from the nearby jr. high, playing shoot-em ups. It's impossible to get a terminal. They also have a huge DVD collection that rivals the old blockbusters. Not sure who's checking out books anymore.

[sedachv]

You missed this part of the interview:

People have moral panics about bedbugs in their library or perverts in the library or — you’ll catch a cold from the library, like, whatever the thing is. And there’s a shred of truth to that, but realistically people are afraid of their own public, I think, in a lot of ways. And so being kind of matter-of-fact about the fact that, “Well, these really are who your neighbors are. Like, you can choose just to ignore that that’s how the world works, but you know, these are all your neighbors, and you see them all at the public library. You’re welcome.

[Mz]

Your library has terrible policies. Good libraries have policies in place for allotting computer time fairly in order to adequately serve all members.

Your library may also be underfunded. This is an issue for a lot of libraries.

[sanderjd]

My library is like that as well, except that there is a good "reserve a computer" system that means you just have to wait a bit to get one, and lots of people (including me!) are still regularly checking out books.

[gumboshoes]

User complains that there are also other users. Film at 11.

[booksnobbery]

What makes anyone's needs or social status less valid than any other library patron?

[rwallace]

I don't think it's valid to prioritize access on the basis of social status, but I do think it's valid to prioritize need before entertainment. If you're playing a game and someone comes along who needs to fill out a job application form and there are no free terminals, you have a moral obligation to give up your seat.