Will Public Libraries Become Extinct? (Forbes, 10/2/2012)
Excerpt: Nevertheless, I believe strongly that public libraries will turn into ghost towns in five to fifteen years, at which point it will become very difficult to justify funding them and keeping them open.
Accompanied by a counterpoint written by Erica Friedman, President and Founder of Yuricon & ALC Publishing.
Excerpt: Libraries will die, because they were killed by people who never used them. Visit your local library – walk in or visit online. Ask them what they do, then be prepared to be very, very impressed.
OK, now I have an excuse -- as if I need one -- to look at some of the numbers provided by the Wisconsin Public Library Service Data.
Although public library circulation in Wisconsin has declined by 1.6% since 2009, it's still 3.4% above the 2008 total.
The number of public-access Internet computers in Wisconsin public libraries has increased 32% since 2008.
Program attendance at Wisconsin's public libraries shows a steady increase since 2008 -- up 13% overall.
On the other hand, total hours of operation for all Wisconsin public libraries remain flat.
And fewer staff members are available to provide services. (A 2.3% decline since 2008.)
Then there's the fact that communities all over the U.S. are still investing in bricks and mortar.
Plenty of other examples here.
And although they will remain anonymous I have friends and relatives who are advocates for public libraries even though they haven't visited one in years. Non-user does not, by default, equal non-support.
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