Austin just built a $150 million library which is a huge waste of money, if all it did was provide a storehouse for books.
However, it is a community center where the community can get together. That is one of the key charges of a city. Libraries are like parks, while parks let us recreate outdoors, libraries let us recreate intellectually indoors, and athletic centers let us recreate physically indoors.
The austin library has kitchens for cooking classes etc. Conference rooms for community groups, class rooms, etc.
We had a techshop, but they couldnt survive. Techshop is exactly the type of thing a library could provide. Access to machines and education on how to design and build things.
While I voted against the bond that funded the library, I recognize that there is definitely value that the "free market" cant provide.
The same goes for parks, hike/bike trails, nature preserves, museums, pools, athletic centers etc.
However, it is a community center where the community can get together. That is one of the key charges of a city. Libraries are like parks, while parks let us recreate outdoors, libraries let us recreate intellectually indoors, and athletic centers let us recreate physically indoors.
The austin library has kitchens for cooking classes etc. Conference rooms for community groups, class rooms, etc.
We had a techshop, but they couldnt survive. Techshop is exactly the type of thing a library could provide. Access to machines and education on how to design and build things.
While I voted against the bond that funded the library, I recognize that there is definitely value that the "free market" cant provide.
The same goes for parks, hike/bike trails, nature preserves, museums, pools, athletic centers etc.