Do we need Public Libraries?

Yes, we do. My local library is brand new (well only 3 yrs old) & right next door to a park w/a playground. My DD's love it & we go there often.

Libraries are a must to have.

Yes, absolutely.

Cities in trouble should look into privatizing through companies like Library Services & Systems. That company runs my county's library system, and ours has been growing continuously, unlike other counties surrounding us.

Yes I love the library! When my daughter was little we went all the time for story hour, puppet shows, author readings...... Public libraries and Public Schools are what made America great. Education is the great equalizer. When I was a kid I use to ride my bike to the local bookstore or the library when it was time for dinner my mom would call the bookstore or library and ask them to send me home. Small town and safer times....

I hate to say this, I really do, because libraries bring so many benefits to the community and are so widely used...but if we don't have money, I agree that they should be among the first to receive cuts when budgets are reduced. They don't provide services that can't be sought other places, unlike the DMV or police.

Yes!

yes we need public libraries - it might be -in times of depression and recession - we dont buy new books... we might not have the libraries open 6 days a week - maybe only 3 - but its for the poor - (lord knows rich people arent inviting bed bugs into their homes with borrowed books - heck i am middle class and i wont do it) - and we cannot let the gap in learning being the poor and other classes get worse.

The economy is inthe dumpster. There have been cuts all across the board Well not in the president's office or congressmen's)

Now more than ever we need public libraries. People's budgets are cut too and books might have to come well after food clothing and shelter.

Public Libraries have been an extremely useful tool for most families for a very long time. I believe that Ben Franklin started the first public library...so they have been around quite awhile. In our current economic stress, though, I can understand budget cuts on libraries around our country... Unfortunately, libraries tend to get the brunt of the deal in certain towns. To answer your question... Yes. Libraries are necessary and a much needed thing for us and our precious children.

Yes!