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Renting a sewing machine from the library

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Re: Renting a sewing machine from the library

#121

Post by probably_wrong »

monssooon wrote: post #118

Ida Aukens prophecy has already come true. They own nothing and are happy about it...

You are being unfair to the spirit of the original quote.

Yes, the quote is naive in expecting a world where those who own share with those who rent without nefarious motives. But sharing, particularly in this context when profit is out of the equation, is a great idea. I don't have the money nor space for my own 3D printer, but thanks to my local library I own objectively more 3D printed stuff than I would without them.

Re: Renting a sewing machine from the library

#122

Post by bzzzt »

queenkjuul wrote: post #46

I always wanted to start a musical instrument library. I loved working in a music store, helping people pick out the right instruments for what they're trying to accomplish, but always constrained by their budget. We had a per-semester rental program for school band students, where we'd take a deposit and rental fees but we'd handle the maintenance and families could save a ton versus buying. Something similar where…

I think musical instruments, especially digital ones like synthesizers or effects but also guitars and other acoustic instruments, have become a lot more affordable the last decade without severely impacting quality. You don't really need the expensive stuff anymore when you can record a quality recording with a second hand iPad and a below $100 microphone.

Rental of expensive stuff will always be expensive too due to insurance, maintenance and fraud. It's not really helping to make stuff more accessible, more a convenience for the pro's that need stuff for a gig.

Re: Renting a sewing machine from the library

#124

Post by probably_wrong »

stein1946 wrote: post #80

I am not sure I like the direction the modern libraries are taking. Libraries should be places where people pickup books and read them, that's it. They should not be community centers, DYI hobby centers, convention/exhibition places. I feel they have been co-opted by people who have no interest in knowledge acquisition.

I'd argue the opposite: because they are focusing on knowledge acquisition they are trying to separate the medium (the books) from the objective.

40 years ago books were the only way to obtain knowledge. Nowadays even those who come for the books do so with a laptop for taking notes. If I were a librarian, it would be naive of me not to ask the question "if all the books are online, then why are we here?"

Anecdotally, on the topic of "knowledge acquisition", I used to run a drawing group. Finding a place to do so was a major problem because nobody wanted to invite strangers home and not everybody could afford the ~$20 it would take to stay at a cafe for long. A library with a meeting room would have been our dream solution and perhaps would have kept the group from dissolving.

Re: Renting a sewing machine from the library

#125

Post by gadders »

TurdF3rguson wrote: post #70
hsuduebc2 wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, that's exactly what you want in library. I understand it's tough for them but some of the homeless people are not people you enjoy you want to be around. I don't understand this need to spread this sentiment.

You will encounter homeless people in libraries, because it's one of the few public spaces that won't kick them out. Your reaction to that shouldn't be to hate and avoid libraries though. It should be to appreciate them more.

Sounds safe: https://ciceroinstitute.org/news-media/more-than-50-of-homel...

"In 8 states, over 50% of unsheltered homeless individuals are registered sex offenders.

National average: ~13% when including those with “unknown addresses.” "

Re: Renting a sewing machine from the library

#127

Post by emswift »

monssooon wrote: post #118

Ida Aukens prophecy has already come true. They own nothing and are happy about it...

What?

I’d love to be able to borrow a sewing machine, tools, etc. I live in a small flat and I don’t need permanent ownership of those things. They spend 99.5% of the time sat taking up space. What good is that? For a lot of machines it’s not good to leave them idle, or sat in a shed collecting mould and rust.

Re: Renting a sewing machine from the library

#128

Post by emswift »

stein1946 wrote: post #80

I am not sure I like the direction the modern libraries are taking. Libraries should be places where people pickup books and read them, that's it. They should not be community centers, DYI hobby centers, convention/exhibition places. I feel they have been co-opted by people who have no interest in knowledge acquisition.

As others have said, reference is something we can do easily on the internet. But I would add that sitting down and studying a text with others is something best done in person. It’s a nice social experience and better achieves the goal (also gets lazy nerds like me out of the house).

Re: Renting a sewing machine from the library

#130

Post by brap »

zajio1am wrote: post #129

Tool rental is a service that is commonly provided by private sector. I do not see a reason why this should be provided by a government. This seems like unfair competition to e.g. community hackerspaces.

Agree, and I also don’t see why government should be involved in book rental. Why books and not say, car rental? What about jetski rental?

(If the argument is that subsidizing books helps the poor, I’m all for it, a nonprofit or a charity would be a much better framework)

This is the public sector M.O, instead of admitting something is obsolete they grab more scope and funding.

My local post office now sells iPhones. And why shouldn’t they? Nobody stopped them when they just sold SIM cards, and then cases and chargers. It’s like a law of nature.

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