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Save the Libraries. Cut University Funding Instead.

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Re: Save the Libraries. Cut University Funding Instead.

#11

Post by wtvanhest »

johnnybgoode wrote: post #7
sliverstorm wrote: post #5

Yes, university funding has already seen some cuts, but I’d rather see more cuts to universities and fewer cuts to libraries. They’re not the same thing. Of course they are not the same thing. So why are we comparing them as if they were? Rather than identifying a library's strengths and comparing that directly to universities, you should identify a library's strengths and a university's strengths, and compare the tw…

Respectfully, I don't think I've done what you say I've done. I say "they're not the same thing" because, as I said in the post, a lot of people lump them together as "investing in knowledge for society" or the like. I didn't set out to identify a library's strengths. I believe many of the university's supposed strengths are actually better applicable to libraries.

I'm not sure if universities should have their funding cut but libraries seem very foolish to keep funding. Wouldn't it be better to invest all the money currently spent on libraries in to an online library? Imagine the amount of information we could have easy access to?

Re: Save the Libraries. Cut University Funding Instead.

#12

Post by twelvechairs »

Is it really worth comparing them so simplistically? This is a point-of-view from one side, pointing at a few flaws (of many, ignoring the positives) of universities, and a few positives (of many, ignoring the flaws) of libraries.

'Comparisons are odious' as they say....

Re: Save the Libraries. Cut University Funding Instead.

#13

Post by rdl »

I think a lot of the argument for public funding of universities (and for K-12 education, even) is that public goods are created by having a highly educated population (workforce, voters, etc.)

To the extent that university education produces private goods (specific career training, credentials, etc.) there is a lot weaker argument for public funding.

The argument for public funding of universities is mostly not about it being a social safety net or producing equality of opportunity, at least not before the early 1990s or so, so that university students are generally from middle class or higher isn't as relevant.

Re: Save the Libraries. Cut University Funding Instead.

#15

Post by johnnybgoode »

wtvanhest wrote: post #11
johnnybgoode wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Respectfully, I don't think I've done what you say I've done. I say "they're not the same thing" because, as I said in the post, a lot of people lump them together as "investing in knowledge for society" or the like. I didn't set out to identify a library's strengths. I believe many of the university's supposed strengths are actually better applicable to libraries.

I'm not sure if universities should have their funding cut but libraries seem very foolish to keep funding. Wouldn't it be better to invest all the money currently spent on libraries in to an online library? Imagine the amount of information we could have easy access to?

The top story on Hacker News right now, http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3607217 (also the link I start the post with), explains one of the problems with doing that. As many important functions move online, the library is one place someone without a computer and computer skills can use to gain access to the online world.

Libraries also provide a meeting place for the community, access to librarians, and many free classes.

I do agree it makes less sense now for libraries to have large physical collections. The shift to an online library seems inevitable there. But access to this from local libraries is still important.

Re: Save the Libraries. Cut University Funding Instead.

#16

Post by sliverstorm »

rdl wrote: post #13

I think a lot of the argument for public funding of universities (and for K-12 education, even) is that public goods are created by having a highly educated population (workforce, voters, etc.) To the extent that university education produces private goods (specific career training, credentials, etc.) there is a lot weaker argument for public funding. The argument for public funding of universities is mostly not abou…

Ironically, what do the best libraries traditionally contain? Works created by highly educated individuals.

Yes, you will always have your pulp fiction, but if a library's job is to disseminate knowledge to the masses, doesn't that make libraries reliant on a source to develop that knowledge?

Re: Save the Libraries. Cut University Funding Instead.

#17

Post by chaostheory »

Given the skyrocketing costs of university education, I would think that there was a lot of waste to be found there.

Still I agree with another commenter. The real issue is why we spend so much money subsidizing corporations as well as our foreign adventures and the drug war. All of which are not sustainable in the long run.

Re: Save the Libraries. Cut University Funding Instead.

#18

Post by bmj »

sliverstorm wrote: post #16
rdl wrote: post #13

I think a lot of the argument for public funding of universities (and for K-12 education, even) is that public goods are created by having a highly educated population (workforce, voters, etc.) To the extent that university education produces private goods (specific career training, credentials, etc.) there is a lot weaker argument for public funding. The argument for public funding of universities is mostly not abou…

Ironically, what do the best libraries traditionally contain? Works created by highly educated individuals. Yes, you will always have your pulp fiction, but if a library's job is to disseminate knowledge to the masses, doesn't that make libraries reliant on a source to develop that knowledge?

This isn't an either/or matter. I suspect that plenty of highly educated individuals came from private universities. And I also suspect that there's plenty of knowledge to be had from non-educated individuals, too.

Re: Save the Libraries. Cut University Funding Instead.

#19

Post by bmj »

Lendal wrote: post #6

Good article. Unfortunately while reading it, it's difficult to ignore the fact that neither of these should be cut at all before cuts are made to overseas military campaigns, CIA, war on drugs, DHS, corporate welfare, cronyism, etc. etc.

Except the article is about a state cutting library funding. While California likely sends a fair amount of tax dollars to Washington, D.C., I'm fairly sure their state coffers are directly funding military campaigns and the DHS.

* Edit: grammar

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