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Bezos should put his billions in public libraries

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Re: Bezos should put his billions in public libraries

#71

Post by MikkoFinell »

melling wrote: post #5

“So far, you’ve concentrated on things that might benefit our distant successors” ... “space trave, cancer treatments, AI” I would hope we’re going to make large strides in these in his lifetime. If we could effectively funnel more into R&D sooner, we’d all see the benefits sooner. Cancer(s), for example, might be cured in say 2060 with our current effort, but if we solved the problem by 2030, hundreds of millions wo…

We should solve general AI first, because then those other problems would be solved within two months.

Re: Bezos should put his billions in public libraries

#72

Post by jasode »

eutropia wrote: post #53
graphitezepp wrote: post #15

I would much rather billionaire types take on large issues that governments don't want to touch, like space flight or specific diseases in foreign countries, than something already in service like libraries. Maybe I just have a bias due to having a library just up the street from where I live currently, but I have never not had access to an adequate library in my life time, and only see room for marginal diminishing…

Libraries have such an enormous impact on people that need them! It's as if you read the article and completely ignored all the points the author made -- musical instruments, tools, and art being loaned out. Makerspaces, computers with internet access, free classes, resume help, job applications -- a politically neutral meeting space! These are actually amazing investments because they're getting incredible duty-cycl…

>It's as if you read the article and completely ignored all the points the author made [...] Think of the library as the efficient distribution center of Common Good.

One can agree with all the positives mentioned in the article and your points as well but still question if there is an _even better_ investment than libraries that will result in the most good.

Even Jeff Bezos' wealth is finite so spending it is a zero-sum game. Donating to public libraries means money not donated to researchers needing $1m to find cures/antibiotics that would benefit all of humanity more than upgrading libraries. (Or whatever other recipient you can imagine that could have a greater multiplier effect of that money than libraries.)

Maybe libraries are the best use of his donation money. Maybe not.

Re: Bezos should put his billions in public libraries

#73

Post by komali2 »

orik wrote: post #66

I’m sure thousands of people have ideas of how Bezos should spend his. Bezos should spend (or not spend) in ways and things he values, to maximize what he gets out of what he’s earned. (P.S. libraries compete with his book selling business! Why wouldn’t he rather sell a ‘library pass’ on a kindle for a monthly subscription?)

Kindle is very well integrated with library services already.

Also, they do sell a month-to-month "kindle unlimited" service. It kind of sucks though (last I used it, anyway).

Re: Bezos should put his billions in public libraries

#75

Post by saosebastiao »

Here's a better idea...and one that will ultimately benefit libraries as well: start buying out all the evil academic publishers, overhaul their technology, get rid of copyright assignment, and offer free access to anyone.

Then do the same with legal records, although that is more of a legal problem than a money problem.

Re: Bezos should put his billions in public libraries

#77

Post by rubatuga »

soperj wrote: post #60
stillsut wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let me give you a hypothetical company IT department: while you are allowed to work there with any education background, only an MBA can be a manager. How do you think they would perform at IT tasks? Who runs libraries? People with Masters in Library Science. I expect severe budget and certification crises would come to any library that won't put a certified librarian in a head position. Or, I'm a working class guy a…

Libraries in Canada have the same stipulations, but are actually funded and are open all the time. Our downtown library is open 9am-9pm every day of the year.

That's a severe overgeneralization and I can tell you that is not the case.

Re: Bezos should put his billions in public libraries

#78

Post by striking »

orik wrote: post #66

I’m sure thousands of people have ideas of how Bezos should spend his. Bezos should spend (or not spend) in ways and things he values, to maximize what he gets out of what he’s earned. (P.S. libraries compete with his book selling business! Why wouldn’t he rather sell a ‘library pass’ on a kindle for a monthly subscription?)

He sent out a request for comment on this. It's not just a random ask.

Re: Bezos should put his billions in public libraries

#79

Post by cookiecaper »

magic_beans wrote: post #31
sddfd wrote: post #30

Why would anyone think libraries are important in 2017? If things keep getting digitalized at the current speed, all knowledge of the world will be accessible online in our lifetime. Unless you believe that a large percentage of citizens will not be able to afford a device for accessing the internet, libraries are a waste of money. Oh and since librarians were mentioned, if AI keeps advancing, we will be able to have…

It's not belief. It's fact that a large percentage of citizens are unable to access desktop computers for work/jobs, though they might have an internet-enabled phone. Have you ever been to a library in the inner city, or in any big city for that matter?

If that's the issue, why spend the money building libraries instead of making computers cheaper and more accessible?

Computerized/digital information sources are far more efficient than physical information sources by practically any measure. They are not only easier to use, but they are easier to store, ship, etc. One thick textbook is much heavier than a single Kindle that could store the information equivalent of 100 thick textbooks, and dust mites won't eat the pages of your Kindle. Pretty much the only thing it's missing is a built-in solar power source, but you can probably attach it to USB solar power source, and it seems it'd be easier to get that infrastructure in place v. a whole library.

Seems like we're missing the forest for the trees here.

Re: Bezos should put his billions in public libraries

#80

Post by Apocryphon »

saosebastiao wrote: post #63
balls187 wrote: post #51

Fix traffic and housing in Seattle.

Traffic and housing in Seattle are problems only the government can solve, as they're the ones that created the laws and incentives that cause the problems. No use dumping money into a pit.

What if they could fund an easier, more efficient way to lobby?
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