If you have ever tried to do research you know how vital libraries are. Once you leave the University environment you lose a lot of access to fundamental results. Industry needs to keep up with the leading edge but is denied access.
Hopefully people will stop locking up research results under paid subscriptions, which would make a public library equal to University libraries. That would make them a place where new knowledge could build on prior work.
At the present time my local library is a book exchange program for read-once detective novels.
That said, the ability to read books without fee is important for people who cannot afford to spend a lot of money for entertainment.
If you're disappointed in what's on the shelves at your local library, ask the librarian about inter-library loan. Depending on what networks they participate in, they may be able to get nearly any book you ask for, with some delay to request and ship it from another branch or organization.
Hopefully people will stop locking up research results under paid subscriptions, which would make a public library equal to University libraries. That would make them a place where new knowledge could build on prior work.
At the present time my local library is a book exchange program for read-once detective novels. That said, the ability to read books without fee is important for people who cannot afford to spend a lot of money for entertainment.