[minikites]

While I believe the LFL idea originated from an honorable place, we need to do more to support actual libraries and (much more importantly) the staff there who play an important role in public education and assisting patrons in evaluating information:

https://www.citylab.com/life/2017/05/the-case-against-little...

>“As a librarian, my gut reaction to that was, ‘You know what else is a free library? A regular library.’”

[mikeash]

I don’t see these taking away from normal libraries in any way. Why is this the reaction?

[minikites]

It reinforces the notion that libraries are just self-service book warehouses, complete ignoring the role that curation plays and ignoring the essential services that a traditional library provides (reference services, interlibrary lending, etc)

[rossdavidh]

Wow, that article is a great way to pour acid on a generous impulse.

[spamlord]

I'm pretty sure we can have both...

[minikites]

Not if people keep voting to cut funding to public services. If people see libraries as value-less book warehouses, they're going to be voted out of existence.