Libraries, still?

Really, who goes to the library anymore when everything is online?

Actually, I go to the library. I confess. I enjoy browsing the new fiction books, and being able to take one home risk-free to try. I admit I very much like the theory of libraries, where anyone can consume all sorta of media for free. Though I'm less in thrall of the original mission of the library, which was to keep the rabble reading "the good stuff" versus that crud you could buy on the street -- serialized pulp magazines, bad porn, political tracts, etc.

But besides iconoclasts like myself, why go? The Christian Science Monitor suggests a couple of reasons:

• seniors love the library. It's a warm place to hang out all day.


• with the downturn in the economy, more people are interested in using its resources.


• most libraries have the structual capacity to host readings, films, and the like. In fact, the library may be the most stable entertainment outlet in many cities and towns.

And then people go and close down the few libraries which remain. For shame.