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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Top Galleries: December 6, 2006 Will libraries go the way of the buggy whip? As voters clutched tightly to their collective wallets this November, funding for operating Jackson County libraries felt the pinch. Despite support for a capital bond years ago that built new modern facilities throughout the county, this year's levy to guarantee needed operational funds for these respective libraries failed to earn similar approval. That ensuing silence now heard is pregnant with the obvious question: Well, what do we do now? The county library officials hope current funding from federal timber funds will not be scaled back, which is a distinct possibility. Should this second blow in the funding combination of the libraries connect, our entire system could be down for the count. A new system of haves and have nots may result, in which cities like Ashland, with more resources, could break out and keep the their libraries open and vital, while other towns around the county cut staff, whittle down hours of operation and/or close altogether. Or perhaps the time has come to reassess a library system built on physical stacks of books in a world where cyber-space information reigns. Another silent pause ensues loaded with another rather obvious question: Are voters telling us that libraries as we know them — as we just paid millions to build — have outlived their usefulness? If true, let that one sink in. Perhaps the future holds a regional library in Medford, home to all the books, while local communities become wired spokes of this larger modern wheel. Perhaps? As one member of our board said, "I'm not ready to live in that world yet." Libraries are more than just stacks of books. They provide a community center for people to gather and hold meetings. They provide a fun place for children to be exposed to books, for adults to read to them and for storytellers to open their imaginations. Our library is a prominent building near the center of town that says we prioritize education, cultural and community. And its worth defending, exactly as it is. One of our readers wrote a letter to Jackson County Commissioners. We echo his sentiment and share it again here below: "Gentlemen: "Just before The Roman Empire fell, they closed their libraries. They felt the institutions were no longer worthy of 'good' taxpayer money. "This was followed by the Barbarian invasion, who finished the job by burning the buildings to the ground. It worked for 400 years. "Harry Truman said a few years later, 'if we know nothing of history, we are doomed to repeat it.' Your move gentleman. Please practice creative politics. Find the damn money ('good' or otherwise). "A voter." Current Comments: Even though no one's going to argue with the Truman quote...which has been beaten into the ground forever...let's address the more challenging fact: That we are "repeating history" ad infinitum...WITH libraries festooned across the U.S. landscape...wasteland. One of the problems is that mainstream news and books --the primary fare of all our main institutions-- make up the vast majority of what's on the shelves, the tables, etc., and they do anything but serve as a hedge against "repetition." Richard Oxman ( rmoxmanATyahoo.com ) - Los Gatos, CA - December 6th, 5:54 PM Anyone who's spent some useful hours in a library should know that the "Truman quote" is not by Truman, but by George Santayana. Santayana is referring of course to countless human-caused disasters--such as war--resulting from ignorance of the past. If we're too dumb now to keep our libraries open, we'll be even dumber tomorrow, and will almost certainly prove yet again the wisdom of Santayana's maxim. I. Walker - Ashland, OR - December 6th, 8:40 PM If libraries go can the Tidings be far behind? Graham Lewis - Ashland, OR - December 6th, 8:50 PM I don't believe the tidings is run by the county but hey have been run by mickey mouse and donald duck ann - ashland or - December 6th, 11:28 PM BBC International recently had a nice series on internet use.They interviewed a lot of young people who said they were not using the libraries anymore because it was so much easier to find the information and reading they wanted on line. Libraries might need to introduce some innovative ideas to keep young people interested. Steve L. Iverson - Ashland, Jefferson - December 7th, 10:09 AM When the libraries go, so will the ability of the citizens of this community to study and learn. A library is essential because it gives people a place to learn the value of sitting quietly with a book and opening their minds. After that is gone, all we will have is the disjointed thinking patterns of internet learning. That is truly scary. Jon - Ashland - December 7th, 10:59 AM Ashland is the enlightened community in Jackson County, voting 65% to keep the libraries open. Every precinct in Ashland and Talent voted to keep the libraries open, while the rest of Jackson County (except for the Rogue Manor) voted to close the doors. Libraries have become more than bricks and books, they are community centers and internet access centers. If we lose them, we lose the foundation of our community. Jim ( [email protected] ) - Ashland - December 7th, 1:35 PM Jim, Ashland is not an enlightened community, it is just full of rich people who love taxes. Leo ( [email protected] ) - ashland or - December 8th, 1:14 PM Nonsense, Leo. Ashland is not "just full of rich people who love taxes". That is just your narrow opinion. No one "loves" taxes, but most feel some obligation to support programs and services that benefit everyone in the community and improve the value of a community. People move to Ashland because of high quality services and programs. Close the libraries and Ashland will no longer be attractive. Rich people (whoever they are) middle class and no one else will be moving to Southern Oregon. Jim - Ashland, OR - December 8th, 1:55 PM Well Jim, maybe closing the library is what Ashland needs. The city doesn't seem to want new people moving here by not allowing the expansion of the urban growth boundary, which could possibly create some affordable housing. It seems like Ashland is hell-bent on keeping people out with the exception of rich folks from California. By Jim's reasoning, "close the libraries and Ashland will no longer be attractive". Right on!! Leo ( [email protected] ) - ash - December 8th, 3:07 PM I am tired of the statement that the internet will 'kill' the library. Go to the Ashland library and wait to get on a terminal. I hear that Multnomah County has the HIGHEST per capita library use in the nation, that Eugene is third or something. What sort of sorry democracy are we that can't fund education and libraries? George Kramer - Ashland, OR - December 8th, 4:37 PM Leo-It's not that they love taxes,it's how they make their guilt go away.Oh,and the real estate folks are keeping the pressure up on refusing to extend the growth boundry-don't want property values going down.That could also effect taxes!Vicious circle. Kramer-Internet could kill libraries, unless the libraries embrace this technology and multiply the resources like Eugene and Multnomah County.Right now, Ashland Library is just a daytime homeless shelter.No one wants to support that. Steve L. Iverson - Ashland, Jefferson - December 8th, 9:12 PM A day time homeless shelter? Have you ever seen how many kids go to the Library? Didn't you go to the library when you were a kid? To study or look at books you can't look at on the internet? Steve, you are a major blowhard on nearly every subject, generally coming off as pompous and ignorant. Maybe you should try commenting about a place you've actually been, instead of a library which you obviously know nothing about. Most of the books in the library are not available on the internet. Cocerned Parent - Ashland, Oregon - December 10th, 4:27 PM Concerned-I certainly am very opinionated. Quite possibly ignorant at times. But I do speak from experience. Visiting the library twice recently I had the unpleasant experience of walking in on a man bathing in the sink of the restroom and two other gentleman who I couldn't sit near do to their offensive odor. So, maybe I'm a little miffed due to those two experiences. Don't the children have libraries at their schools? You make me sound like I don't support children's access to books. Steve L. Iverson - Ashland, Jefferson - December 10th, 11:35 PM Oh, you support children's access to as many books as their little school can afford, is that it? But you don't support access for people who offend you with their smell. Everything is on the internet, you say. Have you ever looked at an oversized art book printed with metallic inks on the internet? No, because it's impossible to see the fine textures, reflections, subtleties, ancient typefaces, I could literally go on forever, and that's just one book. The library is worth more than any school. Concerned Parent - Ashland, Oregon - December 11th, 6:20 PM I support access to the library for those that don't shower.I just won't go there anymore. You make some wonderful points about art and the wonders that you can find at the library that are not yet available on the internet. However,as technology continues to improve,even your art books will become outdated as the wonders of virtual reality will bring you an even clearer picture than the pages of a book. The original question was will libraries go the way of the buggy whip? Yes, someday. Steve L. Iverson - Ashland, Jefferson - December 11th, 9:53 PM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.