#public library
Text
The Cold Hearted Amateur Economist Studying the Annual Budget ($113.4 million proposed 2023) for the Chicago Public Library to state "This Is a Stupidly Great Deal."
I am not a professional economist.
To be clear, and to start with, I do not run economic data for real world scenarios for clients or governments or any institutions.
I do run fantasy economic models for fantasy worlds (elves, dwarves, dragons, etc.) for private clients (nerds with more cash than time).
But
to be clear
I am not a real world economist.
So there will be variables I don't know/care about.
The Chicago (hi, I live in Chicago) public library proposed budget
for 2023 is
$113,400,000
(source)
Which is a lot of money, objectively speaking, when you look at it as an annual price tag of "I need $113,400,000. For, um, this year. Next year it'll be more."
In addition to being an amateur economist, as I call myself, because I deal exclusively in fantasy-world economics exclusively
I was a professional graphic designer for many years
and have dealt with charts, graphs, information displays, etc.
for a really long time
From the above source, 24.3% (about $27,556,200) is provided by grants, leaving 75.7% (about $85,843,800) to raise.
Still a big chunk of cash.
Damn near $86 million bucks.
That would buy so many zines.
Is it worth it?! LET'S GO BACK TO "I WAS A FORMER GRAPHIC DESIGNER" and dealt with charts and things, a lot, to raise cash for weird projects, a lot.
$85,843,800 (above figure to raise) divided by 365 (sorry leap year, we're being un-generous) is $235,188.49 a day.
Nearly.
A quarter.
Million dollars.
A day.
Wow.
But wait...
...there is more than one person living in Chicago.
Which means that it is NOT a daily bill to ONE person for $235,188.49. It is a daily bill for for 1/2,665,039 PEOPLE, given the city's population.
(source)
To be fair, not everyone pays taxes, for a variety of reasons.
Since I'm not a professional economist, let's be brutally unfair and guess only 1/3 of the city pays taxes. It's far more than that, but, yknow...
...amateur economist privilege.
2,665,039 x 0.33 = 879,462.87... we'll... just round... up... this isn't SAW.
FUN FACT, though! You can borrow SAW from the Chicago Public Library for $0.00!
Resuming the point!
Daily bill of $235,188.49 sent to a collective of 879,463 people whom paying taxes to fund the library using the above math.
(Folks astute in math are going to immediately get my end point that this is cheap)
$235,188.49 (daily budget) divided by 879,463 (people)
is...
$0.26742283643 or rounded up
$0.27 per day.
The Chicago Public Library costs less than $0.30 per day per tax payer to cover the entire city.
Less.
Than $0.30.
Per day.
Per tax payer.
...wow.
You can do similar math by checking your local library's budget and comparing it to your local population and being as ungenerous, or more specific if you wish to get a closer-to-accurate number, when comparing tax payers.
If you want to say "1 out of every 3 people paying taxes is too high" (it's not, but let's just say it is for the sake of furthering my point of "the library is an intensely great deal) and instead... say...
1 out of every 5 people pay taxes
because you want to be a contrarian for whatever personal reasons
1/5 = 20%, 20% of 2,665,039 people is 533,008 (rounded up, per above SAW rules)
$235,188.49 (daily budget) divided by 533,008 (people in this ultra contrarian numbers formula) is $0.44124757977, or, $0.44 per day per tax payer.
Using 1/3 as a tax payer base is extremely low. It's easier math. I chose it to make a point.
Pushing it further to 1/5 as a tax payer base raises the daily cost by ($0.44-0.27) $0.17.
Use your local library. Your literal pocket change pays for it.
This is a "I love the library" post sponsored by the library research I am doing for a private client and work that'll be used for future Netherworld Post releases.
#library#library postings#local library#library funding#i love the library#public library#public libraries
83 notes
·
View notes
Text
So glad to finally see some momentum building to push back against ebook pricing models for libraries. I wish it didn't take huge libraries throwing around "we have millions of dollars" to give us any hope of change, but such is life.
I was in charge of ebook and e-audio purchasing for a small library several years ago, and can remember when they started phasing out their "one copy/one user" perpetual licensing model for popular titles. It seems the leasing model has only gotten more predatory since I left that role. Back in my day we could choose to pay a little less (but still a lot, maybe $30) for the metered access licenses, and the OC-OU licenses were the really extortionate ones but hey, as long as they continue to host that title on their platform your patrons can access it.
#librarian#libraries#public libraries#support libraries#library#public library#ebooks#digital lending#digital publishing
16 notes
·
View notes
Photo
Spooky season is upon us! To celebrate I put together a few designs promoting books and libraries. If you like them, feel free to use them! These are four of my poster designs! Again, these posters are absolutely free for you to print and use!
Schools and public libraries are under attack and need your support. They are facing quiet defunding, book bans, and acts of hate. Please consider contacting your local representative to ask that these institutions remain funded and protected, and show your support by stopping by your local library.
For additional Halloween freebies celebrating libraries and reading, click the link here!
If you would like to see more of my library/activism designs or would like to get these designs on a T-shirt, book bag, or sticker, you can visit my shop here.
#books#book banning#Halloween#library activism#spooky#spoopy#library displays#library posters#activism#public library#FREADom#ALA#Banned Books Week#support your local library
18K notes
·
View notes
Photo
Support Your Local Library!
Here’s 3 easy ways to get started:
1.) Get a library card (it’s free and usually just requires proof of residency!)
2.) Attend your local library’s events and programming.
3.) Advocate for increased support and funding.
Digital illustration of a redhead fem with cat eye glasses wearing a green sparkly dress. She's leaning on a bookcart next to a tuxedo cat holding a book that reads, 'support your local library.' Behind her are books with titles that are commonly banned in schools.
#art#feminism#feminist#support your local library#library#library cat#cat illustration#tuxedo cat#banned books#book bans#libraries#reading#public library#feminist art#education#education justice
3K notes
·
View notes
Text
Here's some reminders!
-Public library cards in the United States of America are free, $0, the overwhelming majority of the time, as long as you can prove your identity and your address
-If you cannot prove your address (you're experiencing homelessness or you just moved, etc), there may be a way around that to get you a free library card anyway, at least temporarily, possibly for a year or more
-If you lose your library card, many many many library systems will replace it for free and many others will do so for $1 or $2
-Many library systems are going fee or fine free as long as you return the book in good condition
-Public library systems in the US are not rolling in cash, generally speaking
-Library systems can only go fee or fine free if they are well-funded by other sources, so if your local library system charges late fees or card replacement fees and you don't like that, don't yell at the librarians - bother your elected officials instead and tell them you want them to give more funding to your local library
#librarians of tumblr#usamerican#public libraries#libraries#books & libraries#booklr#bookblr#reading#support libraries#support your local library#public library
509 notes
·
View notes
Text
Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Public library, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading is a library and lusophone cultural institution, is located in Luís de Camões Street, number 30, in the center of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is listed by the State Institute of Cultural Heritage. Wikipedia
299 notes
·
View notes
Text
December 7, 2007
#these were taken on my 5th birthday#public library#2000s childhood#found images#2000s nostalgia#kidcore#nostalgiacore#public libraries#y2k nostalgia#nostalgia#sfw agere#liminal spaces#flickr
319 notes
·
View notes
Text
New York Public Library
#dark academia#classic academia#dark acadamia aesthetic#photography#library#nyc#new your city#darkclassicwithin#books#public library#america#academia aesthetic#academia
7K notes
·
View notes
Text
The main floor of the Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago's big flagship downtown public library, has a wall of photos of various famous writers who have visited. Whenever I walk through on my way to the study rooms, I see the photos and think to myself, "Why is Tumblr cryptid and internet friend-to-all Neil Gaiman's giant photo on the wall of the library?"
Then I remind myself that's a silly thing to ask.
Everyone knows Neil Gaiman has no social media.
248 notes
·
View notes
Text
Sharing library propaganda
2K notes
·
View notes
Text
GUYS GUESS WHAT
I took my friend (who doesn't get out much and needs to have a quiet retreat space) to the library today.
I FORGOT HOW RAD THE LIBRARY IS.
-My library has private rooms with locking doors that you check out with your library card and then have keycard access to.
-These rooms are made of plexiglass for Obvious Reasons, but still. Rooms.
-I checked out a Lounge space and, guys, it's a balcony.
-It's over the main entrance to the library so you can see everyone coming in and out. The door locks so it's private, but it's also open air to the tall ceilings and has SO MUCH natural light.
-literally so much natural light the one exterior wall is floor-to-ceiling windows with a view over a fountain and a courtyard and the local shopping district. the sunset was rad.
-My laptop connected directly to the WiFi.
-There were so many people there! There are chairs spread throughout and a bunch of computers and people just chilled and hung out!
-My friend was thrilled to be able to navigate a quiet space with strangers who didn't speak to her, and then to have a retreat space.
-My library also has a Makerspace (!!!) and a Cricut machine (!!!) and I can email someone and get trained in how to use it!
-Someone was in the recording booth and I couldn't tell what she was reading but it sounded cool.
-There's a whole room along the side of the upstairs that's just for teens. Like literally just. The sign says that if you're not a teenager you should see the staff for other rooms. There wasn't anyone there when I stuck my head in but there's a giant whiteboard and orb-style chairs and
-sorry I forgot to mention that my balcony has not only a couch but also several big comfy chairs (like, I can sit on my chair and put my feet on it too and balance my book on my knees and it's STILL not too small of a chair) and a couple coffee tables and a corner where the sunlight isn't direct y'all it's so nice
-I'm so glad my tax dollars went to this, guys. We're stuck on campus for Thanksgiving break and we desperately needed to go somewhere that didn't cost money.
-for as much as I get on about the necessity of Third Spaces, you think I'd remember this.
-I also found out my friend likes Agatha Christie novels. She read me a section while I washed dishes tonight, and I think I'm gonna like them too.
#moss's musings#library#public library#go to the library#third space#solarpunk#kinda literally lol the amount of Vitamin D I got almost made up for the fact that it was dark at 5 pm#also they have a Craft and Chat on Monday nights and I've never been sadder to work on Monday nights.#the connections I could make!
302 notes
·
View notes
Text
yall look at what my library has
this is perfect for me, as a person who likes to dabble in hobbies. you can borrow a kit and learn to do it/if you like it so you don't invest in something that you don't stick with!
#library#books & libraries#adhd#hobbies#crafting#crafts#public library#community#solarpunk#odie barks
782 notes
·
View notes
Text
Internet Archive Live Hearing happens tomorrow: March 20, 2023
Here's a link to the Internet Archive's page, describing how you can participate and listen to oral arguments on Monday March 20th at 1pm ET
You may know the Internet Archive because of the Wayback Machine!!
The court case Hachette v Internet Archive is being brought to court and threatens to tear down the Internet Archive as we know it.
"The Internet Archive is a nonprofit digital library, preserving and providing access to cultural artifacts of all kinds in electronic form. CDL allows people to check out digital copies of books for two weeks or less, and only permits patrons to check out as many copies as the Archive and its partner libraries physically own. That means that if the Archive and its partner libraries have only one copy of a book, then only one patron can borrow it at a time, just like any other library. Through CDL, the Internet Archive is helping to foster research and learning by helping its patrons access books and by keeping books in circulation when their publishers have lost interest in them."
This is so important because not only does the Internet Archive provide books that are long out of circulation and copies for people to borrow, they are also used as sources for things like Wikipedia articles! Imagine if suddenly, no one could access sources that someone cites for their information! Having access to information digitally today is a very important thing, and with all of the paywalls people face nowadays for news, imagine if you suddenly had to pay for access to any books. Websites like Amazon already are attempting to replace any sort of ebook rentals with paid services, when we have the right to borrow books online just as we do physically. The Internet Archive is extremely important and one of our rights- access to information- is actively being fought against.
REMEMBER: This will not JUST affect the internet archive. This could change how libraries in general work, and could threaten public access to information. Imagine how many youtube video essay sources would be null and void, imagine just trying to research an obscure topic at 3am-- If all of that was behind a paywall, only those with money would be able to access them! The harder it is for libraries to share books and archive information, the more the public suffers!
Please show your support! Read more about the case here:
https://www.eff.org/cases/hachette-v-internet-archive
https://www.battleforlibraries.com/
I'm not sure how quick Tumblr will work on approving this blazed post but if the day/time has passed, please know that you can actively look into more information on this case and other info on the Internet Archive Blogs. You can also add your name to a list of supporters of Battle for Libraries Here.
Let's work together on making sure we have access to information! In this digital age, we deserve to access just as much online as we do offline!
#internet archive#Hachette v. Internet Archive#Battle for libraries#free speech#access to information#human rights#libraries#archive.org#wayback machine#non profit#signal boost#important#censorship#book banning#books#librarians#public libraries#public library#politics
841 notes
·
View notes
Text
travel tales: oodi library in helsinki, finland
#slowly posting pics from my recent trip to nordic countries this summer :3#study inspiration#studyblr#mine#tea-tuesday#studyspo#studying#books#reading#oodi#oodi library#helsinki#helsinki finland#architecture#interiors#stairs#library#public library#travel tales
159 notes
·
View notes
Text
Biblioteca Gabriel García Márquez. This is the public library of the Sant Martí quarter of Barcelona, Catalonia.
This library has been selected as one of the candidates for best public library awards given by the World Library and Information Congress and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.
The awards take into account a wide variety of issues, ranging from the interaction with the social and cultural networks of the neighborhood, sustainability, flexibility, comfort, architecture, digitalization, learning, social connection...
The Gabriel García Márquez library has been designed to be comfortable (they even have hammocks!), big windows that allow the use of natural light, and a sustainable and self-sufficient building. The library is specialized in Latin American literature, it also has a radio studio where people can record radio programmes and podcasts, it has a conference room, a kitchen, a table top games area and an exterior terrace. It also organises many activities including workshops on oral and documentary memory of the Sant Martí community.
Video and info (adapted) by itsxaviripoll on Instagram.
#barcelona#catalunya#sant martí#biblioteca gabriel garcía márquez#library#public libraries#public library#libraries#catalonia#travel#books#bookblr#reading#europe#arts#architecture#arquitectura#travel photography#beautiful places#wanderlust
274 notes
·
View notes
Text
you can check out dvds from the library. if you even care.
#i will not sign up for paramount stars hbo freeform peacock disney hulu plus#I can simply watch twin peaks from the library#hello is anybody there#I’m so sick of all these fucking streaming services#and yes yes I know for contemporary tv shows or super new films this isn’t an option#but the library has movies and shows !!!!#public libraries#public library#libraries#film#movies#streaming services#dark academia#txt#support libraries
160 notes
·
View notes
Last Seen Blogs
mysticberry
Ruby Quartz
nostalgicbones
selves unimaginably mine
the-writing-on-the-statue
hhhhhhh the wontons
katerynax9
Kateryna
alicechrosnyart
Sunny Alice Art