I'm sure anyone who has been to a library over the last few years has probably seen that libraries have weird as hell hours, and they seem to change often into more annoying and weirder hours. Well where I live they've just decided to cut the libraries hours from the sad 48 they were open a week, down to 24. That goes for all libraries in the county. They are also debating on closing all the libraries in the county next year.

While its true not as many people read anymore so this shouldn't have as much of an effect on the world at large other than causing some people to become unemployed, the real problem lays with the internet. Most businesses post jobs online and have their applications on line and all that good stuff. There are many people without any internet access other than libraries. That's where they go to look for jobs and check on things. Take away that, and then that affects the unemployed people.

Now one could say that the people will just find other means and it will all sort itself out in the end. Those who would say that have never been in that situation. I have. If I have to go back into that situation, no library is going to more than just inconvenience my life.

btw, I do actually check out books from time to time, so thats important too.

Libraries serve two purposes:
They are able to help anyone a little.
They are able to help specific people a lot.

Anyone needing a quick read of a book, or internet access, can do so at the library. Then again, people looking to research a topic in depth can loan a collection of books, all of which are invaluable. Without libraries we lose that ability to become truly gripped on a subject (unless you are web savvy enough to escape the bullshit online - which is nearly impossible).
Books are a content according to a single, often respectable, author.
The internet is the blind collaboration of many, unknown, often deceiving or biased authors.

It's quite clear that the internet can never substitute true research done in books, but sadly you can't really get this message across to most people

When its the end of libraries, I fear its probably near the end of actual hard work and intelligence...

I love reading and learning...all of which a library can offer anyone. Libraries have to be one of my favorite places to visit for hours on end and sit around at. My city is rather small, so I only have one library near me and it, just like the city, is small. But even the smallest of libraries server a purpose.

Most of the people in my family read so much we have two whole rooms dedicated to shelves and boxes filled with many different books...I barely meet people who don't read at all though. I will feel bad when I do...dunno why.

*Good post Sparrowsmith. You said exactly what I was going to say, especially the bit after "Without libraries". *