"Are libraries necessary, or a waste of tax money?" The headline for Anna Davlante's post on Fox Chicago News is phrased as a question, but it seems like she's got a particular answer in mind. "Keeping libraries running costs big money," Davlante points out. "In Chicago, the city pumps $120 million a year into them. In fact, a full 2.5 percent of our yearly property taxes go to fund them. That's money that could go elsewhere--like for schools, the CTA, police or pensions"
That leads her to count library visitors on a camera. "In an hour, we counted about 300 visitors. Most of them were using the free internet. The bookshelves? Not so much." She does admit, though, that libraries raise some money as well--through fines.[H/t: Slatest]
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Heather Horn
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