I Say Yes

I love libraries. Growing up, our local library was a great place to study, read, or wait for the bus, and was a never-ending source of new and interesting information. I’ve moved away but still donate, because I want others to enjoy the benefits I had. Libraries are idea repositories, the physical embodiment of one of humanity’s most impressive accomplishments: the preservation and dissemination of knowledge. The real genius of our current iteration of this concept, however, is that we made so many of our libraries free.

Once upon a time, only the rich could afford books. (Heck, for a long time, few could read at all. And while we’re here, feel free to take a quick detour into the world of traditional bookbinding.)

Now, we all benefit when we all learn.

To those who say that the world is worse than ever? I give you public spaces filled with the magic of ideas, free for the borrowing.

Libraries are a great source for reading material but can also supply music, movies, information, classes, tools, seeds, eclipse glasses, museum passes, fishing poles, a taxidermied sandhill crane, or help with your taxes.

How cool is that?

Why am I talking about libraries? Because PBS has a new documentary about the evolution of the public library system in the US, and it got me thinking. Here’s a review from another national treasure, NPR:

‘Free For All’ review: This library documentary is worth checking out

…this documentary ends up covering all sorts of ground. The historical beginnings of American libraries, with nods to Ben Franklin and Andrew Carnegie. The growth and importance of tiny branches in rural communities. And, at each stop, a focus on individual libraries, librarians and everyday patrons.

Those in the US can watch the full film here:

Free for All: The Public Library – Independent Lens

How public libraries shaped a nation and remain a beloved sanctuary for Americans today.

If you can’t access the film, here’s a bonus article:

10 Ways Public Libraries Make Our Lives Better

Any answer must begin, of course, with books.

It asks, “With the internet putting a seemingly infinite supply of answers, arguments, and amusements at our fingertips, do we still need libraries?”

I say yes.

* * *

Photo by Christian Garcia on Unsplash

#365Ways #365Ways2025 #books #creativity #freeReads #innovation #inspiration #libraries #library #nationalTreasures #news #NPR #publicLibraries #reading #Thoughts

Astronomie mit Überschall! 1973 ist eine Concorde dem Mondschatten hinterher geflogen um die längste Sonnenfinsternis ever zu beobachten. Wie das gelaufen ist und was es gebracht hat, erfahrt ihr in der neuen Folge der Sternengeschichten: sternengeschichten.podigee.io/…

Sternengeschichten LIVE Tickets: sternengeschichten.live

Sternengeschichten Folge 649: Der Finsternisflug der Concorde

STERNENGESCHICHTEN LIVE TOUR 2025! Tickets unter https://sternengeschichten.live Astronomie mit Überschall! 1973 ist eine Concorde dem Mondschatten hinterher geflogen.

^{Sternengeschichten}

17 شهيدا بينهم 3 أطفال إثر قصف إسرائيلي على مدينة خانيونس جنوبي قطاع غزة – موقع قناة المنار – لبنان:عاجل#

17 شهيدا بينهم 3 أطفال إثر قصف إسرائيلي على مدينة خانيونس جنوبي قطاع غزة – موقع قناة المنار – لبنان:عاجل# 17 شهيدا بينهم 3 أطفال إثر قصف إسرائيلي على مدينة خانيونس جنوبي قطاع غزة منذ 54 mins 3 May، 2025 (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src="…

beiruttime-lb.com/17-%d8%b4%d9…

17 شهيدا بينهم 3 أطفال إثر قصف إسرائيلي على مدينة خانيونس جنوبي قطاع غزة – موقع قناة المنار – لبنان:عاجل#

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The polling station is across the road from my house. Alice isn't impressed.

#cats #CatsOfMastodon #caturday #auspol

I want to say this is really old technology, but I'm not sure I'm remembering right; either way, kudos to these kids for DOING THE THING with it.

(h/t GoodGoodGood)

3 teens invented a salt-powered refrigerator that doesn't need electricity. They're building 200 of them. businessinsider.com/teens-win-…

3 teens snag $12,500 award for building a salt-powered refrigerator

The Thermavault refrigeration unit can keep vaccines cool with a reusable salt solution. The teens who built it plan to test it at 120 hospitals.

^{Morgan McFall-Johnsen (Business Insider)}

Gobierno nacional extiende el Plan de Ahorro Eléctrico por dos semanas más

#02May

vtv.gob.ve/gobierno-nacional-e…

スイスの任務へのカタロニアの法律の、ザパテロの憲法的な突然変異の旅

2006年4月、ホセルイスロドリゲスザパテロはランクロアに2年間滞在していました。この口径のイニシアチブの前にこれまでにないことに分けられた議員の議会は、カタロニアの法令の改革を承認したばかりでした（PSOEの投票で ... CIU、しかしPPやERCのものはありませんが、2か月後、少数のカタロニア人が十分ですが、少数派（49％が参加し、「はい」が投票に行った人の74％の支持を得ました）は、国民投票で承認されました。 その後、ザパテロは「10年以内にスペインが強くなる」と「カタロニアはスペインでよりよく統合される」と述べた。その法定改革の20年後、1978年以来5番目の政府大統領の声明は、最大の政治的、社会的および「カタロニア」の瞬間の1つを住んでいました。カタロニアのナショナリズムはここで理解されています。…

dtpnews.com/2025/05/03/nihongo…

スイスの任務へのカタロニアの法律の、ザパテロの憲法的な突然変異の旅 - DTPNews

Tiempo de lectura This post has 83 words .This post has 3516 characters.This post take 0.277 minute to read.

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