Libraries Can Be More Than Just Books (2017)
nytimes.com
nytimes.com
When the idea of the public library was first conceived, information was published and disseminated using print media - books, newspapers, magazines and the like. The role of the public library wasn't to give books to the public, it was to give information to the public. But at the time the best way to give access to this information was using a room full of books, they used the same name for both a room full of books (a library) and a place where the public could get information (a library).
Now days, since the source and publication of information has changed so dramatically, the role of the public library must stay the same - to provide free and easy access to information to the public. But how they perform that role must change.
all information is useful, as utility is dependent on the context for which the information is needed.
Edit: I've probably overstated my point. I'm not sure I believe too much is worse than none at all, but it's certainly worse than a well-curated selection.
There are so many things that people will buy and only use once or twice a year, if even that often. We could save ourselves a lot of productive effort and resources by putting a few versions of these things in a library for hundreds of people to make use of. Things like say power tools, or any fairly specialised tool in general. I think you can take this idea really far, like even having clothes libraries - you could have all new clothes all the time and someone else could have new clothes when you're tired of the ones you've been wearing.
So in my experience libraries are pretty open to a broad range of resources, even non-informational ones. The concept of a document, is in the library science literature, often understood as very inclusive.[0]
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_Briet#Impact_on_inform...
As far as clothes — there are already resale shops that are really efficient at this.
If you want to further improve sustainability, then provide tax cuts for those types of businesses to provide them incentives to keep operating and to be able to provide lower prices.
The point is that everything you describe already exists in the private sector.
I wasn't expecting "housing," though nice that you mention it, why yes, I would like to live in the same building as a library.
Other things you can borrow or use in local libraries: cargo bikes, moving trolleys, sports equipment (tennis rackets, skis, skates...), board games (never had a single missing item in any I've borrowed), 3d printers, laser cutters, music rehearsal and recoding studios (with grand pianos), tents for camping, tablets and computers, musical instruments, etc.
I think this is great because it makes these things available to the less privileged and I don't mind paying the taxes to support this.
Getting to try a 3d printer in the library (this item you can't take home, or the grand piano for that matter) may be a life-changing experience for that less privileged kid and give them the opportunities for better life.
I grew up less-privileged in a lousy neighborhood in the 1990s and have to thank my local library for all the programming books, computer and internet access and magazine subscriptions in helping me eventually get a degree in Computer Science and become a professional in the field.
But you are not alone with your opinion, there are plenty of people who think "libraries should stick to books" or "shut down libraries, no-one reads books any more". I choose to politely disagree and say "borrow all the things".
As a related example, the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Libraries offer various services including makers spaces with 3D printers: http://www.helmet.fi/en-US/Libraries_and_services/Library_Ma...
One can reserve the printers online, see their status and so on.
Libraries are a wonderful existing resource to that can be leveraged to build a platform for non-profit communal activities.
The need for curation has only increased in the information overload stage and libraries are still desperately needed. Libraries need to operate more like the internet archive.