I find the question interesting that if there were no libraries, could we start them today? Shows the current state of the world. Well, at least the western world. Can’t say much about East, though I guess it would probably be the same.
Well, unfortunately in my country the Philippines, I only have one public library in my city, and it’s woefully incomplete. My university library is better, but I’m not sure if everyone outside the school can use it. In terms of buying books… I’m only aware of one bookstore that doesn’t just fill their bookshelves with Wattpad fiction, lol.
I’d say if we were to abolish libraries, we should abolish copyright as well, because they serve the same purpose. Copyright is an artificial barrier, a social contract to promote sharing ideas and creative works. There’s nothing inherent about copyright, it doesn’t exist if we don’t want it to. So why should we want it to?
Copyright protects small creators. If it weren’t for copyright and trademark laws, any new and trending song / story / media would be instantly ripped off by corporations that would exist solely to throw budget at reproducing and popularizing their own soul-less versions of peoples’ work, without any compensation for the original creators. Artists and photographers would never see a dime from the countless t-shirts, mugs, stickers, etc. other corporations would create and sell using their pictures.
I know there are many frustrating issues with how copyright law has been abused by large corporations who have gotten it extended way past the point of its original intent, but remember not to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Copyright as as a basic legal concept is the only thing that gives many creators a chance to make a living from their work.
As the husband of a library administrator, I can and have gone on and on here on Lemmy about all of the services public libraries provide, but I will give three examples from the library of this small city-
3D printers and laser engravers for anyone to use for free at the main branch.
eBooks, audiobooks and streaming movies for free for anyone with a library card.
They will be opening up a new branch in one of the poorer parts of town that will have a room that you can only use one person at a time based on a sign-up sheet that will contain a washer, a dryer and a shower, all at no cost.
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