• tacosanonymous@lemm.ee
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    8 months ago

    Someone has to pay for the staff and maintenance too.

    Despite inflation and growing user bases, libraries aren’t getting more money in most places.

    • meliaesc@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Libraries are tax funded. It’s a service, not a business. Reallocate the money, preferably from the police.

      • tacosanonymous@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        That’s exactly my point. Municipalities set the budget and most don’t increase it enough year over year, if at all.

        Staff budgets are one of the most costly aspects of libraries. Staffing another 12 or more hours would be millions of dollars more per year added to the budget.

        We already fight tooth and nail for every penny we get. They’re not going to change their minds and double our budgets.

        In fact, depending on where you live, their are people that would rather defund libraries bc someone convinced a swathe of people that they’re “too political.”