Restoring the glory of the public library as a balm against the rampant stupidity that is current American life. Huh. Looks like it might check out. (Check out? Get it? …. No?…. Pfft. Philistines.)
Libraries are an example of what I call “social infrastructure”: the physical spaces and organizations that shape the way people interact. Libraries don’t just provide free access to books and other cultural materials, they also offer things like companionship for older adults, de facto child care for busy parents, language instruction for immigrants and welcoming public spaces for the poor, the homeless and young people.
