re: Why are library services provided by government?

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Libraries do more than just rent books to customers.

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And this is why I have a problem with today's libraries. Cities like BR pass taxes based on the premise that books and other reference materials are essential and that the public should have free access to them. I agree with that.

But then they use their bloated revenue streams to fund all sorts of other facilities, programs, and activities which are unrelated to books. If the public wants to fund meeting halls, venues for memorial services, promotion of cultural causes, edifices to the glory of politicians, then put that to a vote separately. Don't call it libraries, and then divert the money to those causes.