At this point in my life I consider the library to be one of the few things for which I receive a return on investment (ROI) on my taxes. I’m a loyal library customer and have always found the staff to be terrific and the building itself to be a respite from the cares of daily life. So much effort is shown to be inclusive and welcoming, from the hordes of kids attending reading events, frequent Sunday concerts, librarians’ reading suggestions, lending of other materials than books, museum passes — the list is long. When the self-checkout came along, I said “meh,” though I missed the human contact, but when the self-return emerged that smelled to me like the self-checkout at the grocery store: what could be the purpose other than job elimination? Well, I guess that’s working.
I’ve always thought of a library as kind of a continuation of a liberal arts education. I’m very sad to read this story. I hope the union prevails and this sorry situation is corrected.
The writer was a longtime volunteer at Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site and former treasurer of Brookline Arts Council.