How Library-friendly is Obama?

If he's trying to save money, he should be very friendly. Libraries may not be recession-proof, but they are very recession-resistant. Many libraries (and again, I don't understand where the money comes from, but this is what the kids on the street tell me) have money to operate even in tough economic times. The Starbucks on the corner may close, but the homeless shelter, er, library, will stay open.

I didn't watch the video, but Stephen says,

"From President-elect Barack Obama's Weekly YouTube Address on January 3:
'That’s why we need an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan that not only creates jobs in the short-term but spurs economic growth and competitiveness in the long-term . . . we will build 21st century classrooms, labs, and libraries.'"

Libraries are here already, and they don't need much more money to do all the things librarians would like to do to help their patrons. Like buy a few Wiis, and loan out digital cameras, and loan laptops, and what, buy books? Stop it! You make me laugh so hard, my hot chocolate comes out my nose! What about cable TV?

In Boston, you can go to the library to watch the Obama inauguration live on television. They'll even have tasty snacks!!! One branch of the library is opening early for this event and the "library has even hired a professional videographer to film guests giving advice to Obama for his term in office." Give Obama advice? Don't you think he has enough to worry about? The man started working his job a month before he was actually getting paid to do it! His to-do list does not include "watch DVD of Bostonians eating donuts."

Officials at libraries in Boston, Watertown, Lexington, Barnstable, and Andover say they are happy to provide a place for people to gather around televisions because watching TV is an "essential service."

What other TV events can the community share at the library? Can we watch American Idol? Survivor? The Super Bowl? I think our library has cable, but we can't watch it; it's for the bosses to watch important meetings or shop for Joan Rivers' jewelry.

If you have a meeting room designed for movie and TV watching, then, cool, let everyone in from the cold to eat danish and spill coffee on the carpet. But don't let them trash your library even before Obama can get sworn in and give libraries some money.