The College Fix

Don’t underestimate the power of librarians.

Forbes took down an opinion piece published over the weekend by Long Island University Professor Panos Mourdoukoutas arguing that Amazon should replace local libraries to save taxpayer money.

The piece (an archived version can be found here) sparked a massive online backlash from librarians and supporters of libraries.

Maybe @Forbes doesn’t like that you can download their magazine free with your #SF library card. https://t.co/vqQk1BDMZE

— SF Public Library (@SFPublicLibrary) July 22, 2018

While public libraries are simply an abstraction to some, for many of us they were & continue to be a sanctuary, a community, a public rejection of the notion that knowledge should be contingent on what you can afford, a place where no price can be placed on the access to ideas.

— Clint Smith (@ClintSmithIII) July 22, 2018

I’m a librarian and this is actually the worst fucking idea ever.

Libraries by Amazon would eliminate the most important function libraries have—as a socialized daytime service to cash-poor and working class people left behind by digital advances. https://t.co/YqxLgAZQm6

— cyrée jarelle (@cyreejarelle) July 22, 2018

The op-ed acknowledges the value of libraries, which have “provided residents with a comfortable place they could enjoy their books … a place they could do their research in peace with the help of friendly librarians … where residents could hold their community events,” but also states that libraries have lost value:

One such reason is the rise of “third places” such as Starbucks. They provide residents with a comfortable place to read, surf the web, meet their friends and associates, and enjoy a great drink. This is why some people have started using their loyalty card at Starbucks more than they use their library card.

Next, Mourdoukoutas points out that “the rise of digital technology” has “turned physical books into collector’s items, effectively eliminating the need for library borrowing services.”

“Amazon have [sic] created their own online library that has made it easy for the masses to access both physical and digital copies of books,” he writes next, adding that “Amazon Books is a chain of bookstores that does what Amazon originally intended to do; replace the local bookstore.”

“Amazon Go basically combines a library with a Starbucks” for Mourdoukoutas. The op-ed concludes by stating Amazon can do a better job than a library without the tax fees.

“The move would save taxpayers money and enhance the stockholder value of Amazon all in one fell swoop,” Mourdoukoutas concludes.

In a statement to Gizmodo, he defended his opinion:

That’s something that some people do not understand. And I want to repeat it: Local libraries aren’t free. In my community, they are financed by a fee. It is added to school taxes. I paid $495 last year.

Is that fee too high? Does it have better uses in the community? Are local libraries duplicating school libraries? Should local libraries come up with a new business model to compete with Amazon Books or end up being replaced by them? I’m asking questions as an economist and taxpayer.

The united criticism of the piece prompted Forbes to take it down.

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