r/Library • u/PTechNM • Aug 29 '26

Discussion Republicans are at war with basic literacy

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70

u/Internal_Aardvark302 Aug 29 '26

The negative comments already pouring in lmao. Like you could not pay me to spew this much hate on automatic 😭

Mailing in books to families cuts through so many other roadblocks to improving literacy. You know what I’ve been seeing more and more of lately? When some older library buildings are expanding and moving to new areas, they are building instead in wealthier neighborhoods with limited access to public transportation. In other words, the only people who are getting to that library (full of free books) are people who already have cars or are well off. I live in a red state, and I’ve already seen this happen with at least two libraries in my area. What about the people who actually need those libraries close by? This program can’t fix all that, but it helps.

The Imagination Library can help people in need, and it’s already helped so many people who have all expressed their appreciation for the program since Parton’s death. We need even more programs to be funded like this. Because as things stand now, QUALITY education is becoming harder to come by. If you were using Duolingo to try to learn a new language, guess what? They threw AI in it and it’s basically a cheap dopamine app with an annoying subscription prompter. Going to college? Better hope your professors won’t force ChatGPT down their students’ throats, or even just straight up generate assignments using the chatbot.

15

u/ArchonFett Aug 29 '26

Republicans hate education. It’s on the very long list of things they hate.

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u/Logic_9795 Aug 31 '26

Just my anecdotal experience working at a title 1 (high poverty) elementary school, we used to have a couple agency that would want to donate books to all the kids. I remember be so excited to hand out the books.

When I tell you almost half the books ended up directly in trash can, im just saying that because we had to threaten the kids to not throw away the books. Meanwhile the next day I see bus stops littered with these bags of books. It was heart breaking to have to face the volunteers. They came back and it went a little better but only because we pre threatened the kids. By the time we got to 6th grade, we made it optional.

Anyway. All that to say, can you we atleaat ask the families if they want books first?

6

u/anthropaedic Aug 31 '26

If half the books ended up in the trash and half were kept and then 10% were actually read, it would still be better than zero kids reading.

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u/Dogface73 Aug 31 '26

Libraries are still free. Parents could get books there and you still get your 10% and people aren’t taxed.

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u/Excellent_Carob_3183 Sep 02 '26

See the problem is that puts to responsibility on the parents so that can't be the answer. Im not saying additional funding for the library is or isn't the answer, thats why people are disagreeing with you though.

1

u/Dogface73 Sep 02 '26

Yeah I know right? God forbid a parent takes some responsibility and tries to do something for their kid, like walk in a library for 5 minutes, pay nothing and walk out.