How would a privatized library work?

[Brett]

Can someone explain it? Books are expensive to buy in huge bulk and I don't see a possible way for a private business to make it profitable.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Can someone explain it? Books are expensive to buy in huge bulk and I don't see a possible way for a private business to make it profitable.

IMO, all the books would be in pdf format now, and printable on demand for a small fee (fees have been minimized due to advances in technology). The physical books would be sold to pay for this process. The Mises Institute and MIT seem to be good models. Woot for free markets!

 

[Brett]

IMO, all the books would be in pdf format now, and printable on demand for a small fee (fees have been minimized due to advances in technology). The physical books would be sold to pay for this process. The Mises Institute and MIT seem to be good models. Woot for free markets!

What if your poor like me (only 17) and have parents that wouldn't let you read Liberty/Right-Wing books if you had to pay because they disagree with them?

 

[brandon]

There are tons of private libraries already.

 

[Brett]

There are tons of private libraries already.

I mean somewhere I can rent and give back, not buy each book I read. Unless you're referring to University Libraries, which I don't know much about at all.

 

[SimpleName]

What if your poor like me (only 17) and have parents that wouldn't let you read Liberty/Right-Wing books if you had to pay because they disagree with them?

That is a tough one. Do you mean THEY won't pay for it? If so, you could get a job (if they're ok with that). Just something minimal that gives you enough cash to buy books. Private libraries seem rather "blah" though. It would really just wind up being a book store that gives away pdfs. And I HATE reading on computers. Still better than nothing, but relatively useless for me. One way to get around it is if private non-profits got together to offer the service. Sounds difficult, but maybe it could happen. Downside of total privatization.

 

[RSLudlum]

Have you ever rented movies before? The same concept can be applied to private libraries with membership, in-library viewing, and loaning/rental. But as HB pointed out, technology has made it much easier to get ahold of books/info for a small price while not even having to leave your seat. Have you looked into any of the online book sharing communities?

 

[micahnelson]

Whats wrong with libraries? Jefferson himself started the Library of Congress.

 

[Andrew-Austin]

Without IP laws they'd be far more cheaper then they are now. Books that is, and thus wiping out any need for libraries.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Whats wrong with libraries? Jefferson himself started the Library of Congress.

They're over-priced and out of date, as I noted earlier. w00t for my astute-ness! (the LoC was another of Jefferson's slip-ups that I point out as a sign of how even great men cannot be trusted with great power unchecked)

 

[LibertyEagle]

Without IP laws they'd be far more cheaper then they are now. Books that is, and thus wiping out any need for libraries.

Yup. If you remove the monetary incentive for people to write the books in the first place, the need for libraries will be drastically reduced. Yeah, sounds like a plan.

/sarcasm intended

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Yup. If you remove the monetary incentive for people to write the books in the first place, the need for libraries will be drastically reduced. Yeah, sounds like a plan.

/sarcasm intended

With due respect, books were written for profit long before IP laws existed. You need to add more detail to make a solid argument.

 

[micahnelson]

People wouldn't make music without record companies either. Thats why the invention of the corporation and the phonograph had to come before the first music.

 

[rp08orbust]

Um... every library at every private school is a "private library." Most of them charge an annual membership fee for those who are not students at the school.

 

[torchbearer]

It would work like Blockbuster.

 

[emazur]

Sometimes people refer to this this as 'the Netflix of audiobooks'
http://www.simplyaudiobooks.com/
That being said, I fully support public libraries and think they should be the last thing to go in a libertarian society. I also like the community center ~ event aspect of local libraries

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Sometimes people refer to this this as 'the Netflix of audiobooks'
[url]http://www.simplyaudiobooks.com/[/URL]
That being said, I fully support public libraries and think they should be the last thing to go in a libertarian society. I also like the community center ~ event aspect of local libraries

I agree they should be among the last things to go, but they should go due to their outdated nature and that they feed on taxes (very un-libertarian)

 

[MelissaWV]

A library doesn't need to "buy in bulk". All it needs is a willing and able group of people who donate used books, or who are willing to purchase services from the library (making copies, use of classes held there, binding, lamination, etc. can often be had from the library at cheaper cost than an office supply store).

Very few libraries, even now, buy brand spanking new volumes for their shelves. It would be an insane expense. Private citizens also donate new books, as evidenced by several drives on this forum to purchase and donate copies of Dr. Paul's or others' books to the local library.

I don't believe books are outdated, personally. I love them, and I would not trade them for some ridiculous .pdf. I read .pdf documents all day at work. A book is entirely different, and illustrations that go along with classics get a bit lost in translation when they're crisped up and incorporated into the e-document. There are still quite a number of bibliophiles out there. Audiobooks do nothing for me... it's like watching the movie version of a book. You are getting someone else's interpretation of the author's point of view. I prefer to do the interpretations myself. It's one of few genuine escapes left in the world.

 

[constituent]

I am a member of several excellent private libraries in Texas.

There are many, everywhere. A great place to start looking is with non-profits and things of that nature. Below is a link to one of my favorites to visit. It is in San Antonio:

http://www.mcnayart.org/

 

[GBurr]

I remember reading about a book exchange somewhere. The idea was that you gave a list of books that you wanted to read. You then sent books you no longer needed to the exchange and they would send you an equal number of books from your list. You could keep any book as long as you want but they wouldn't send you more books until you sent them more books.

A person that can afford one book is therefore able to continually exchange that single book for a book they haven't read yet.