LATimes: Op-Ed on U.S. Public Libraries

The Los Angeles Times has an op-ed about the decline of school and public libraries in the United States. The bad economy has forced many school districts and local governments cut back in funding. Librarians and other service-oriented professions are among the first to receive pink-slips and shutdowns. This is sad news when such services are most critical for needy children and families:

The U.S. is beginning an interesting experiment in democracy: We're cutting public library funds, shrinking our public and school libraries, and in some places, shutting them altogether...

Libraries are an essential service in action, as well as an effective leveler of privilege and avenue of reinvention. As budget cuts affect more facilities, children will be the first to suffer.