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Robu-san t1_jagwp95 wrote

The library is one of the only places you can go and not be expected to pay anything. Of course that's going to attract more visitors.

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YearPurple t1_jaimmcv wrote

As an Indian student in US, the quality of city public libraries in the country was one of the most memorable facets of my American experience. At times, I enjoyed spending time in the city libraries more than in the university libraries. Admittedly, I lived only in college towns in East Coast and Midwest. So, they were perhaps not entirely representative of the country. But i truly appreciated the effort made by cities to have public libraries.

The town I grew up in India had a decent public library. Not a great collection, but for a young autistic kid like me, it felt like a heaven on earth. Every district town used to have a public library until early 1990s. Ironically, as the country became more affluent with economic liberalisation and privatisation, those district libraries declined.

I am rambling but Americans should not take their libraries for granted.

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imll99 t1_jaho4kp wrote

This isn't Oniony. This is wholesome.

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Defiant-Peace-493 t1_jai2wo1 wrote

Unexpected, but not unwelcome.

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imll99 t1_jaicfka wrote

I'm an avid moviegoer, but I love libraries more than most other places on the planet, so this was a welcome surprise for me.

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SpookyLilRaven t1_jah0xwe wrote

B- b- but IPhone gen z dumb no read books! /s

In all honesty, this is probably because theaters are dying. Been a long time since I’ve been in a packed theater.

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texasrigger t1_jamojwl wrote

The prices have become ridiculous, and audiences seem to be more obnoxious these days (but maybe I'm just getting more impatient). Unless you enjoy that communal watching experience, the theater doesn't offer much vs the relatively large TVs and decent sound we pretty much all have at home now.

I love drive-in's. That experience can't really be duplicated by home systems, and all in all, they are typically a better value for your dollar. Unfortunately, those are all but gone too. The nearest one to me is over two hours away.

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andreasdagen t1_jah2tc0 wrote

Looks like visiting the library once a day is counter as equal to 365 people going to the movies once a year

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SabineLavine t1_jagz2aa wrote

I go to the library once a week, but I couldn't tell you the last time I went to a movie theater.

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Professional-Head83 t1_jai8hpy wrote

That's because you don't have to pay $100 just to enter the library with your family and then buy snacks at 4x the regular price to be entertained. It's actually free!!!

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CorruptasF---Media t1_jahc1bn wrote

More Americans went poop in one day than went to Taco Bell all year last year.

Although that may be a dependent variable.

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DanYHKim t1_jahaq8a wrote

This website has totally shit ads

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HotHamBoy t1_jajejf1 wrote

Anyone who goes to libraries knows this.

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Noladixon t1_jajh670 wrote

Plot twist: 92% of them were there for movie night.

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Uberninja2016 t1_jaj497x wrote

makes sense, my library never charged me $15 to see Marvel's The Eternals

probably because IT ISN'T A BAD FRIEND, MARCUS, YOU COULD HAVE AT LEAST COMPED ME THE FREAKIN' $26 SOFT DRINK

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GrouchyGrotto t1_jahdln2 wrote

Didn't covid close theaters?

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PerpetuallyLurking t1_jahlh65 wrote

In 2020, not 2019. March 2020 is when the lockdowns in North America started, Europe was only a few weeks ahead, China only announced their outbreak late 2019.

So no, this is prior to all the COVID shutdowns.

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GrouchyGrotto t1_jahn30w wrote

Cool cool thanks. Time has been a total blur and I've mixed everything up now

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Mr_Cleanish t1_jajwuwz wrote

Well my library doesn't think 50 cents worth of popcorn should cost 14.95.

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NoPark97 t1_janqgiv wrote

Of course they going to the libraries. They can just watch movies on the library computers.

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gheiminfantry t1_jai6tss wrote

Um, I hate to throw water on this love-fest. They're counting the homeless who use the library for shelter.

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lunetick t1_jagx58r wrote

I doubt it's the case in the red states...

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alwaysZenryoku t1_jah5hts wrote

Sure it is… they loan movies and video games out more than books…

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greenpassionz t1_jaiyus7 wrote

Homeless people make up the majority of attendants

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squarepeg0000 t1_jagxnev wrote

Says a poll. I'll bet more than 50% of the people who claim to go to the library can't spell library.

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Defiant-Peace-493 t1_jai3o3z wrote

Separate always gets me. And broccoli.

Incidentally, how many bookshelves does one require to become a personal library? Or do you have to have a door?

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Enorats t1_jaj8m2r wrote

Yeah, I'm fairly skeptical of this. I get the feeling they conducted this poll in a library or something. Most of their numbers seem reasonable, but hardly anyone uses libraries anymore. I read a whole heck of a lot of books, but even I don't bother with the library. I don't think I know a single person who does, and the last time I heard someone even mention going to the library was in college more than a decade ago.

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