Hey, Buddy: Your Ignorance Is Showing

SPOGG loves libraries. LOVES THEM. Among other things, you can:

• check out books;
• research subjects of interest (for some people, ahem, we recommend books that teach the proper use of the apostrophe);
• get FREE access to subscription services (such as the Oxford English Dictionary); 
• borrow DVDs, CDs, and audio books; 
• hear authors speak (we shared an elevator at the Seattle Public Library with the literary genius M.T. Anderson!);
• catch free concerts and performances for kids; and
• enjoy the free wi-fi and air conditioning.

Also, there already is such a thing as a fee-based library. It's called Barnes and Noble (which we also love).

We can't help but notice this disturbing trend in cities across the country in which libraries are being shut down, pecked at, and put on the chopping block to balance community budgets. 

People have no idea how much pleasure they could get and how much money they could save by making the library their first stop in entertainment. Libraries also level the playing field somewhat for the poor.

That is why we say to the creator of this sign, "You are a moron. A MORON. Perhaps if you spent more time in your library you would know there is no apostrophe in 'fees'."

What's unfortunate and telling is that the person who made this sign lacked the courage to put his or her name and contact information on it. We do understand the cowardice, though. Who's proud to celebrate ignorance? Who wants to stick it to the poor, and to families with young children who can't otherwise afford books? Jerks, that's who.

Look, we get that we're in tough economic times. But you don't cut off your feet to save money on shoes. If you have a chance this fall to vote for library funding, please do. And while you're at it, stop by your library to see what you might be missing.