The public library, through its abundant and free services, played a key role in shaping 20th century America. By investing in public libraries, America was able to educate its citizens, strengthen its workforce, and support its entrepreneurs, researchers and free press. But now that could all come to an end.
A beast is on the horizon - a privatization beast - and it's after America's library systems. The private equity-owned company Library Systems & Services Inc. (LSSI) is headquartered in Maryland, but is gobbling up public libraries across the country (and the UK, too). In cities and towns throughout America, local officials are deciding whether to hand over their libraries to a private, for-profit company. Often this happens behind closed doors, with little community input and without knowledge of LSSI's record of failure. LSSI has taken over libraries in Oregon, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, Kansas and California. Will your town be next?
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