And missed out on connecting with the community. That’s a big part of what’s wrong with people today. Staying put is now the default. We lose our humanity a piece at a time without even noticing.

Well if you HAVE a library why not... you're lucky to have a library.

Libraries used to be present in most communities. The fact that they are not any longer proves my point. The current push towards anti- intellectualism will be the death of our country.

Here in Mexico libraries have never been a thing, unfortunately. The government recognised this long ago and the present approach is all-digital. Schoolkids with tablets. Free broadband everywhere (10MB/s) for Web access. Free university education. It seems to be paying off.

Mexico has so many things the US doesn’t. Healthcare, education, internet access… A country’s future is determined by its priorities. Mexico and Canada are rising, the US is in free fall. That says it all. Maybe there are libraries in the future for Mexico. They are wondrous things. I hope so.

I live in the sticks. The roads are too narrow for broadband.

I must be missing something: a fibre optic line is 1/8" across... I also live in a rural area.

Guessing you've never watched broadband getting installed and seen all the heavy equipment it requires...

I used to be a fibre optic communications project manager, I think I have a pretty good idea.