Re: [ARSCLIST] MP3 bit rates and usage factors for Web pages

[Karl Miller <lyaa071@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 1 Dec 2005, Mike Richter wrote:

> Tom Fine wrote:
> > Hi Marie:
> >
> > Is your university a state-funded institution? Does it receive federal
> > tax-supported grants? Then why don't the taxpayers of Mississippi and the
> > larger United States have an ownership stake in what you produce and are
> > therefore entitled to free access? Just curious.
> >
> > -- Tom Fine
>
> Why do you assume (assert?) that an ownership stake means free access?
> One purchases copies of public-domain documents from conventional
> libraries - costs are recouped. One pays a fee to use the facilities of
> a park supported by national, state or other government.
>
> There are costs associated with providing the materials for public
> access.

And there are toll roads...and tuition charges to attend
universities...and heaven knows, charges to attend University sports
events and concerts...however, I do find some rationale for the notion of
free access to information acquired and produced through tax dollars.
For part of their history libraries, and to a large extent public
libraries still do try to provide free access to all.

As to the mission of libraries these days, it beats me.

While I don't have a clear sense in my own mind as to the right and/or
wrong of how things are going in libraries, I just find it all very sad.
It seems like these days it takes a grant for them to get a book up on the
shelf.

Karl