Libraries have been one of the main establishments for education for centuries. While some individuals argue that free libraries should be provided by the government due to the need for equality, others believe this is economically inefficient because of improper fund allocation and available online e-libraries.
On the one hand, allocating funds to free libraries can be burdensome for the government budget. It is often considered that a library needs to be self-funded in order to efficiently manage its expenditures such as staff salaries, renovation, etc. Governmental support to libraries may cause inequity in financing due to the different demands of libraries. Moreover, there are numerous online literature resources that are free of charge. For instance, the Apple Books platform has a comprehensive set of books of many genres that are available to all users of Apple devices. Considering the current digital landscape, making libraries free may be redundant.
On the other hand, there are reasons to eliminate library subscription fees. This action may foster education in rural areas where there is limited or no access to the Internet. To maintain equality in accessing education, governments can support the education of people that are deprived of educational tools. For instance, if a gifted child from a low-income family gets access to scientific books, he or she can be actually competitive with his or her more privileged peers. This can also lead to scientific development, because people from different backgrounds can participate in the development of science. It is important for the prosperity of the nation to support smart people that are underprivileged.
In conclusion, while making libraries free may be disadvantageous due to economical inefficiency and availability of online resources, it can also be beneficial because it creates equal access to education and may foster scientific development.