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Libraries basically truncate the possible sales of authors. Why buy a book from an author when you can just borrow it for a while and return it? Plus the fact that they are mostly state funded makes it even more insidious.

TheBitcoinBattery 4mo ago

I agree with the view of Benjamin Franklin in this regard, when he commented on his decision to decline a patent on a new type of efficient wood burning stove:

"Gov'r. Thomas was so pleas'd with the construction of this stove as described in (the pamphlet), that he offered to give me a patent for the sole vending of them for a term of years; but I declin'd it from a principle which has ever weighed on me on such occasions, viz., That, as we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously."

- The autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

If I were to ever publish a book, I would encourage people to read it even if they couldn't afford to purchase a copy. Those who appreciate it enough to own a copy would later buy one, and that's good enough for me.

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Discussion

JackTheMimic 4mo ago

Patents are a different issue altogether. I'm not suggesting someone can protect information. If you want a library, buy the book, and reprint the copies yourself. It's the fact that the state steal from everyone, uses the stolen proceeds to buy a few copies of a book, then charges people for borrowing the books they stole money to get.

Publishers print books at a loss for the future sales to eventually make money. If you publish a book, you will want to recoup some of the cost, libraries work against that.

Patents are bad but so are libraries.