I really like libraries. In Mechanicsburg, where I grew up, we had a great library that was supported by a library tax that was overwhelmingly approved by the voters. I always voted yes on those.

I still live in a county that has a great library system. Where else could you go to a place that’s exactly like one of those big bookstores with a music and movies section, choose all the things you want to purchase, and go up the checkout counter and have someone ring you up, say “That will be zero dollars, sir. Come back anytime” and then you get to take your three DVD movies, six music CDs, and a shopping cart full of books home for free.

Now maybe this next idea belongs in the halfbakery, but the one thing for me that could improve a library is if it would be noisy some of the time. I’ve noticed that for some reason, all the places people go that have books are quiet and all the places that have drinks are noisy. What if someone were to open a library with a full bar? Nuclear explosion maybe? I’m fairly sure that in Pennsylvania, you need a trillion dollars to get a liquor license, so if that’s out, how about a library where people who read something they like are encouraged to read it aloud or to start impromptu discussion groups so other patrons can listen in, discover new and exciting literature, and meet people just like library day at Monroe Elementary!