Libraries have a role which is underestimated. Lenin spent a lot of time in his life in libraries, because he considered, in my opinion a right way, that investing in culture was a important tool to succeed a revolution. But libraries often suffer from a lack of funds or opportunities. This approach has to be fought.
Investing time in books is everything except a lack of time. In our period series, social networks… tend to be put in priority compared to books and culture. However in the long run it is often seen that it is a lack of time. Some complotists may say that big companies foster screen addiction to make the masses more stupid. Without going to that extremity, it is probable that less sense of criticism caused by a lack of investment in reading and culture is leading to less well organized rebellions against many kinds of oppression.
Education is not only at schools. Libraries are extraordinary opportunities to have access to a great deal of knowledge for free. In a documentary from the cultural channel Arte about Lenin it was said that “his only property was his culture” and “libraries are a refuge when he can resource himself”. In my opinion these sentences are very inspiring, and can be real approaches of life. Without being a Leninist this investment in reading can be seen as an example of a greatly successful investment at a greatly low cost.
In our period knowledge, culture and reading are decreasing in society. The rise of intolerance or communautarism are partly a consequence of that. Probably there is a real work of pedagogy to be done to tell more about the real power of reading for instance. In the XIXth century intellectuals gave evening classes to the workers and it contributed to put in place a lot of leaders of the Commune war. This is the reason why it is necessary to promote the power of libraries, and do more pedagogy.
Reading and learning are necessary tools. However the political debates today are a lot about personal attacks and small sentences which have absolutely no interest. Those factors of decadence have to be fought and it is necessary to go back to ancient values that promotes these ideas. It would be so much better, in my opinion, to spend time in libraries than being stuck in screens and TV series. It may be a way to resist to the decadence we live in today.
The observer 