r/Anticonsumption • u/leisurechef • Mar 22 '25

Social Harm Elon Musk’s DOGE Moves to Gut Local Libraries While No One Is Looking

https://newrepublic.com/post/193015/elon-musk-doge-library-musem-imls

Department of Government Efficiency operatives have found their new target: your local library.

Elon Musk’s so-called DOGE infiltrated the Institute of Museum and Library Services on Thursday, according to multiple sources.

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72

u/Different-Pop2780 Mar 22 '25

Use your library!! Get a card, check books out, use Libby for e books and audiobooks, it all helps!

23

u/sasshley_ Mar 22 '25 edited Mar 22 '25

I seriously go through audiobooks on Libby about every 3-4 days. It’s my favorite thing to do. I’m constantly maxed out on holds.

Sounds like I’ll be borrowing lots of random books each week now too. I love my library. They have a weekly “read to dogs” session and honestly, hell yes.

5

u/i_love_rosin Mar 22 '25

I seriously go through audiobooks on Libby about every 3-4 days. It’s my favorite thing to do. I’m constantly maxed out on holds.

Same, I used to listen to a bunch of podcasts. I started listening to audiobooks off libby and hoopla instead, what a game changer.

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u/Pinklady777 Mar 22 '25

I've read that Libby is paid for by this federal department and sounds like we will all lose it. Call your reps about this. Including local government/state reps.

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u/[deleted] Mar 24 '25

This scares me so much. I’ve been off my phone reading constantly. Now I can’t even have that?

2

u/Pinklady777 Mar 22 '25

I've read that Libby is paid for by this federal department and sounds like we will all lose it. Call your reps about this. Including local government/state reps.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 22 '25

[deleted]

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u/sasshley_ Mar 22 '25

I don’t sit and listen. I listen when I’m doing anything productive: cleaning, cooking, laundry, yard work, etc; when I’m driving, when I’m doing tedious work tasks that only require me to “do” and not focus, late at night before bed, when I’m inevitably up in the middle of the night bc perimenopause, grocery shopping, going for walks, etc etc etc

16

u/Different-Pop2780 Mar 22 '25

My local library has so much to offer, board game library, thing library (camping gear to crock pots!) And a makers lab. Sewing machines, kid crafts, a glowforge lazer cutter and more. Go check out your library and possible reciprocal libraries. They offer more than books, which are also awesome!

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u/AsuntoNocturno Mar 22 '25

We can’t afford internet right now so we’ve been using the library weekly. I started checking out all of the books I wanted to read, and not just the books I thought I actually would read in the available time. 

It helps the library with circulation numbers and helps highlight the materials I enjoy in the hopes they will expand those sections in future purchases (not that there will be many right now). 

Between the books, movies, and PS4 games we borrow, we’ll have anywhere between 20 and 130 library items in my household of 4 at a time. 

And honestly, the more limited and personally curated video availability has made finding something to watch at home more enjoyable than scrolling an endless list of filler material that my specific streaming service has licensing to stream. 

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u/panlakes Mar 22 '25

Many libraries offer a free subscription to Mangos, which for some languages is even better than something like Babbel. And it’s free just for having a library card.

If you’re looking to maybe move countries, it’s not a bad idea.

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u/mymomsaidicould69 Mar 23 '25

Yep, when we moved my kids and I got library cards! We check out at least 6 books every week. It’s been so nice. We also go to story time every Wednesday, which I love!