Duke, I was in the Library last Friday at 7.50pm so there must be some time when you could get there, if you actually wanted too. Now that's what you get when a service is state provided good hard working staff providing a service as determined by locally elected politicans. The market would determin that no such service be provided.
That's why its about time the business community started contributing a reasonable amount as business rate and that it be determined and retained locally, which is actually the real debate.
You see, I was in the office at 8pm, not everyone has it easy and works part time hours. You look like you need a library more than me for your misuse of the word "too" - schoolboy stuff.
I entirely agree, a Library (in the past) was a classic case of market failure and the state should step in. The future perhaps is less certain, with the cost of media & the word at an all time low, it may be cheaper to look at different ways of supplying library services.
I entirely agree that it is time businesses pay a reasonable rate that is set and determined locally. I know the current coalition are looking at this and it's a slow step in the right direction. For the past 15 years, businesses have been raped by government by way of rates as businesses do not vote so can be abused without anyone hearing the screams. Presently, we have a situation where business must pay regardless of success, local government gets it's money regardless of success. It will be better to reduce the business tax to a reasonable level which is based of profitability and give the local authority incentives to have a successful business in their local - presently, having a successful business in their area isn't important to the local authority and for some, they try to destroy business. Local taxation will also bring in competition where efficient authorities will be attractive for businesses and the expensive authorities will see us moving away. Mind you, Manchester would be empty in no time if they persist with the current clowns.