Nadine Kramarz writes: “I am beginning to believe that how we think about public library services as free directly impacts how public libraries don’t get funded. This idea that ‘public libraries are free’ sounds very enticing and makes a great soundbite, but it’s not true. Public libraries are paid for by their community in order to create services for said community. The reality is that tax dollars are spread thin and every government department has to struggle to get enough funds.”