Thanks for this set of comments @David Eccles (gringer) . You make a lot of good points and add informative resource links.

One thing her opinion piece is glaringly lacking is the effects of the long march of managerialism in tertiary education here and abroad. Which is what made me think of those cafe owners hard done by due to external forces.

Her comment about public libraries is puzzling, particularly here in Palmerston North. The City Library is buzzing. In addition to great traditional services provided by information professionals, it has transformed itself by adding on an incredible maker space. They also run a mobile library in a converted bus, the sight of which always makes me smile.