What would Andrew Carnegie say?

The Dallas Public Library has launched a program whereby patrons pay $5 to check out popular books and DVDs. While I can see the appeal from the beleagured libraries' point of view, given that their budgets have been squeezed to the breaking point, I do think the mission of the library as providing free services to the community should be sacred. However, I am sympathetic to the need for library fundraising and plan to join my own library's "Friends" group today (as I go off to use its free Internet access since my own is erratic today).  Here is another link.