From: RB
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2016 12:06 PM
To: walter block
Subject: Library Books: Dr B: One libertarian theory claims that government cannot own property, to include books, so taking them is not theft However what is the position of the publisher who takes money from a public library in exchange for books as the government cannot own or buy property?
Regarding private libraries, what about the library looter who takes and keeps books? the Library private police? how many taken books makes one a looter requiring private police action?
Why not simply eliminate all libraries and make all buy books. At present the government does back agencies, public and private, that try to collect debts, repossess property, and yet many agencies and companies will not go after small debts, inflicting economic punishment through poor credit ratings, again with government supervision and support

Dear RB: In my view, “the publisher who takes money from a public library in exchange for books” is a hero, or a good guy, if the books promote liberty; not if they undermine the free society. Read this for more of my view on this sort of thing: Block, Walter E. 2011C. “Toward a Libertarian Theory of Guilt and Punishment for the Crime of Statism,” Journal of Libertarian Studies, Vol. 22; pp. 665-675; http://mises.org/journals/jls/22_1/22_1_33.pdf

The public library “looter,” I like “liberator” better, is on the side of the angels. On that see:
Block, Walter E. 1972. “The Polish Ham Question.” The Libertarian Forum. June-July, Vol. 4, No. 6-7, p. 5; http://www.mises.org/journals/lf/1972/1972_06-07.pdf; http://mises.org/daily/4054; https://archive.lewrockwell.com/block/block143.html

Block, Walter E. 2002. “Accepting Government Subsidies,” Fraser Forum, February, p. 27; http://oldfraser.lexi.net/publications/forum/2002/02/section_13.html

Block, Walter E. 2004. “Radical Libertarianism: Applying Libertarian Principles to Dealing with the Unjust Government, Part I” Reason Papers, Vol. 27, Fall, pp. 117-133;
http://www.walterblock.com/wp-content/uploads/publications/block_radical-libertarianism-rp.pdf

Block, Walter E. 2006. “Radical Libertarianism: Applying Libertarian Principles to Dealing with the Unjust Government, Part II” Reason Papers, Vol. 28, Spring, pp. 85-109; http://www.walterblock.com/publications/block_radical-libertarianism-rp.pdf; http://www.walterblock.com/wp-content/uploads/publications/block_radical-libertarianism-rp.pdf; http://www.reasonpapers.com/pdf/28/rp_28_7.pdf

Anyone who steals books from a private library is a criminal.

Eliminate public libraries? Yes, indeed. Eliminate private libraries? Well, if no one patronizes them, they’ll go bankrupt. But what’s wrong with lending books for a fee? The market lends cars, housing, money. Why, ever, not, books?

You say “at present the government does back agencies, public and private, that try to collect debts, repossess property.” True. But the market could do this far better. See on this:

Stringham, Edward. 2015. Private Governance: Creating Order in Economic and Social Life. Oxford University Press

The Best of Walter E. Block