The DC Libraries stink

No, not because the building needs repairs.
No, not because it is inadequately staffed.
No, not because books are often not on the shelf where promised.
No, not because the book budget isn't big enough.

The DC Library stinks because they don't know how to manage their book collection. They buy multiple copies of the same book and then put them in places where they are difficult to find intuitively.

Take, for example, Richard Pryor's Pryor convictions, and other life sentences. MLK Library (downtown) has nine copies of this book. Seven of them are reference copies. Seven.

This is not a matter of their budget, which is too small. It is a matter of management, which is too dumb.