Agree Ian – the ruthlessness of Amazon needs to be challenged – and to argue that libraries should become like them is a curious argument. Amazon is a company which evades tax by dubious methods, thus depriving public services of funding. And the way they treat their staff is abysmal. They are an exploitative monstrosity

Well, Amazon have basically got to where they are by exploiting one good idea and then paying staff the minimum, automating everything and avoiding taxes. I’d say they’re the ones that should be kicked, not us.

The argument seems to be “Amazon have kept prices down and provide a better service than we do for supplying books. We have to accept defeat. “

Amazon started from nothing 20 years ago. Any funding they have is what have earned from providing good service. They dominate the market but that’s only because no one matches them. They aren’t a monopoly . Anybody could try to compete with them

Libraries have been going a lot longer. They are a monopoly – but they have never attempted to rise to the challenge of modern systems and understanding what readers want in the same way

If your view prevails it is unfair to ask the public to keep paying for such lack of endeavour. You are arguing that they should be closed

You should encourage your colleagues to improve – not to give up