I really do not see any issue here. The town/city had a choice. Libraries needed more money to run, a majority of voters said no. City closes libraries, people keep their money, as the people desired. If the people feel they do not use those services, why should they pay for them?
I myself could not live that way, I like my city life, I like working for a French owned big company, I like my house, I like my cars and tech, I like giving my children modern comforts. But coming from a family in back woods Kentucky, I know there is not a damn thing wrong with living a simple life. I could have, but chose a different path. Those that stayed, its their life, they should lead it like they want.
My wifes father had a farm, she could have stayed and worked it with her cousin, but she chose not to and moved to Louisville (where we met), got a college education, job, moved with me to Kansas City. Her family had no money, she got a loan, worked, paid it off and is living the life she wanted.
So I pay taxes (~32%), I get services provided by the governments, I am ok with that. But damn if I still lived in backwoods KY, that would be ridiculous. A Library? Yeah a 45 minute drive to Louisville or Bowling Green. Fact is those services are not available because those that live there make very little money to tax in the first place, it not sustainable, and it does not need to be.
We often go back and visit, I always found it impressive how people get by. There are a lot of Amish that live in my wifes old stomping grounds. I love to see how the community gets together to build a house whenever there is wedding, how they all pitch in to build that new house (which I can say I have had the pleasure of helping with) or how they all pitch in on a barn raising. Speaking of which, when my father in law needed help making repairs on a barn, we went down to get wood at a lumber mill. It is run by the Amish, they gave him the wood needed due to the help we did on the wedding house. Similarly, he has a friend that is clearing a lot on his property for a new barn, we go and help, he kept grandma who lived on the farm in firewood to keep warm. Life in this community is a trade in services, not cash, and it works, its beautiful and the people there like it that way.
Again, not my choice, but I understand it. Its clear to me that many in this thread do not understand it and it comes off as ignorance or intolerance.
tl:dr nothin wrong with livin a simple life.