Are public libraries becoming obsolete?

[clownboy]

That said, we will need brick and mortar libraries for some time to come. So everyone, no matter their wealth or lack of it, can have free access to the public domain. They just don't really need the books is all.

 

[Reformedfindlay]

The purpose of the library seems to be pretty well served by the internet. However, I wouldn't say its time to get rid of them yet until internet access is universal and universally affordable.

No need for us to forcefully get rid of them, just like blockbuster, libraries will not evolve to the new societal standards, and as such, will "naturally" die out.

 

[Reformedfindlay]

That said, we will need brick and mortar libraries for some time to come. So everyone, no matter their wealth or lack of it, can have free access to the public domain. They just don't really need the books is all.

^^^^^ This, get rid of the books and modernize libraries, the idea of a library is brilliant, they just aren't evolving as fast as they should be (or at least the one in my town isn't).

 

[imagep]

No need for us to forcefully get rid of them, just like blockbuster, libraries will not evolve to the new societal standards, and as such, will "naturally" die out.

If they were private sector yes, that's exactly what would happen. But since they are public sector, and don't have to depend on profits or productivity, then they could very well continue operating, without hardly any "customers" for years to come.

 

[Unitedwestand13]

If they were private sector yes, that's exactly what would happen. But since they are public sector, and don't have to depend on profits or productivity, then they could very well continue operating, without hardly any "customers" for years to come.

some things should not be about profit.

 

[Reformedfindlay]

If they were private sector yes, that's exactly what would happen. But since they are public sector, and don't have to depend on profits or productivity, then they could very well continue operating, without hardly any "customers" for years to come.

How sad the government will slowly pump money into something no one uses I guess.

 

[nota bene]

I hate to read books on a computer, I like paper and I own three book cases full of books and some more in boxes. But I suppose paper will soon go the way of the dodo bird.

Most of the readers I know say that they love the smell of the paper and the feel of the book in their hands.

 

[nota bene]

I can't speak to small community libraries but libraries in the big city are an essential part of any community as they are a cost free source of enrichment desperately needed in a time of clinical, quantitative cultural degradation.

They are rapidly transitioning from a place of study and reference to an integrated learning community which embraces all mediums of knowledge e.g. art, music, cinema) not exclusively that of literature and reading.

The loss of a library would be a loss to the community.

Yes. For those who may have missed this link from an earlier page: The future of the library: How they’ll evolve for the digital age.

Perhaps one day there will be a "museum" section in every library that houses books, and only legitimate researchers will have access to them. Then they will become very valuable.

The elitist aspect of this is troubling. Another of my concerns is what will happen when hardly anybody is able to read cursive writing. Shades of medieval times.

Meanwhile, here is some information on The Library Company: The Library Company

 

[ChezC3]

Yes. For those who may have missed this link from an earlier page: The future of the library: How they’ll evolve for the digital age.

Perhaps one day there will be a "museum" section in every library that houses books, and only legitimate researchers will have access to them. Then they will become very valuable.

The elitist aspect of this is troubling. Another of my concerns is what will happen when hardly anybody is able to read cursive writing. Shades of medieval times.

Meanwhile, here is some information on The Library Company: The Library Company

A library without books is the most asinine, idiotic, fool-hearted, dumb, stupid, imbecilic, unintelligent, vacuous, simple-minded, brainless, empty-headed, dim-witted idea I think I have ever heard.

I was always an ill-tempered student. Never taking my lessons at the school house. Stubborn in my refusal to do the work, to participate, to be engaged in the endless hours of ceaseless prattle. This, by no means is to say I never had a thirst for knowledge. All my depth and breadth was formed in a library. Roaming the aisles shelf grazing. Hours on end in my youth I'd spend. I still practice this, albeit with not as much time to spare today.

It was shelf grazing which allowed me to learn the world, it was shelf grazing which allowed me to discuss the subtleties of Lord Alfred Tennyson's Idylls of the King in comparison with Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur with a twice degreed Medieval scholar from Yale when I was 11 years old!! Those hallowed halls opened up history, geography, philosophy, religion, literature, science -- EVERYTHING!

I hope I didn't give the impression of a library, or my support of a library devoid of books, only a library which embraces, and offers other avenues of study, learning, and culture.

Science has shown us already, limitedly but demonstrable that our minds learn differently when absorbing information through digital media than with physical. That alone should give one pause even if we were to ignore entirely the Orwellian consequences of an exclusively digitized learning medium. It literally would turn epistemology on its head.

I have a personal library in my home with over two-thousand volumes. If I were to really think this happening, a library without books, and it very well might, our society, our culture in all aspects is crumbling down around us, I would think to buy 20,000 more.


I'm impassioned about this topic so please don't think I'm striking out at you, that wasn't my intent.

 

[nota bene]

No worries; I don't.

There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul! (Emily Dickinson)

 

[AlbqOwl]

some things should not be about profit.

But when it come to government, what it takes and uses on behalf of the people should be useful and necessary and/or promote the general welfare meaning everybody's welfare and not just targeted groups. Public libraries have certainly qualified in that regard for a long time now, and as long as they do, and it puts no burden on the people to fund them, they should continue. When the people no longer use them, they should be closed. As previously posted, that is not the case around here as all the library branches and the main one down town are all busy all the time.

 

[Perotista]

Most of the readers I know say that they love the smell of the paper and the feel of the book in their hands.

I never thought about the smell of paper. But there is something to that. Either that or I am too old fashioned to change.

 

[DA60]

Becoming?

Became.

 

[Fiddytree]

Libraries are, for the most part, already obselete. Libraries are now primarily used for the free internet. Perhaps it would be cheaper to look into public internet cafes instead of libraries. They could provide free internet and a relaxing atmosphere. At least, this way, they would be cheaper and probably more widely used.

I hate to say it but I wonder if brick and mortar libraries all over town are becoming a waste of money in consideration of advances in digital media, digital literature and online learning.

I haven't estimated the numbers but I wonder would if it would be cheaper to have one central library that's easy to get to like downtown in every city and in the basement house servers that the public may access by logging in on their PCs, tablets, e-readers and video streaming devices of everything in the library and more. Would it even be cheaper to subsidize or even buy everyone or at least fulltime students an iPad or similar device every several years? My biggest concern is I do believe some people need to leave their environments and find sanctuaries for learning because of drama, etc. going on in their homes.

It would not be cheaper. The public would have to subsidize countless number of electronic devices if it wants to have the concept stay afloat. People with copious amounts of technology have a tendency to forget that a large percentage of the American population does not have those devices. Then the library would have to be subsidized to take in massive amounts of content. Internet research materials is increasing in costs for research libraries, not decreasing. Fictional content is still largely expensive for the population.

It is not easy to gain access to non-public domain materials in the internet age. That's largely why we have libraries. The basis for the internet source material that many people think will replace things like libraries costs money and is not readily available. Wikipedia and whatever else relies on a collection of tertiary, primary, and secondary source material. It's often times nowhere near a replacement for the real deal. Strip "free" access to that, and yes, you're doing damage to public knowledge or entertainment.

Until technology access is cheaper, far more plentiful, and your content becomes cheaper, you're not going to see me advocating the complete overhaul of the public library. Otherwise, we will be limited to bread crumbs of information.

 

[Fiddytree]

This is what libraries should be in this day and age.

http://d3iovmfe1okdrz.cloudfront.net/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/lab6photo.jpg

I mean you wouldn't have a math lab with just shelves and shelves of abacuses would you?

Do you remember those adverts about consumers being able to catch their news or sports while walking from work and then that image soon after transferring to their television at home?

That's what you need to remember libraries do. Standing in front of a monitor with ready access to materials there is fine and dandy, but sooner or later, you want to take stuff with you. Why must we be limited to owning the expensive electronic hardware to get content that ought to be available at no immediate cost to the citizen with a library card?

 

[CrabCake]

Most books, magazines, videos, newspapers, and professional journals are not legally available for free online. Many of them don't even exist in digital form even if you wanted to pay for them.