The future of libraries, with or without books
2009
09
Sep
An interesting article at CNN.com about the future role of the library. From the article:
Jason M. Schultz, director of the Samuelson Law, Technology and Public Policy Clinic at the University of California at Berkeley Law School, said libraries always have served two roles in society: They're places where people can get free information; and they're community centers for civic debate.
As books become more available online, that community-center role will become increasingly important for libraries, he said.
"It depends on whether we prioritize it as a funding matter, but I think there always will be a space for that even if all the resources are digital," he said.
What do you think? How is your library evolving for the future?
- Sections: Community
- Posted by: gina.persichini
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Books?
Define "book." No matter how you define "book" you are actually talking about a "knowledge record" of some sort. In this sense a "library without books" is self-negating.
If you mean bound, physical tomes -- perhaps, but neither of us will live to see it if, indeed, it ever happens.
Mike Doellman
The public library as community center
We are so much more than a repository of books and information! Our small community branch (ACL's Star Branch Library) has recently had the opportunity to expand into additional space which we are using for a larger program/meeting room. We call it the Star Annex, and we use it on Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays as an after-school meeting space for teens. We staff the annex from 3:30pm to 6pm, and have laptops available with wireless connection, a TV, boom box, PS2, XBox, games, books and magazines. We even pop popcorn sometimes! Our teens do not have access to a community center, and we hope to provide a space that they can call their own, at least after school. In addition, we use the space for our regular programs for all ages.
-- Joy Lear
Future of Libraries
As technology becomes omnipresent, an evolving force that upgrades moment-by-moment, libraries are increasingly important in several ways. First of all, it takes skill to navigate the complexities of the "information highway." Even digital natives, who can text on their phones while listening to tunes on their iPods and hold chat sessions with multiple friends -- all simultaneously -- lose their way on the "information highway." Oh, they are great at copying and pasting from Wikipedia, but sorting through 30 million results for the most authoritative and comprehensive pieces? Derailed. Gauging relevancy or narrowing searches with keywords? Nope.
Libraries are where helpful people guide users in their quest for information. Just having databases, online catalogs, and internet access isn't enough. It's important to supply librarians with skills in using those products, and skills in showing others how to use them.
Also, I do not foresee a time when there will not be printed books. Although I increasingly point my patrons toward databases for information, I hope we live in a culture that values the physical page as much as the cyberspace page. Technology changes: VHS to DVD to BluRay; reel-to-reel to cassette to CD to MP3 to ??? Books remain when the power is out, the player is broken, or the technology has been superseded. I believe in diversity of resources, and books will always be counted among them.
Pat St. Tourangeau
Boise High Library
I don´t own a library and I
I don´t own a library and I don´t use one everytime, but I like the article because of the interesting arguments I didn´t know before reading it. So I learned more again today =)