Recently, news outlets and blogs have been busy deriding and celebrating the recent ascension of e-readers. The growing popularity of this new format has come with murmurs about the death of paper books and some even surmise that as technology advances libraries will cease to exist!
Taking notice of the chatter, Library Research Service (LRS) has decided to survey librarians on the matter. This new 60-Second Survey asks your opinions on e-readers and how you think they will transform reading. Will e-readers be the demise of the paper book? What will libraries circulate? What is the future of the book? You tell us.
Click here to take the 60-Second Survey
Group discussions, heart-felt comments, and a class act presentation from our state library leaders made the Pueblo Town Hall Meeting an event certainly worth attending. The future of libraries was the theme of the day, with librarians putting their heads together to shake around some exciting ideas. Community mindedness came across strong and clear, with a glimpse of the potential libraries have to make a difference in the lives of people. If you missed this event (see photos), there are five more Town Hall Meeting scheduled. Come share your stories and ideas.
I just read Jamie LaRue’s monthly newspaper column. His reply to a Douglas County concerned citizen was well-stated. I wanted to share his response.
Who needs libraries in the age of the Internet?
A: In 2007, the Douglas County Libraries checked out more children’s materials (over 3.3 million items) – primarily books – than any other library in the state of Colorado. This investment in literacy is one of the key contributions of the public library.
There is additional research about the importance of the public library in the Internet age. First, technology has increased, not decreased, library use. The Internet is wonderful as a way to get quick facts. But the library is about far more than quick answers. It’s about reading. It’s about browsing the magazines. It’s about programs for children, or teens, or adults. It’s about meeting rooms and study spaces. It’s about seeing and being seen. It’s about building community. Second, the library is also a place that provides high speed access to the Internet – of increasing importance when more and more of our life is managed through it. Third, the library subscribes to high quality commercial databases that are “invisible” to Google; and our trained staff are highly skilled researchers – staff add value to the Internet, rather than being replaced by it.
What are your thoughts?
What You’re Saying