Monday, December 5, 2011

Are libraries doomed?

Somebody recently told me they thought that the library we knew from our youth was dead.  Books would become a thing of the past.  E-Readers will take over!  It was enough to make me rethink my Library Science major!  Afterall, what will there be left for me to do? 

Then, I got to thinking....  It's true that people can hop on a computer and almost instantly find what they're looking for, info wise.  But, what about when the power goes down, and your paper is due in 4 hours?  Where will you find your info then?  Just like the idea that we would be a "paperless society" by now, I think that's an unfounded concern. There will always be libraries.  What those libraries are expected to provide has definitely changed dramatically, but a Kindle will never replace a lapful of 2 year old and an excellent picture book.  And for many of us, myself included, flipping pages trumps clicking a button any day.  Kindles have their place, just like all new technology.  But in the end, the paper page will triumph. 

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