I’m sorry this post is late, but this past week was a bit crazy for me. I have to say that I found the readings for this week to be a bit dry. Electronic libraries…I think they can be useful but it will take a while to work out all of the kinks and I don’t know that I would be comfortable with regular libraries disappearing. For one, I like having the actual book or document in my hand. I think it is important to be able see the markings and notes that are on these works. When these documents are scanned into a computer and digitized, much of this detail can be lost. Afterall, when digitizing material, it doesn’t always appear as clear as the real thing. It is also expensive to digitize all of these works. I agree with the sentiment in Cohen and Rosenzweig that the library or organization that is considering digitizing needs to weigh the cost of doing so against the number of people who will be serviced and how much it will benefit the organization/library. But, let’s be honest, libraries are not popular with younger generations. They would prefer to hop online and find a quick answer to a question. Some of the students I teach have not stepped foot in a public town library and they are lost when trying to use the dewey decimal system at the school library. I had a student the other day seem very surprised at the fact that public libraries have computers that the public can use. If libraries are going to make it, they need to find a way to attract people to them by having more community events. If a community event were held at the library, people may not attend it to go look at books, but the next time they need a book or need to search for information for a paper, they may say to themselves, “Oh, I can go to that place where the coffee was served, and I even know where that library is.” Are libraries going to make it? There is no question in my mind that University libraries will NOT go away because they are so necessary for students to survive, especially during midterms and finals. But small town libraries…well they are used by adults and children, but I don’t know that teens even realize they exist. Small public libraries need to find a way to spice things up and attract more of the community.
Week 8 Comments-late but better than never :)
October 22, 2008 by walshkam
Kate, you make some clever points about the library, and I concur about needing to educate students in what libraries have to offer. But do we force people to make the library cool? Maybe because it’s free it’s like the Kmart of the fashion world.
-Hunter
I agree as well. I think a lot of students think the library is drab and boring and does not have a lot to offer. I did not truly appreciate the library until I got to college. I think libraries need to reinvent themselves and becaome more warm and inviting. You see a lot of libraries adding little coffee shops, food, classes and lectures, etc. I certainly do not think libraries are going anywhere, despite the increase in digitized books and other materials.