Libraries: Printed or Digital

[lemmingllama]

Do you think that libraries should be phased out in favour of digital books? Most books are possible to get electronically now, and the technology is out there to protect files for books. By using coded self terminating files, books could be downloaded electronically and would become disabled after a designated period of time, making it so that books could be only taken out for a short time. This would remove the need for full library buildings, the space taken by large printed books that are often damaged, and the wait times for books to be made available and shipped. The loss of this would be that we would be losing quiet places for study and browsing, as well as the feel of a good paper book in your hands. So what are you thoughts? Should libraries become electronic, kept as they are, or just use both methods?

[jobonline20]

i like to read books because i like the feel of the book in my hand and the smell/fragrance of it.

reading a book in a library, especially a big one...... surrounded by so many books, feels exhilarating.

so i would prefer if the libraries and books remained as it is

[FuzzyDunlop]

Well, the libraries I use are already digital. I am talking about research journals. The contributions that were a result of scientific journals being distributed digitally are incalculable.

In time traditional libraries will be digital. Yes, books feel good. I think books smell good too. But as kindles and nooks become more and more popular, publishers arent going to waste money printing in paper when just as many will buy their book digitally.

[Reptoholic]

I don't think libraries should be phased out. At a lot of colleges now they have both, a large book collection and a online selection. I think that for students that it would be wise to have both. I personally like to have a book in hand, but I can't deny the advantage of being able to access your local library online.

[CaNzCo]

I like books because the authors use of diction to entertain or inform me is interesting. I have no idea why the smell or feel of a book would be necessary in order to accomplish this, so if they were phased out, I wouldn't miss it.

Think of how much paper we could save if everyone had a kindle of nook or whatever... you could go to "libraries" and borrow digital copies of books, or you can purchase books easily online.

[† Emotional Outlet]

As often as I move, having my books on my Kindle is a boon to me. Books are heavy and cardboard technology is not advancing very quickly, haha. However, I will never give up my printed comics.

It does remove a element of serendipity--you can't flip through a digital book the same way you can with a paper book. I know there was some controversy regarding page numbers, but I don't know what was done about that. I think Amazon added the feature, but only for newer models of the Kindle? (And I think there was some crazy controversy over Amazon pulling books off of people's devices without telling them--that's a pretty scary thought.)

Availability wouldn't be as much of an issue--if two thousand people wanted to borrow Harry Potter, then there's no problem just because the library only has ten copies of it. I don't think libraries need to be torn down or that we have to lose quiet places to sit and/or study. If they start losing paper books, they can just repurpose the space that was originally used for books. Add more computers. Add desks or more sitting areas for people to sit in. Add charging stations. Headphones. Libraries don't have to stop being quiet areas just because digital books are gaining momentum.

They can still even hire librarians. They can direct people as they always have, telling them where they can look for things, helping them find books. Yes, they may not have physical books to point them to, but a lot of librarians I've known were really quite knowledgeable right off the top of their heads. They need someone to keep the computers maintained and maybe even do some minor tech. support for people with ereaders.

I don't know how feasible an ereader rental service would be, but I think it's a pretty interesting idea. People already rent furniture and cars--why not rent ereaders?