4 ms·

His library might be dead, but that's not the case everywhere. My nearest library (Aurora Colorado) is generally packed full of people anytime I go there. And

His library might be dead, but that's not the case everywhere. My nearest library (Aurora Colorado) is generally packed full of people anytime I go there. And while there are certainly plenty of people on the library computers, a lot of them are browsing the book stacks and checking out plain old books. The idea that the Internet contains everything you can find in a library is (at present at least) absolute bunk! The internet is great for enthusiasts to read more about their favorite subjects, but for a beginner learning about a new subject, books (physical or ebook) still rule. And it would be a huge mistake to believe that everyone can afford a computer or an ebook reader. There are still a lot of people even in the US or other first world countries where $100 for an ebook reader is completely unrealistic. Libraries are a great asset to communities and to democracy exactly because the price of admission for library users is so low. You don't need credit, you don't need any hardware, just a desire to learn.

ars 16y ago
I came to say the same thing - my local library is certainly not dead. Full of both kids and adults - yes, some are playing on the computers, but a ton are also reading and checking out books.
dasil003 16y ago
Agreed, the Mountain View library is always packed. I mostly go with my daughter because it's a great place for kids. But I also like to be able to read books without having to buy them.
blhack 16y ago
(I wrote this). I'm not saying that libraries should be abolished, just that they should be expanded. My point is that the world has changed, and it would be great if the libraries caught up. Absolutely don't get rid of books, that's not what I'm saying at all. To me, libraries represent an academic resource for the community. I would just love to see them be an even greater resource than they are now. I think the idea is fantastic, and I think that history agrees, I just want to see that fantastic idea expanded a little more.
- qjz 16y ago
  So what would I like to see happen? Get rid of the dead trees, but don't stop there. It sounds like you want to get rid of books ("dead trees"), but maybe you got a little overexcited. I just went to the library today, to return and check out some books. It's a nice break from the time I spend behind a computer, and e-books don't interest me that much. But while I was there, a group of toddlers were engaged in a singalong, and several people were browsing the web on library computers. Now, some libraries are better than others (for some strange reason, our local library only has one terminal dedicated to searching the catalog, so you have to wait if someone else is using it and you can't simply use one of the web PCs without signing up for a session, plus there's no wifi), but the trend is definitely toward improving the library as a community resource. The bigger problem is the lack of funding and other resources. If you want to help your library develop along these lines, volunteer, donate, vote and/or simply ask accordingly.
  - blhack 16y ago
    You make a good point. It was mistaken to say "get rid of the dead trees", what I meant was "get rid of the idea that the main focus of your establishment should be dead trees."
    - Herring 16y ago
      >mistaken Eh. Maybe books are not quite dead yet, but they do have a terminal disease. We all can see it, I don't know why we tiptoe around it.
      - easp 16y ago
        Books still have many things going for them. Once they are produced, the only infrastructure they require is literacy and something to keep them dry. Once you have a book, you can do almost anything you want with it, including give it or sell it to someone else, who will have the same rights you had. Copyright does apply to books, of course, but with books, the concept of fair use is well ensconced, and not encumbered by EULAs and "click-wrap" terms of use. So yes, books may well be terminal, but if they die, we risk loosing something more than just a stack of dead tree we can hold in our hands.
techsupporter 16y ago
This was my initial reaction as well. The key fallacy (and I hesitate to use such a "strong" word) is here: "Do I want to read a novel? I can have it delivered to my kindle in a matter of a few seconds and still not get out of bed." Not everyone can afford a Kindle, and most of the older texts kept by a library are not in eBook format. Interestingly, the "Internet age" has actually returned me to my library because of accessibility and cost effectiveness. My town is a member of the Fort Wort Public Library System, or MetrOPAC. It links together all of the Fort Worth libraries, along with several of the suburbs'.[1] The card issued by my city works at a couple dozen other libraries, and allows me to get a card at roughly ten more. MetrOPAC's card catalog is online[2] and even lets me have books or other material brought from another library to my own. It sounds like the "broken" library is the one the author went to. Because it is a publicly-supported institution, things like a HPC cluster or other specialized tools are impractical (though I'd be there every waking moment). Providing the knowledge to seek these out IS what a library can do. My library is always packed, and even though my city will get about $400,000 less in tax revenue this year (declining property values), the library is fully-funded and is getting a small budget increase because the citizens use and value it. That's what a library should be, in my eyes. Edited to add: Oh, and our wireless Internet access works well. ;) 1 - http://www.fortworthgov.org/library/branches/ http://www.fortworthgov.org/library/branches/ 2 - http://fwl.ipac.dynixasp.com/ipac20/ipac.jsp?profile= http://fwl.ipac.dynixasp.com/ipac20/ipac.jsp?profile=
- theBobMcCormick 16y ago
  Yup, we've got a similar system here in Aurora, CO. From the Library catalog system (online or in the library), you can search not just the Aurora system, but a number of local affiliated libraries. You can get book from any of the local or affiliated libraries delivered to the library of your choice. Then you just walk in, grab the books with your name on them, zip them through the self checkout and you're good to go. My local library has become so damn convenient for me it's definitely increased my usage.

ars 16y ago

I came to say the same thing - my local library is certainly not dead. Full of both kids and adults - yes, some are playing on the computers, but a ton are also reading and checking out books.

dasil003 16y ago

Agreed, the Mountain View library is always packed. I mostly go with my daughter because it's a great place for kids. But I also like to be able to read books without having to buy them.

blhack 16y ago

(I wrote this). I'm not saying that libraries should be abolished, just that they should be expanded. My point is that the world has changed, and it would be great if the libraries caught up. Absolutely don't get rid of books, that's not what I'm saying at all. To me, libraries represent an academic resource for the community. I would just love to see them be an even greater resource than they are now. I think the idea is fantastic, and I think that history agrees, I just want to see that fantastic idea expanded a little more.

qjz 16y ago
So what would I like to see happen? Get rid of the dead trees, but don't stop there. It sounds like you want to get rid of books ("dead trees"), but maybe you got a little overexcited. I just went to the library today, to return and check out some books. It's a nice break from the time I spend behind a computer, and e-books don't interest me that much. But while I was there, a group of toddlers were engaged in a singalong, and several people were browsing the web on library computers. Now, some libraries are better than others (for some strange reason, our local library only has one terminal dedicated to searching the catalog, so you have to wait if someone else is using it and you can't simply use one of the web PCs without signing up for a session, plus there's no wifi), but the trend is definitely toward improving the library as a community resource. The bigger problem is the lack of funding and other resources. If you want to help your library develop along these lines, volunteer, donate, vote and/or simply ask accordingly.
- blhack 16y ago
  You make a good point. It was mistaken to say "get rid of the dead trees", what I meant was "get rid of the idea that the main focus of your establishment should be dead trees."
  - Herring 16y ago
    >mistaken Eh. Maybe books are not quite dead yet, but they do have a terminal disease. We all can see it, I don't know why we tiptoe around it.
    - easp 16y ago
      Books still have many things going for them. Once they are produced, the only infrastructure they require is literacy and something to keep them dry. Once you have a book, you can do almost anything you want with it, including give it or sell it to someone else, who will have the same rights you had. Copyright does apply to books, of course, but with books, the concept of fair use is well ensconced, and not encumbered by EULAs and "click-wrap" terms of use. So yes, books may well be terminal, but if they die, we risk loosing something more than just a stack of dead tree we can hold in our hands.

techsupporter 16y ago

This was my initial reaction as well. The key fallacy (and I hesitate to use such a "strong" word) is here: "Do I want to read a novel? I can have it delivered to my kindle in a matter of a few seconds and still not get out of bed." Not everyone can afford a Kindle, and most of the older texts kept by a library are not in eBook format. Interestingly, the "Internet age" has actually returned me to my library because of accessibility and cost effectiveness. My town is a member of the Fort Wort Public Library System, or MetrOPAC. It links together all of the Fort Worth libraries, along with several of the suburbs'.[1] The card issued by my city works at a couple dozen other libraries, and allows me to get a card at roughly ten more. MetrOPAC's card catalog is online[2] and even lets me have books or other material brought from another library to my own. It sounds like the "broken" library is the one the author went to. Because it is a publicly-supported institution, things like a HPC cluster or other specialized tools are impractical (though I'd be there every waking moment). Providing the knowledge to seek these out IS what a library can do. My library is always packed, and even though my city will get about $400,000 less in tax revenue this year (declining property values), the library is fully-funded and is getting a small budget increase because the citizens use and value it. That's what a library should be, in my eyes. Edited to add: Oh, and our wireless Internet access works well. ;) 1 - http://www.fortworthgov.org/library/branches/ http://www.fortworthgov.org/library/branches/ 2 - http://fwl.ipac.dynixasp.com/ipac20/ipac.jsp?profile= http://fwl.ipac.dynixasp.com/ipac20/ipac.jsp?profile=

theBobMcCormick 16y ago
Yup, we've got a similar system here in Aurora, CO. From the Library catalog system (online or in the library), you can search not just the Aurora system, but a number of local affiliated libraries. You can get book from any of the local or affiliated libraries delivered to the library of your choice. Then you just walk in, grab the books with your name on them, zip them through the self checkout and you're good to go. My local library has become so damn convenient for me it's definitely increased my usage.