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While on the whole I agree with much of what Seth is saying (the library is basically a warehouse of old books) I don't think the library itself as we see it to
by adeaver 15y ago
While on the whole I agree with much of what Seth is saying (the library is basically a warehouse of old books) I don't think the library itself as we see it today is going anywhere or will change in any significant way until e-books become far more prevalent than they are right now.
- paganel 15y agoWith an online library how are you going to "serendipitously" find new books from other domains you don't know you're interested in? I remember when I was 14 or 15, I was going to our small-town's public library once every 2 days or so, I was reading all the SF books I could find. The thing is that the SF books shelf was just after the history books shelf, and, even though I liked history, I never would have thought of reading history books if it weren't for me passing in front of that history books shelf each and every time.
- stcredzero 15y agoWith an online library how are you going to "serendipitously" find new books from other domains you don't know you're interested in? Google could handle this with "I'm Feeling Lucky." I seem to remember delicious.com doing something like this. How about a serendipity web app that tries to figure out/crowdsource what you never knew you'd be interested in?
- adeaver 15y agoRecommendation engines are getting pretty good at this. It's always going to be hit or miss no matter what method you invoke. Friends, browsing, engines... nothing will always be perfect.
- bricestacey 15y agoYou harvest book covers and then sort them by call number. Google something to the effect of "virtual shelf browser". It's ugly and isn't very effective, but neither is scanning the spines of hundreds of books.