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A bit pessimistic no? The interested always find a way, and it has never been easier with the online databases that the author acknowledges as being extremely u

by moab 3y ago

A bit pessimistic no? The interested always find a way, and it has never been easier with the online databases that the author acknowledges as being extremely useful (sci-hub, libgen, etc). What he is lamenting is the loss of serendipity from browsing a physical library shelf; but it is not at all clear that this experience is incompatible with virtual libraries.

OfSanguineFire 3y ago
Virtual libraries also lack the ease of keeping several books open in front of you at the same time. This is very important in fields like linguistics, history, or archaeology. I do like my e-book reader and read plenty of Sci-Hub- or LibGen-sourced literature on it, but I can’t realistically buy five e-book readers to half-ass emulate the research experience I am most productive with.
emptybits 3y ago
> The interested always find a way Yes, I agree, those who are already interested or motivated need less help. But to educate most people, and young developing minds especially, brief browsy exposure to unplanned topics is what might create the interest and motivation in the first place. The peripheral glances at compelling covers and spines. The topics you didn’t come to search for and maybe you didn’t even know exist. You can’t search an opaque virtual library for what you haven’t yet seen a spark or crumb of. Hands-on, tactile, flip flip flip, put it back, flip flip flip … irreplaceable.
- jacknobody 3y ago
  Beautiful books! A section of a library I used to visit used Bliss categorisation, which is just so conducive to discovery!
- techbuttman 3y ago
  The curious will seek information wherever it may be. Kids are naturally curious about the world, but keeping them engaged with learning and growing through exposure and study largely falls on parents and teachers. We're living in the Information Age (for better or worse), and my kids have been exposed to far more topics than I came across in libraries. It's easy to keep them interested, but I feel like the disappearance of libraries reduces the accuracy and quality of Information. I've seen mine and other's kids rattle off a crazy amount of "facts" but still fall short in problem solving, applying knowledge, etc.
mdp2021 3y ago
> The interested always find a way We want ignorance to be fought societally - the people you interact with should be as little ignorant as possible. > online databases Found users are hit with the highest legislative sanctions, increasingly.

by moab 3y ago

OfSanguineFire 3y ago

Virtual libraries also lack the ease of keeping several books open in front of you at the same time. This is very important in fields like linguistics, history, or archaeology. I do like my e-book reader and read plenty of Sci-Hub- or LibGen-sourced literature on it, but I can’t realistically buy five e-book readers to half-ass emulate the research experience I am most productive with.

emptybits 3y ago

> The interested always find a way Yes, I agree, those who are already interested or motivated need less help. But to educate most people, and young developing minds especially, brief browsy exposure to unplanned topics is what might create the interest and motivation in the first place. The peripheral glances at compelling covers and spines. The topics you didn’t come to search for and maybe you didn’t even know exist. You can’t search an opaque virtual library for what you haven’t yet seen a spark or crumb of. Hands-on, tactile, flip flip flip, put it back, flip flip flip … irreplaceable.

jacknobody 3y ago
Beautiful books! A section of a library I used to visit used Bliss categorisation, which is just so conducive to discovery!
techbuttman 3y ago
The curious will seek information wherever it may be. Kids are naturally curious about the world, but keeping them engaged with learning and growing through exposure and study largely falls on parents and teachers. We're living in the Information Age (for better or worse), and my kids have been exposed to far more topics than I came across in libraries. It's easy to keep them interested, but I feel like the disappearance of libraries reduces the accuracy and quality of Information. I've seen mine and other's kids rattle off a crazy amount of "facts" but still fall short in problem solving, applying knowledge, etc.

mdp2021 3y ago

> The interested always find a way We want ignorance to be fought societally - the people you interact with should be as little ignorant as possible. > online databases Found users are hit with the highest legislative sanctions, increasingly.