Libraries - what willst thou becomest?
There's a discussion over at another message board about whether or not libraries will become extinct due to everything going digital. People were discussing basically along the lines of whether or not everything will soon become paperless, and if so, couldn't a library just be accessed via computer, etc. (And not everyone agreed with that, but that's sort of the gist of the thread so far). I had a bit of a different perpective on all that - maybe 'cause both my folks were librarians - and since I'm rather passionate about the topic, I thought I'd repost my reply on the topic here:
"I agree that libraries will change with the time, but I don't think they'll go away. Libraries have always been (in my opinion) the cornerstone of a free society. It's free access to knowledge, and not just for a privileged segment of society. It's potentially one of the great equalizers - you can be as poor as poor can be, but with a library, you have the same right and access to the world's accumulated knowlege as anyone else."
I think if we lose our libraries, than in a way, we lose our democracy.
"I agree that libraries will change with the time, but I don't think they'll go away. Libraries have always been (in my opinion) the cornerstone of a free society. It's free access to knowledge, and not just for a privileged segment of society. It's potentially one of the great equalizers - you can be as poor as poor can be, but with a library, you have the same right and access to the world's accumulated knowlege as anyone else."
I think if we lose our libraries, than in a way, we lose our democracy.
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As a public librarian, of course, I couldn't agree more with Joel's comments. Libraries are for the people, paid for by the people and will always be there to serve the people as long as humankind still has the mind to think, dream, construct, query, etc., etc., etc. and in a form that serves them best. (Hmmm...just had a flash of the old Twilight Zone or whatever it was show of "To Serve Man"...and it wasn't the way librarians serve patrons either, however, we do have a cookbook section...:)
Joel nailed it when he said libraries will change with time to meet the needs of the patron...but they will never go away. How many meetings & conferences I've attended I couldn't count that this is exactly the topic discussed. Also, it is a fact that libraries serve the needs of ALL patrons no matter what tax bracket, how much education they've had, or whatever/wherever they come from. ALL have free access to information & service.
Okay, I'm off my soapbox to the relief of all. I was just so impressed with Mr. Arnold's passionate views of the worth of libraries in our lives...well, I was swept away.
Thank you yet again for your insightful views.
--Cecilia
(p.s. For anyone who read my previous comment and was somewhat confused...you've a right to be. Sometimes trying to write comments of two different blogs at more or less the same time does not work...trust me on this one...8)