Everything's online now. Who need books? Who needs shelves? I have to go to the library?
The perception is that libraries are old school. Everything is smaller, portable, and electronic and books are ancient, locale oriented, and tactile. Who need the library? Smart phones and portable electronic devices are putting everybody out of business.
I am reminded of a novel I read one time that had an insightful scene of an older couple selling their old, wooden dining table. It had been in the family for generations. They wanted to get rid of it so they could get one of those new chrome and plastic tables...
Sometimes what is new is not as good in the long run. A reason books have been around in the same format since the 1440's is it was a system which worked. The organization, controlled vocabulary, and the other values which developed around the place of information all worked.
The library as place and idea is most endangered by those rushing to embrace the newest electronic technologies, ideas, and approaches without regard for the wisdom already in place. New technologies do not mean increased skills or improved technologies.
Everyone has a laptop but no one can write. Everyone is texting but reading scores are going down.
Why? The library is as much an ethos of learning as it is a place or a function.
In essence the library is the grand old dame walking with a cane being run down by the skateboarder in cut-offs....
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