I'm wondering about what the future holds for libraries. Right now they are filled with 'stacks' of books and periodicals. At some point in the future most reading material is going to be digital, when that happens will the world still need brick and mortar libraries or librarians?
For that matter what exactly is it that a librarian does these days? After all, they don't have to maintain the (Dewey decimal) card catalogues any more.....
People will miss that it once meant something to be Southern or Midwestern. It doesn't mean much now, except for the climate. The question, “Where are you from?” doesn't lead to anything odd or interesting. They live somewhere near a Gap store, and what else do you need to know? - Garrison Keillor
Tell people to "Shhhhhhhhh!" and turn off cell phones? In all seriousness, I think there is a college degree in Library Science you need in order to be a head librarian.Originally posted by Maister
I'm on the Board of our County library. Our library (and many others) now offer e-book downloads, the ability to check out kindles, free access to computers for those without, we still have books and periodicals, reading programs for adults, teens, and youth, also provide free access to many databases. Librarians do programming, information science, cataloging, the reference desk is very popular as well.
Libraries are definitely being hit hard with all the cuts. Some libraries have very reduced schedules or are having difficulties meeting the mandated hours of operation to receive state funding. When I was considering grad school programs I did consider library science/information science but in hindsight am glad that I didn't go that route.
As a person who does research, I can tell you that librarians are very hard working.
Even today, most new books are not available electronically, so there are many that need reshelving, etc. Even when all books do become electronic, the vast number of older books will never be digitized, so there will be a need for shelving.
But what librarians excel at is helping find materials that range well beyond books such as memoirs and private papers, search databases (google is slowly - rapidly? becoming useless do to its focus on money making ads), help frame key words for electronic searches, locate books from other libraries, etc.
I couldn't write books without the help of librarians.
Our county library is modernizing all the time. They also have a lot of programs for teens and kids. Keeping it relevant, I suppose. There is a coffee kiosk in the lobby. Free WiFi and a computer room too.
I am old school. I really like books with pages. A printed book you can take with you camping. Needing electricity to power a book is still odd to me. Though last night I was watching a commercial where they were touting an electronic book whose screen was designed to be read at night, eliminating the need for a night light. I guess I could see that. On those nights when I can't sleep I could read in bed without disturbing my wife. But on the other hand, I could just go into the other room like I do now.
I go to the library a lot. Bars are an anathema to me. When I want to get away I go to the library. A library is a place I can go and do something I enjoy. Alone. And it is free.
"I am very good at reading women, but I get into trouble for using the Braille method."
~ Otterpop ~
Captain Picard was still reading physical books so I guess I will be too. I actually don't like to read off an electronic screen for any length of time. I do like to be able to flip through physical pages. My big worry is that there won't be any more librarians who take off their glasses, let down their hair, and become incredibly sexy.
“Death comes when memories of the past exceed the vision for the future.”
My community's library offers all of those things and we use them quite frequently. My wife takes our daughter to a weekly reading and play circle for toddlers. The reading circle (and other programs for very young children) is very nice for us because we live in a community without many children at all and most of our friends either do not have children or have children who are a few years older so the reading circle is one of the few opportunities our daughter has to play and interact with kids her own age since she doesn't go to daycare at all. The library is bringing in a petting zoo later this month so we will be checking that out as well.
Our local library also partners with my employer and hosts classes focusing on research for entrepreneurs and they are always very well attended (I know this because I get stuck presenting when it is at that library). I've talked with the head librarian there and she says that they have a steady stream of folks coming in to use the library for business research, as well as folks coming in to study or use the computers for high school and college research. I even stop in there for work as well on occasion since they have SPSS on their computers and our license at my office has expired and we haven't renewed it.
The library has folks in from the MSU Extension office to give classes in the late winter and spring and then again in the fall. They also hosts walks and tours through the library gardens as well as through gardens at a couple adjacent homes with rather impressive landscaping. Then there are the lectures and talks with visiting artists and writers (Elmore Leonard is coming to the library next month and I am planning to try and get my copy of Rum Punch signed), organized tours to museums and chamber music events, free passes to local attractions, etc.
These days, libraries have rightfully branched out to digital media as mentioned above, but seem to function as a community center quite often as well hosting all sorts of events that some folks might not have the opportunity to take advantage of otherwise.
"Where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost." - 1980 Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan
I think there will always be a place for hard copy reading materials (and audio/video/digital). At the same time I see that libraries will be among the easier targets as local budgets continue to be strained. My quess is that we will see some consolidation with some libraries and branch libraries closing.
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I've always thought it odd that you would need an advanced degree in a specialized field to be a librarian, but maybe I don't really understand what librarians do? In any case, a friend of mine works in the local library and he says over the last decade its really become a place primarily for the homeless and the very poor to hang out and stay warm while browsing the internet or whatever.
Children in the back seat can cause accidents - and vice versa.
They will always have a place. Our local libraries are nice and well run. They also do things for kids and have branched out to include renting ebooks, and serve as a quiet place to go and chill.
When did I go from Luke Skywalker to Obi-Wan Kenobi?
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