What should libraries do to become relevant in the digital age?
They can't survive as community-funded repositories for books that individuals don't want to own (or for reference books we can't afford to own.) More librarians are telling me (unhappily) that the number one thing they deliver to their patrons is free DVD rentals. That's not a long-term strategy, nor is it particularly an uplifting use of our tax dollars.
Here's my proposal: train people to take intellectual initiative.
Once again, the net turns things upside down. The information is free now. No need to pool tax money to buy reference books. What we need to spend the money on are leaders, sherpas and teachers who will push everyone from kids to seniors to get very aggressive in finding and using information and in connecting with and leading others.
1 comment:
Don't forget the computers!
I have had to use a public library while traveling to access the internet, to look up information. I found while
I was at the Public Library in Laughlin, NV., PC use was in high demand.
There was a waiting list and a half hour time limit in use.
"Back in the day" the Public Library was a good place to find an electric typewriter to use.
There will always, at least for a while, be the need for a good old fashioned book, and a place to find one that you cannot afford to purchase.
The Public Library, (when I was a child) was also a grand place for summer reading activities.
I hope they continue to be funded in future budgets.
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