I read less books than before because I buy a computer.You know I can read them on the websites.So I jst wonder if the internet will replace the libraries.
Computer enthusiasts have been discussing the concept of a paperless society for many many years. This would mean no more receipts, magazines, books, newspapers and more. The savings this would bring to America is enormous, but the cost to embrace this type of change would be considerable in the short term. One institution that is in no danger of going paperless anytime soon is the Public Library.
Internet and computer use has grown by leaps and bounds over the last 20 years. Home users have access to more information at a faster rate, and the number of people taking advantage of this technology grows everyday. It is no surprise that public libraries have seen a drop in patronage due to this. To make matters worse, the technology that is available at public libraries tends to be very out of date by way of comparison to what many Americans have at home. The American Library Association and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded a study that revealed demand for information technology in public libraries has stretched what existing resources that exist to their limit. Over 70% of the studied libraries were reportedly the only source of free computer and Internet access for their communities. Only 25% of the libraries studied claimed to have the computers they needed to meet the demands of their users, and there is no change seen in the horizon that will fix this issue. During peak usage hours many libraries reported more than an hour wait for computer access. Continue reading »
