Bookless Libraries

A new article about bookless libraries was written by Tim Newcomb for Time, here is a link to the article.  Libraries should be a changing organism to reflect the needs of the communities they serve.  They have changed over the years so why not welcome a new form.  The most important role for a library is to provide and organize information.  Even if it is bookless it may still do both.

My main problem with a bookless library is that it may contain access to less information, since not all information is digitized or found online.  Libraries should provide access to all formats, because people access information in different ways.  I still love the traditional book; however I still read material online, or on my Kindle and smartphone, and occasionally listen to CD audiobooks.  I see value in all of these formats, because they serve different needs.

Even my students have shown an appreciation for different formats.  Many enjoy checking out a book, but they also love to read e-books from Tumblebooks.com.  When the older students are doing research some of them use only Google.  Some will only use Worldbook Online. Or both Google and Worldbook Online.  Some will use Google, Worldbook, a magazine, and a physical book off of the shelves.  It's fascinating to watch them satisfy their information needs.  They love to have choices, and technology makes it possible.

I'm sure these bookless libraries satisfy the needs of those who only access their information through technology, and that's fine.  That doesn't mean we need to abandon traditional libraries, however traditional libraries need to continue what they have been doing for years...adapting to the current culture.