Consumers now have a lot of choice to meet their information needs and their different learning styles. Digital will actually increase access drastically:. Billions of people live without any access to libraries or bookstores but have phones, the fast majority of which will within a few years be internet-connected smartphones fully suitable for reading.
Budget pressures mean library hours are increasingly limited and book acquisition budgets constrained, further limiting practical access. Every eBook can license terms and SW permitting be read out loud with text-to-speech functionality.
How many audio books does your library stock? Digital is making a vastly increased selection of books available to all.
Hugh, what a great piece. You were thorough and analytical and I think you laid out the issues beautifully. I think most people not deeply steeped in libraries would view public libraries as, primarily, places that gather content to make it accessible.
The community space and education elements would be seen by most as secondary functions that flow from the building full of books.
But, whatever we end up calling it, every library around today is going to come up with a whole new rationale to keep its doors open in the years to come. Anyone who disagrees is doing so because inertia is a powerful force, not because the argument is incorrect. Actually, no — there are other reasons to disagree with this post.
Your statement is a perfect example of how the dominant discourse automatically dismisses criticism out of hand by making an ad hominem argument about the critic. The mere fact that it is possible to copy and distribute a product at no cost does not mean that it necessarily will become free in the marketplace. The cost of making and distributing another copy of Windows has always been next to nothing. Yet, Bill Gates has become one of the richest men in the world by selling a product that technically can be distributed almost as freely as an ebook could be.
The whole for-profit software industry is trying to do the same. In many ways, there are very strong similarities between the for-profit software industry and ebook publishers. Yes, of course, it is true that there are many more books out there than readers can or want to read.
But that has been true for at least years since the invention of mass-production printing. When people want to read a book, they want a specific title or a specific type of book. In fact, I think that the concept of supply and demand for books in general is almost irrelevant in trying to figure out how much ebooks will cost.
Bill Gates became one of the richest men in the world based largely on a business built up prior to near-ubiquitous broadband access, and based on two products: Windows Operating System, and MS Office, both of which have lost significant market share to free alternatives see, eg, google docs. My guess is that if you asked Bill Gates what the future of his business is, he would not say: selling individual instances of software to consumers.
Supply and Demand. Compare that to 10 years ago, where: a it was expensive to publish a book b you had to go to a book store to buy a book.
Pingback : Are eBooks microfiche all over again? It's Not About the Books. But speaking as someone who harangued his public library staff for years about the coming of the e-book, and has now recanted, I believe that Hugh is missing 3 vital points:. A small example — a co-operative I am involved with wanted to build a long term shared print storage facility.
The facility is now built, and open for business. My library filled its allocation 2 days after opening. The copyright quagmire — for the world beyond North America, the Google Books Settlement is a copyright curiosity — but it will not apply even when Google gets its way to the rest of the world. To use the word Rights is to use the propaganda of those who wish to impose artificial scarcity on an infinitely renewable digital resource.
In passively accepting imposition of DRM on ebooks, libraries are at risk of cooperating in their own demise and are acting against the best interests of their patrons.
Everyone I know who has some kind of ereading device says they are reading more than ever and finding new places in their day to read. This is only anecdotal evidence, and it would be interesting to find out how representative their experience is.
But I agree growth in supply will far outstrip any growth in demand. These essentially require signatories to pass legislation to protect analogue business models which the digital world has made obsolete.
How ought libraries do this in the future? Perhaps a good start might be to say no to DRM. We not talking about nature; we are talking about a social and moral values and how rights should be distributed. The physics are relevant because we now have the most efficient copying machine ever invented called the Internet. When the marginal cost of making a perfect digital copy is effectively zero, this fundamentally changes the landscape for writers and readers alike.
I agree about the need to get the right balance, but we ought to do this in a way that takes account of physical reality, not by creating artificial scarcity.
Your founding fathers and the Statute of Anne before them were from an age when copying was expensive and hard. As Craig notes, we readers get more rights with a paper book than we do with an ebook; copying an ebook is easy and cheap, so it comes with more restrictions. This strikes me as perverse and unsustainable, regardless of our social and moral values. In my country, the desire to impose digital restrictions has led to a law where those accused of online copyright infringement are assumed guilty and required to prove their innocence.
Is this the world we want to live in? To answer your question at the end. No, I definitely would not want to live in that world. I would hate to live in a country where people are presumed guilty for using and sharing ideas. But I also would not want to live in the world that Hugh predicts — in which all books are free and authors have no way to get paid for their creative efforts.
Are those two extremes the only choices that we have? But, in some ways, my error illustrates my point. Our goal should be to create the right artificial restrictions — those that are most beneficial to society. I agree with you that current Intellectual Property laws give way too much power to IP owners, but I think that they can be fixed without going to the other extreme and eliminating all of them as unnatural.
I have read several articles this year trumpeting the end of print books in libraries and how libraries will be irrelevant once that happens. The authors seem to think that this is something those of us in the profession should be gravely worried about.
What will we do with our libraries when the public no longer wants to read books in paper format anymore? Those who work in libraries know that we do much more than just circulate books. There are two reasons I think libraries will be around and vital in the future and still have print books. The first reason is that libraries have evolved as formats have. If you are as old as me you will remember libraries having LP collections; when those were superseded by cassettes, we collected those, when those were superseded by CDs we got those.
Our library staff respondents were also ambivalent about moving most library services online and making most services automated. The least popular idea overall was moving print books out of public locations to free up space for other activities. While each response was unique, the following quote from a library staff member touches on many of the issues that librarians said they consider:.
Due to the fact that the needs of the community are very diverse, our services are also diverse. We have made room for many activities at the library such as tutoring, meetings, family gatherings such as wedding showers, study space or just a space to hang out.
We have also become mindful of different learning styles and now offer hands-on learners interactive exhibits and developmentally disabled individuals a special needs storytime.
We offer equipment to help with digitizing materials but do not have enough staff to help everyone with their project, although when time allows we do often get pulled into the process and help to get people started. Electronic materials are certainly a great addition to our collection but, because not everyone has internet access at home or can afford to buy an e-reader or tablet computer, we cannot abandon the print materials.
Again, we serve a diverse community. Here is a more detailed analysis of the different services different groups would like to see implemented at libraries.
Americans ages are significantly more likely than older adults to express strong support for this idea, as are those who live in urban or suburban areas compared with those living in rural areas. Focus group members were very much in support of this idea. Many said that they would love to see libraries offer resources such as homework help and tutoring, as well as afterschool study programs. Some participants said that they wished their library had enough copies of the books assigned to their children as readings in class, especially when the school library only has a few copies that are quickly checked out.
Most of the librarians in our online panel either said that their library was already doing this, or should definitely do this in the future. I would very much like to do that with my local school district. One branch [in our system] has been most successful by taking storytimes to daycares and working with the youngest populations. The result has been that the older children now come to storytime at the library as they can walk to and from the event. Those who had not completed high school are also generally more likely to express strong support for this idea.
However, the librarians whose libraries who do not currently offer early literacy programs were sometimes unsure as to whether this was a service they should clearly offer. There are few differences between different demographic groups in support for this idea, although blacks and Hispanics are more likely to express strong support for this idea than whites.
The teens behavior has gotten so much better we no longer need a security guard at the library. Women are significantly more likely than men to express strong support for this idea, and blacks and Hispanics are more likely to express strong support than whites. This idea was also more popular with those under age 50 than with older adults. In our focus groups, we asked participants to think about what their ideal library would look like.
This idea was very popular with the librarians in our online panel, with most saying either that their library should definitely do this in the future, or that it was already doing this:. A place where the majority of the population could say they use on a weekly, if not daily, basis.
Many librarians in our online panel said that their library should definitely offer a broader selection of e-books. They often cited a lack of funds and restrictions from publishers as their main impediments, and the balance of trying to provide e-books for their tech-savvy patrons while still providing print and audiobooks for those who prefer print. Interactive learning experiences are significantly more popular with those who had not completed college compared with college graduates, as well as with those in lower-income households compared with those at higher income levels.
Finally, those who live in urban areas are significantly more likely to express strong support for this idea than those in suburban or rural areas. Few of the librarians in our online panel said that their library already offered interactive learning experiences, and the rest were lukewarm on whether they should in the future. Ultimately, there was no clear consensus from out online panel. Some felt that expanding the offerings of the library was a vital innovation for the future.
We also need to meet patrons where they are — online or in the community. Embedding with community groups is crucial to sharing information about library resources and to collaborate on programs that benefit the community.
Be a presence outside of the library. I think it is important that libraries be an oasis for quiet thought. Adults ages are also more likely to express strong support for this idea than adults over the age of Finally, this idea was significantly more popular with those who had not completed college compared with college graduates, as well as with those in lower-income households compared with those at higher income levels.
Along with offering more museum-like interactive learning experiences, this potential service had the fewest number of librarians saying that their library already offers this. I think a class TEACHING these skills might work out better than just providing scanners and assuming patrons know how to use them, or helping patrons use them individually. If we added scanners, I am pretty sure that most of my day would be helping patrons with that one thing.
Move most library services online so users can access them without having to visit the library. Focus group members had mixed thoughts on this idea. On the one hand, many said that they would like to be able to do more online, or have more self-service options in the library. On the other hand, many participants also said that they really missed the personal connection they had with librarians when they are children, and wished they had that sort of relationship with their library now—that their librarians knew them well enough to recommend books, library services, or other resources to them, based on their interests and family needs.
Overall, some focus group participants saw the library as a destination a place to take the family for an afternoon, for instance , and others see it as a resource a place to get books and other items.
Others said that their library used changed throughout the year, or at different points in their lives—they might like to spend hours there in the summer, when the kids are out of school, but may be busier during the school year and only able to stop by to pick up and drop off books. These thoughts were echoed by members of our librarian panel, who were generally ambivalent about the prospect of moving most library services online. They may access some things online. But many of our patrons enjoy the experience of coming to the library for programs and social interaction.
We are not just service centers, we are also community centers. Again, many of the members of our online librarian panel did not generally view automating most services as a useful path.
One library staff member wrote:. Not because they fear technology—they are very literate and up to date on all things electronic—but because they cherish the interaction with a real live person at the desk and they love being greeted by name. Yet while few if any of the librarians felt that most services should be automated, some staff members whose libraries had already implemented some automated services found that they served as a useful option for busier patrons. Older patrons, however, like the personal service provided at the circulation desk by our clerks.
Some librarians noted that for patrons, it was often a matter of preference. Another librarian felt that more resistance had some from the staff than patrons:.
People like me who prefer to pump their own gas love the self-service kiosks. Even though I explained to staff that self-checkout is primarily a privacy option for users, and that no staff cuts are planned, some are reluctant to encourage use of the kiosks, even when people are lined up waiting for service.
Others found that while self-service options can be helpful, automated systems can bring their own headaches:. We encourage their use and there are still lines at the checkout desks. We would be doing a great disservice to our library users if we fully automated or provided most of our materials online.
As our digital natives age then it would make sense to provide services in formats that are usable by them. The main goal that many librarians in our online panel expressed is simply to balance the needs of busy patrons with the personal connection they want from their library:.
We offer remote access to some materials, and both staff and patrons love the convenience. We are in the process of launching a major e-books collection, and the patrons are clamoring for it.
That said, we find that patrons continue to see our library as destination, and they seek out our staff because of the service we offer and deliver. They tell us that themselves, and the traffic in our library confirms it. The librarians in our online panel expressed the least amount of support for this idea overall, and many said that their library was very unlikely to do this. Others whose libraries had tried to move books out the main areas had encountered mixed results.
One librarian wrote:. We installed a coffee machine which after many spills on both the carpeting and keyboards was finally removed. Librarians are, in most cases, around technology all day long. And with our keen researching and troubleshooting skills, technology assistance is a natural part of our duties.
In general, you may find that digital natives working in libraries are more likely to be able to help with more complex tech assistance requests, but really most staff members should be able to get you started in the right direction.
Some libraries even offer job search workshops, which will enable you to get some extra eyes on your resume and maybe practice interview skills. Some librarians may still be willing to take a look and give you notes, but be aware that it may not serve you well, ultimately.
Libraries often have databases and other organized resources dedicated to career building and some libraries have librarians specifically hired to work with job seekers and business folks. Not everyone wants to invest in a printer, especially since so much is handled digitally these days.
But every once in a while, you really need a hard copy of something. Fortunately, many libraries have printers available to the public. Prints often cost a bit of pocket change, though some libraries offer free prints. Many of the libraries that offer printing also offer copying and scanning. Staff can usually help navigate these devices with nimble ease. Looking to fax something? You might also ask about shredding small quantities of paper, too, if you need it.
Meanwhile, if you prefer to work on your own device, WiFi access at public libraries is free. And, if you need a place to plug in your device, there are typically outlets available for users. Just be sure to bring your own charging cable and adapter, as these are rarely available at the library.
0コメント