Why Libraries are Important
May 30th, 2005Last week, someone asked me why I thought libraries are important. My answer normally runs along the lines of a successful democracy depending on an informed public, and public libraries being instrumental in keeping the public informed.
After seven years in the filed, that platitude only raises more questions. What about libraries that function in a setting other than a democratic one? Are they not valuable? Are libraries doing a good job of keeping people informed?
One of the functions of a research library is to collect for future generations. Who knows (or cares in a way) what kind of society or government our future readers will live in? We will still collect for the unborn. That seems important.
In my first stab at finding a better answer the question about the importance of libraries, I came upon Library Staff are Unsung Heroes by Greg Hill.
Democratic institutions depend on citizens being able to inform themselves on the issues. Societies that renew themselves through life-long learning are much healthier. There’s a thousand other reasons why libraries are important.I am counting.
The only problem is that people are spending less and less time in librarys.
From what I have observed at my local librarys is that the people that go there arent even using the core assets of a library. Most teenagers go to use the internet. Most parents/children go to just read the childrens books. I do see people using the actual books, but often they are using them for research reports.
I usually go in to read various magazines that I can’t afford to subscribe to or it doesnt make sense to subsribe. Like harvard biz review which is $120 for an annual subscription.
Back to the points you brought up, education/information is coming from the media and the internet. Especially with library budgets growing smaller and smaller the books that they have arent always going to be able to keep up with whats happening in the world. Kinda like how blogs can publish content 12-72 hours ahead in comparison to the tradiotional media sources.
by Rob P August 24th, 2005 at 5:15 pmLibraries are a fantastic socialist experiment, which at one time did show a return to the public part of their invest in themselves, by allowing the entire public to have free access to what was once a highly treasured medium of information.
I agree to a degree with RobP who posted prior to me that people are spending less and less time in libraries and more time seeking more instant gratification via television and the internet. How can a library keep up with that?
-It can’t.
And thus ends the experiment. Like all else, it will be outmoded if it is let to go fallow, or worse -digital. Everything contained in those precious books will be nothing more than relics and recyclables. The new knowledge will be in ten point digital type, subject to change and subject to slant. The work of authours and researchers will be turned over to the anonymous faces hidden in computer labs away from the public access. Impersonal information from an impersonal medium. Welcome to the aughties, the romance is over.
Never ask why one is relevant or important, fight to stay relevant and important. Libraries are near to being barrier-free access points to information. I pay no fees to use my library (taxes and late fines aside) and through this I gain power through knowledge.
by Jordan McKinnon December 4th, 2005 at 3:30 am