Books hold a dear place in my heart, but I, like many others, are a dying breed. Sad as that may be, it was the inevitable outcome following the dawn of the internet. The names of these articles had me worried at first. I imagined some sort of quasi-Fahrenheit 451 type world, where my attachment would get me arrested or showered with flames. In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury’s sci-fi classic, books have been outlawed. They are no longer beautiful, necessary or relevant to society, and to even posses one is crime. I bring this up because it is, in fact, a book about the end of books. Interesting concept. But the articles were nothing to fear, and they actually raised some valid points questioning the future of the mother of all bookstores: the Library.
The 21st century came with some rapid changes and shows no signs of stopping. It has brought vast amounts information to our fingertips, and given us the power to search for anything at anytime. With this in mind, I do agree with the author, Terry Leary, when he says that “libraries have had their day.” As a public institution, libraries no longer serve the purpose they were intended for. It’s not necessarily their fault or their problem, but like most outdated things we keep them around purely for nostalgic purposes. Since libraries have always been around, we can’t imagine a world without them. But how often do we require their services? Not as often as we used to. Like most city kids growing up, I was encouraged to explore my local library. it was a cool place. Lots to do, lots to read, and best of all it was free. You show them your little plastic card with your signature on the back, and bam. Just make sure you bring them back in time.
The decline of print is a direct effect of the rise of internet. If i was in middle school now or even 10 years ago, my education would be more technologically based. Thats not a bad thing, and the advancements of technology, in and out of the classroom, are only going to continue. Libraries may have no future in the housing or distribution of literature, but without them, many communities will be without another a positive learning environment. We don’t need that. Leary should be paid for his creative work, as should others, but his issue seems a little one-sided. He speaks for himself and for other authors, who are not considering the people who do rely on these institutions. Maybe not for books, but for the resources, and knowledge, whether digital or physical. I can’t condone the extinction of these buildings, but we need to accept that its use is shifting with the times.
Books hold a dear place in my heart, but they do not for some. But I doubt that anyone would want to take the opportunity to learn out of another’s hands. Digital media has brought the old paperbacks and hardcovers to screens all around us – a sight I’ll have to get used to. I used to think Kindles were stupid, but the convenience of it fits right into some people’s lives. Print media will live on as long people continue to read newspapers and magazines, and choose to revel in nostalgia every chance they get.
