Big changes under way at universities
Libraries beginning to remove books as technology evolves
It’s hard to imagine a library without physical books. After all, libraries have traditionally been repositories of books, aisle after aisle of reference material, fiction, non-fiction and more.
But there is a change underway, as some university libraries are starting to put books in storage, contracting with resellers or recycling them, the Associated Press reports, because so much of the information is now available online.
Academics told the AP that the move is an uncomfortable one.
However, libraries are facing increasing challenges: lack of space, dusty, unused books and books that are dated or no longer necessarily relevant.
One university library found that nearly half of its collection had been uncirculated for 20 years or more.
As more books become digitized, is there still the same need for the vast repositories at a library?
Libraries are amazing resource, and anyone can access a library, regardless of income level. One simply has to be able to get there and get a library card. And there is something magical about having an actual copy of a book in one’s hands, flipping through the pages, searching for information, and, when in doubt, asking a librarian for help.
And sometimes, one might not know what book one needs until one finds it, searching through volume after volume until the right information is found, which is easier to do with access to physical books.
But online libraries provide a few key benefits. No longer does one have to wait for the library to open to access information — instead, it’s available 24-7. And no longer does one have to lug around heavy, bulky tomes. Instead, one can check the book out digitally, download it to a tablet or computer, and access it in its entirely.
Frankly, there is value to both online access and physical books, leaving libraries with tough decisions on the table.
What do you think, readers? Are university libraries right to clear out some of these volumes, or is it a bad idea? Let us know. Share your thoughts online at www.YumaSun.com, or send us a Letter to the Editor at letters@yumasun.com.