Physical and digital books needed

As the librarian of “all things digital”, I’m often waxing lyrical about the rapidly digitising world we’re in and all the ways the library can help you navigate that.

One of the rewarding parts of my role is overseeing our eLibrary, the plethora of digital resources, available free with your Libraries Horowhenua membership. Therefore, it would be easy to imagine that I am on the side of ruthless progress, a technocratic purist who sees the future of our library collections as a purely digital landscape, devoid of physical books altogether.

Wrong! I’m here to tell you about how a healthy library ecosystem blossoms in the balance between its physical and digital resources, and that both elements are essential to a thriving collection that serves its community well. It’s not one or the other, or at the expense of each other

. . . it’s both, together.

Let’s consider physical books. There is a tangible charm in them, new or old, and their solid presence can move through the decades. We know the well-loved delight of finding an old book, wondering how many readers’ hands it traversed, the sentimentality of it. We can’t replicate that with eBooks, and it’s impossible for eBooks to be sold at the library book sale, like our physical books do. The biannual library book sale is a beautiful cycle in which our physical collection, once its public library service is complete, is then sold cheaply into our community, increasing the access to affordable books and literacy material, ensuring a sustainable life, and raising funds to be reinvested via Friends of the Horowhenua Libraries.

Physical books offer respite from a screen-induced eyestrain and provide an immersive experience. Studies have shown reading physical books reduce stress and help you focus and concentrate, while also improving your comprehension and retention. Important skills to cultivate for our brain health, as the fast-paced micro-content we consume can

degrade them.

On the flip side, enjoying things like eBooks and eAudiobooks, opens up new levels of accessibility and convenience, ensuring reading is available to be enjoyed by all. Almost all books and magazines can be made large print, and there is a range of font options including OpenDyslexic font. You can carry 100s of books in one lightweight device, and our eLibrary means we can provide 1000s more resources than we’d ever have physical space for, while also having less environmental impact than physical books. For those for whom holding books proves challenging, reading on a device provides a lighter option. eAudiobooks provide another avenue to enjoy stories, it all counts

. . . plus, the eLibrary is always open.

The true magic lies in embracing both mediums as important pillars,

and through them both we can offer our patrons a well-rounded and accessible collection.