Comments on: Lost Library

By: Shawna

Shawna — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:57:12 +0000

I am a little late getting in on this, but I must say that the schools my children attend still teach the value of good "old fashioned" books. Their favorite day is library day and they are always excited to show me what treasure they have brought home to read today! I do think it is sad that many children have to be forced to read daily via a book log that is sent home for parents to sign. All books they bring home from the school library requires a test afterwards. The public library requires no such thing though so we do love that! I agree that there is nothing quite like the smell of a library and books though!

By: Ricë

Ricë — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:22:32 +0000

who knows what will happen, rob? you may be right–i fear books may go the way of the stereo. but, on the other hand, catastrophes unimaginable to us may make technology the realm of only the elite–the rest of us may be yanked back to the pre-industrial age, where those of us who have established our own personal libraries, however modest, will be the only ones with anything at ALL available to read.ithink i'll hang onto those paperbacks even as they get yellow and crinkly. they still smell better than a screen. i don't know about anyone else, but i have to have a book in my hands. maybe it's because i know lots of book binders and have bound my own books, but there's something about pages between a cover that just can't be beat. and with a good story in there, too? sheer heaven.

By: Michele Martin

Michele Martin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:01:22 +0000

Hey Rob–I like my new Kindle, but that doesn't mean I won't still buy books. What I do like about the Kindle vs. a regular book is that on those nights when I run out of things to read, I can buy something and be reading it in seconds. Also a much lighter load on trips where in the past I've been tempted to bring a few books. Now I can have them all together. Definitely benefits, but again, I also like the feel of a printed book, and the ability to write in it when I want to.

By: Dede

Dede — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:51:53 +0000

Even though I like the idea of not wasting paper, I still really like holding a book in my hands. I like the fact that I can highlight or make notes and don't have to rely on type of electronics being charged up or available when I'm ready to read.

By: Anita

Anita — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:06:24 +0000

I will never buy a kindle. For one have you ever heard of someone dropping a book and breaking it? No, thats silly. If you spill coffee on your book it kind of sucks because it stains it and if you dont dry it fast enough the pages might stick together. If you spill coffee on your kindle consider it over. call me old school, but I kind of enjoy the smell of a book. I like having something pysical to hold in my hand. I like turning the pages.

By: Cameron Talley

Cameron Talley — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:46:01 +0000

I don't think Libraries are going anywhere anytime soon. Digital is far too expensive for public libraries to adopt en masse The school you are referring to is making a BIG mistake. No University in their right mind would do away with printed materials. The simple fact is that not everything has been scanned, nor WILL be scanned. It's impossible. I feel sorry for the students at that school, because they are going to get to College and not have a clue how to do proper research.

My job is to buy materials for the BU libraries. I get, on average, about 200 new books a week. And that's just on our approval plan and firm order accounts with Yankee Book Peddler. That doesn't include other stuff that we search for, like Out of Print materials.

Another huge issue is simply the cost and mess associated with ebooks. There are a variety of vendors, each with their own rights scheme, etc. Usage rights are usually for single-use only (only one person can view the material at a time). For academic books, this is usually more expensive than the paper book (which are already expensive). Multiple-use titles cost even more. I have paid over $1000 for a few titles. That's right, $1000 for one ebook. The simple matter of costs will prevent many public libraries, already straining their budgets, from upgrading.

Anyway, just some random thoughts on a Saturday morning...