Will the Internet replace libraries?
By Chadanne
@Chadanne (253)
Philippines
May 21, 2008 9:29pm CST
In our time today, the Internet is a powerful tool when it comes to research and finding reference materials. It is too powerful that everthing you need is already there with a click of the mouse. I wonder if someday the Internet will replace the old fashioned libraries. I still use the libraries at school but I noticed that the younger generation today is not using it anymore. They don't even know what a library card is. It is sad to see technology replace the good old things. Technology simplifies life but makes the people forget the old things. Do you think that the Internet will replace the libraries someday?
7 people like this
35 responses
@whiteheron (4222)
• United States
22 May 08
I think that the libraries will still be around...as long as people can read. Some people just like the feel of the books. Others like being able to get out of the house into a quiet place where one can actually think. And the lure of knowledge is enough for others to go there... Those who want to pick up information about city events can usually find a local paper there, some handouts from organizations of interest and even meeting rooms and local history museums. There is much to find at a library and I see many people in mine when I go... people of all ages.
3 people like this
@Chadanne (253)
• Philippines
22 May 08
That is good. In my country, people don't ussually go to the library. One reason is because the books are not updated. They only go there to find reference for their projects or research but for entertainment, only a few. The books in the libaries here are old and it is a miracle when a new book is in the shelf. People who are fond of technology can't find interesting stuff in our library because it is not updated.
2 people like this
@whiteheron (4222)
• United States
24 May 08
We are rather lucky that the books are updated a bit...
We also have programs here where people can purchase old outdated books from the library and donated books from the library patrons from a Friends of the Library program and then with the proceeds from the sales of those books, the library purchases new books.
I also donate books that I have recently been given by family members after I read them so that others can have the experience of reading the bestsellers. This helps me too not have too many books lying around that are not my favorites and helps the library too.
I suggest that you perhaps suggest similar things in your country...
boxes for the people to put donated books in.
reselling of used books or the shelving of newer books that are wanted by the library
and the purchasing of the new books from the proceeds from the sales of used books.
@anawar (2404)
• United States
22 May 08
If the internet did replace libraries, no more trees would be cut down.
But, researching on the internet is limited. There's so much information available, but it's the same information over and over. The best thinking is not always mainstream.
If I really want to research well, I can only do it in the library.
The internet is more convenient, but that's not always the best thing.
@amitavroy (4819)
• India
22 May 08
i have a habbit of reading lot of books and i personally feel that books cannot be replaced by computers. the ebook funda is not at all very easy to read. they always have some difference and i feel reading the book in your always make you concentrate more than an e book in computer
@ayessa (1583)
• Philippines
22 May 08
I think it is possible. Since most of the things one wants to know was already in the internet and some people say specially the youth, that it is much easier to make research on the net than to browse those encyclopedia's inside the library.
2 people like this
@coneest (168)
• Malaysia
22 May 08
I do believe that one day Internet might replace library. Library need a lot of time n man power to maintain while Internet dont need that much of man power to maintain it. You may keep all you ebooks into a server. Server does not really take out a lot of your physical place but books do.
Imagine you are having billions of book in a library, you really need to find a place to keep all this book. Beside place, you need human to always manage n maintain it. But having it as ebook, with a server you can keep all this book without taking much of ur physical place.....sounds cool rite?
2 people like this
@atapicanis (4)
• Kenya
22 May 08
the internet is going to replace the libraries someday. this is due to the ability for the internet to store very large volumes of information which is sunlimited unlike in libraries. also internet is availble to surf because you can access it from anywhere unlike libraries.
2 people like this
@biggerb (2024)
• India
22 May 08
I really dont know if the internet will replace libraries.But I must admit that the internet is more convenient you do not have to hunting to the library you canjust sit at home and gather the information you want.Its a wonderful tool.In small places you do not have library facilities and nowadays you have computer access everywhere.Still there amy be people who would love to go the library for reading.But the internet is just too good to get the necessary information you want.
1 person likes this
@icon_001 (584)
• India
22 May 08
No doubt , Internet has replaced Libraries to a great extent . Accessing information on Internet is faster and less time-consuming .
However;not everyone likes to be on a Computer system always . One thing is that studying too much on a PC
causes eye-fatigue . Secondly;one misses sitting in chair and studying things .
So ,the Internet would only partially replace Libraries and not fully .
2 people like this
@playsafe (115)
• India
22 May 08
Library is a place where probably you can meet like minded people too and not only that it provides reading or studying space which is away from noise. If library is around you use it more often than when it is too far.
However, interest has kind of replaced library. Library have old stuff only. They cannot have latest stuff so fast as internet can. Cost attached to library is much higher. There is no idea on reader base or any count or review/feedback possible for any published materials eithers. So, a lot of drawback of Library has been overcome with internet.
@chechuva (1275)
• Philippines
22 May 08
i think libraries will still be there. since there are people who still choose to read books rather than stay in front of the computer and read stuff. yes computer make things easier to search but i think books really give more infos. since people form net, get there raw infos from books.
@jannijanni (866)
•
22 May 08
i hope not. i'm the kind of person who loves browsing through books in the libraries. i mean, yeah, the internet is useful but it can no way replace libraries who offer their services for such small amounts. everything in the internet is just business.
@padmameera (952)
• India
22 May 08
Internet can be used for reference purposes and to some extent for research purposes.It can be used for browsing some journal articles etc.
But reading a book has got its own beauty. You can sit on your balcony or on your bed and read a book leasurely and lavishly. In our part libraries are well used by the people. Children are also using the library very much.
@fatima07 (169)
• Philippines
14 Jun 08
If you will ask me no technology can replace the libraries. I am currently 4th year college taking up education here in the philippines and I admit the fact that I use to surf the Internet to search for my assignments in school but i am not satisfied sometimes because some informations from internet are just limited and yes the information are updated but sometimes i found myself so complicated surfing the net. If there is a references like books that I can use in our subject I prepare to buy and ofcourse I use to visit the library and not just defend in the internet always.
1 person likes this
@paid2write (5201)
•
22 May 08
The internet is certainly useful for finding information but you need to check whatever you see on the internet. You cannot accept something as true unless you can verify its original source.
Sometimes you need to refer to a book where the information first appeared and the full text is not always available online. You have to see the print version to get the full context of any quotation or reference.
Until every book ever printed is reproduced on the internet there will always be a need for reference libraries. Also the experience of seeing an article or reading online is quite different from the experience of looking at an original publication.
1 person likes this
@Elixiress (3878)
•
25 May 08
No, because there will always be people that prefer a paper copy of a book. When researching I prefer the internet, but when reading fiction I prefer a paper book rather than an e-book.
@choypogi07 (8)
• Philippines
23 May 08
I think not.. Libraries would still be around.. Some people still like the old-school type of researching.. Reading in libraries has some kind of ambiance that you can't get when reading anywhere. ^_^
@celticeagle (166976)
• Boise, Idaho
14 Jun 08
In some ways it will. But the library has alot of others community things to offer than just books.
@taqinaka (429)
• Malaysia
14 Jun 08
We can't argue anymore,Internet has changed the world forever.You have almost all the knowledge in the WORLD at your fingertip.Researching has never been this easy,
But,in my opinion,internet will never replace the library.Becaue eventhough internet is easier and everything,you really can't beat the feeling of finding a really,really good book or the book you've been wanting to read for ages after searching the whole library.
That's just my opinion.
