Libraries versus Internet

I think that many libraries are trying to get smarter in relation to this! They now have computers that give you Internet access so I guess they are still trying to draw in the crowds! I think it's important that they have done this otherwise, as you say, there will no longer be a niche for them. I used to attend the library for my Internet sessions but now I have the Internet at home and I am more than pleased. Andrew

One thing that I am sure of is that libraries or book won't die out because of internet. It is always nice to read things from books rather then then the computer screen. You can't take your laptop or other device to bed for your bed time stories.

I like surfing the net, it's a great thing and a way of getting free information online. But some information is not totally given online, so sometimes you have to go to the library to borrow some books to upgrade your self. Usually i would go to the library to borrow some books to read if I'm too bored.......

Libraries cannot go because of internet. Libraries are very important. They are treasure-houses of information.

in my opinion, libraries are benefited by the Internet. for example, now many people that can't acces internet go to the librariesthat provide internet access. Not only that, internet is full of scam and unclear information or resources. so sometimes institution like school or universities won't accept some online resource, like wikipedia. even with its great, informative and huge content, my lecturers won't accept my paper if i use wikipedia as my basis reference. in library we can also discussed and learning together if we (i assume students) were going to face exams. so library still has it's meaning and i believe that libraries is gain many benefit from internet.

Libraries are great dont get me wrong but now that we have internet on our side there is never any real reason to go to the library other then you want to rent a book you cant buy because of the cost!!

I will take the library over the internet when it comes to books. I do not like to use the internet for that, for everything else, I do use the net.

I go to my neighbourhood library on a regular basis. I don't find that there are fewer people than before the advent of the internet. There are always lots of people using the computers. In that respect things have changed a lot. In my smallish neighbourhood library there used to be two computers, now there are at least 8 and some more just for kids. Many times the maximum session you can book is two periods of 15 minutes. Lucky I usually use my computer at home. It is true that lots of information can be found on the internet, but people doing serious research still use books and publications. You can check the references and the reliability of the information much more easily by using books. There is an awful lot of rubbish on the internet and it is always good to check out where the information comes from. I still love the library. There are comfortable easy chairs and every conceivable magazine apart from books. I don't buy magazines anymore since I am retired on a fixed income but I read them at the library and of course leave them there. So my place does not get so cluttered either. I often think it must have been a huge change in the lives of librarians. Remember all the catalog cards in cabinets? They are all gone now. The latest change I saw in my library was that you can no longer download info onto diskettes. You have to use a flashdrive. Change, change, change.

In my town many people go to the Library to get on the internet. LOL And the Libraries in my area all have special events for kids and even adults so they are still very popular.

I have observed that when most students do research on their lessons or assignments they would just access the internet to do their research rather than do it in the library. I actually understand too and i think browsing the internet for answers is really much easier as compared to browsing it through thousands of books in the library. Well, it just came to my mind that what if someday all information could already be found in the internet and almost all students would rather use the internet rather than go to the library to do their research. I think it is really very possible that in the near future no one would be using the libraries anymore because of the convenience of internet.

I'm pretty sure libraries have been affected by the speed and effectiveness of Internet but they still are popular. As people have stated,there are cases when you can only find certain information at the library. Also,some people prefer to read books at the library because it gives them peace and quiet they can't find at home. Libraries,in their turn,have tried to respond adequately to the demands of hi-tech times.You can reserve a book online,chat with a librarian,pay your fees etc.

The good thing about libraries is that they carry books that date back to way back when are parents and grandparents went to the library. So some of these information may be valuable and unavailable in the internet. While the inter may have very up to date research, I believe that libraries hold titles that may be hard to come by even in some specialty bookstores. Also, governments fund libraries so they can afford to order the latest Harry Potter books if they foresee a demand. I don't see the library getting extict anytime soon, although a lot will probably make use of the internet technology just to get up to speed.

If you want to go really deep into something you'll certainly need to go to a library, even though you can find some of the books in the internet

No libraries are not suffering.

I'll tell you what, I hadn't been to the library for years and when I first went this fall (in September) I was surprised at how busy it was. Even the local branch was busy.

Last time I went to the library there were lots of people there. They are centers of information. Sometimes an internet search does not help you find what you are really looking for. Sometimes, you just want to be somewhere that is not at home. you can book rooms there and have a group people get together to discuss and study a subject. You don't have to have these people in your house or your room, but you can benefit from picking each other's brain. I think libraries are still doing okay.

There are some information that are not found on the internet and found on the libraries. And also there are times that it is found on the internet and not on the libraries. For me, internet is the most convenient way to access information. Seems that the internet is now growing its resources and there are a lot of encyclopedia online.:)