It’s not your father’s library anymore.
I’ve written that I access my local library (Alexandria, Virginia) electronically. Any hour of the day or night. And, as long as I have a valid library card, I can view current (ok- three weeks older and more) journals and magazines; even some digital books.
But, now the library system outside of San Antonio (in Bexar- pronounced Bey-ar- County) is instituting a completely digital libary. Bexar does not have an extensive county library system (but does offer services to some residents in unincorporated regions), so this will be an important outreach for them. And, of course, it’s just a trial- for now.
Using an existing government office facility (3505 Pleasanton Road, San Antonio) , the library (called the BiblioTech project) will encompass some 10,000 books, including 100 digital readers (plus 50 more designed solely for children). All of which can be borrowed by the local citizenry.
Moreover, the facility will afford citizens the right to access the tomes remotely (just like I do in Alexandria). And, to top it off, there will be 25 each “reserved” (i.e., not for borrowing) of both tablets and laptops, with 50 more desktop computers for citizenry usage. And, something you don’t normally see in a library (but you did in Borders and do in Barnes and Noble)- a coffee house.
The start-up costs are estimated to run about $ 1.5 million. The library services that the county does provide currently run the county about $ 4 million, so this is a substantial outlay. There will be a few staffers at this new location to offer technical advice, but no research assistants.
About 75% of the libraries across the US offer digital books, with about 1/2 of those affording citizens the ability to borrow e-readers. And, the electronic books are more expensive (for libraries) than physical tomes- sometimes five times as much (because the book publishers are not very happy about this service). As a matter of fact, that is one reason why this library will have such relatively few books- because of the unit costs.
You can bet that a whole bunch of other libraries will be watching this experiment.
That is very interesting, Roy. One way to avoid extinction? And wouldn’t it be nice if there were no barriers to education? Thanks for sharing this. I’m sure you’ll update us in the future. 🙂
Well, Cathy, we can bring the books to the people (assuming they can afford internet service), but we can’t make them read them. Hopefully, this technology will make reading fundamental- for real!
I know I saw this coming. I think it’s wonderful and yet I have to wonder about the time coming where we all are in our homes and never go out. I’m there very much now. I do 90% of my shopping online, research, writing, socializing….and I’m not unhappy with that really…but I’m not everyone. LOL Good information, Roy!
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And, now you won’t have to shop for books, Lisa. Instead, you can check them out of your library, read them at home, and become a real bookworm!
I love this!
The library has been much maligned and ignored in the rush of technology, and it’s easy to see why. It’s just as easy though, to see the value of projects like this – the written word has passed information down for such a long time, and as many as possible must have access to it. Exactly the kind of project Tim Berners Lee would approve of I’m sure!
Cheers, Gordon
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Great comments, Gordon!
And, one would hope EVERYONE would approve this- for our children AND our adults.
Thanks for the visit and comment, too!
We have libraries closing left right and centre here in the UK because of cuts. This saddens me. Thanks for reminding me how important they are Roy 🙂
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I do not understand the concept of closing libraries, Anita-Clare…This is also happening in the states- Philadelphia, PA was one city that made such a splash (as in cannonball…) Less prominent are the situations in Arlington (VA), where the libraries undergo rolling shutdowns… no longer open when children can go- like weekends and after school…
Such is the mentality (sic) of our elected officials.