E-Books Not Killing Libraries

In the past few months, many reports have indicated that the rise of e-books has contributed to the demise of paper newspapers and brick-and-mortar book sellers. Many have been wondering how e-books could affect libraries. According to a report by Pew Internet, libraries are here to stay, even as they get new technologies to offer more value to their visitors.

While many patrons appreciate being able to access new digital resources at libraries, they also say they value having print books and other traditional resources at libraries and still want a personal connection with library staff,

explained Kathryn Zickuhr, Research Analyst at the Pew Internet Project. The study suggests that many folks still would like libraries to carry print books, though that could change as more people get used to e-books. Libraries still have key roles to play in underprivileged neighborhoods.

Libraries are here to stay for now. But their future will be very much different from what most of us are used to as technology advances at a fast pace. It will be interesting to see how they look like in a decode or so.