Ray Bradbury once stated, “Without libraries what have we? We have no past and no future.”
In these two articles, The Public Library as a Meeting-Place in a Multicultural and Digital Context: The Necessity of Low-Intensive Meeting-Places by Ragnar Audunson and Reading Behavior in the Digital Environment: Changes in Reading Behavior Over the Past Ten Years by Ziming Liu express different theories with an underlining theme: the importance of information (whether a physical building as an information warehouse or reading that information).
Audunson’s article looked at the cultural importance of the role of the public library. This article expressed the purpose of the library as access to cultural expressions and values that are tolerated and appraised. The digital revolution opened up the communication of libraries and increased the development of cultural niches. Audunson addressed an additional library role as meeting-places and arenas for community communication.
As times change and resources evolve, it is only natural the focus of the library changes. It may not change drastically but should shift to reach the populous it represents. For libraries to be successful in the future, they must understand that changing their focus and broadening their horizons are essential for longevity.
In Liu’s article described a study that investigated the reading behaviors of individuals in the current digital environment. Lie analyzed how individual’s reading behavior has changed over the past ten years. The findings listed that online reading mostly consisted of browsing and scanning rather than in-depth reading. Reading from a paper format is still consider to be the best source for high concentrated, more in-depth reading. While additional research is needed, the idea is the same and I’m sure the findings will remain at the same level.
I know from personal experience that I do just that, I do not read as in-depth online as I do with a hardcopy. I do not know if it is a preconceived notion or something that is inherent inside of me.
I believe as times change and new generations come in contact with digital resources the shift will change where the digital reading will become the chief source of in-depth reading and may even become the preferred method. But for me, the hardcopy will always remain as the real thing.