Another one!

I began reading Dr. Schultz' "To a Temporary Place in Time" and had to go back and read it again. I couldn't decide if it was a tongue-in-cheek article or a supportive one. Her analogy based on the economy's shift from commodity to product to service to experience was interesting. She did a masterful job of equating the stages of the library to each stage of the shift. I just can't decide if that's what she sees coming or if it's a "what if it becomes this" article.

Either way, I don't see the traditional brick and mortar library becoming extinct. Most large libraries utilize technology to locate information and books; but I don't see the books themselves becoming obsolete in the near or far future. Some books just need to be handled and people like me who like to go to bed with a good book - well, I just don't see it!

Too often I've seen mistakes in transcription from printed sources to electronic that I believe the actual input and checking for accuracy would preclude any kind of move to all things electronic.

I do agree that there is a preponderance of information on the Internet that makes trips to the library unnecessary. But there are still massive amounts of information not available; and I, for one, hope it never comes to that. I grew up in the library and still enjoy spending time browsing, researching and selecting books to take home to the comfort of my living room.