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I think it's a shame, but libraries, especially public libraries, will find the struggle for survival very difficult in the future. Libraries really only make sense economically and culturally when knowledge, and intellectual property of any sort is rare and relatively expensive.
We are entering an era where knowledge and intellectual property has become commoditized. The issue isn't making sure everyone has access to this information by storing it in special treasure houses, it is now separating the valuable information from the useless.
In the past, any intellectual property encountered was a treasure that needed to be cared for and preserved. Now, it's as likely to be a nuisance as it is a treasure. Culturally, the internet has taken the place of the library. I'm not sure it's better, but it sure is different!
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