Giggleton, my local library is run by my local Council, and there is a main library and 7 sub branches in various suburbs.
The main library is open 7 days a week and till 9pm on weeknights.
People love these libraries and they always have people in them (with greater numbers during certain peak periods).
So, as to your question - the following simply informs re library content and sources:
- content includes volumes and volumes of books, fiction and non-fiction, going back decades until the very present (with a good Stack section), research materials eg newspaper search software, genealogy research materials, etc etc etc
- soft content eg talking books, cd's, dvd's, tapes
- computers, printers, wifi, bluetooth.
- Freegal - online download of 3 free music tracks per week - no DRM and yours to keep
- Ebooks - very small number, and as yet no direct link to Guttenberg or other free sources
In other words - my library is a typical 'old fasioned' style library as well as a 'modern' library.
So - in answer to your question 'are most nations library systems adequately equipped to handle the demand for information' is a YES for my library - and I hope that it continues to re-invent itself and can't see why it's progressive nature as a source of new and old technologies wouldn't continue to co-exist.
Perhaps I should also mention that the library presents training sessions on the use of ereaders, tablets and general research frequently. These are free sessions, as is membership of the library and borrowing any materials.
I am a frequent user of my library.
