Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich_D
I also think that it wouldn't be money well spent. Let's face it, e-readers are luxury items and currently libraries are most important to the poorer communities. In some cases the only place kids can use a computer or read a book, other than at school, is the library. If the library has to choose between an e-book and a p-book, they need to go with the p-book because that will be the greater benefit to the most people and that is more in line with Carnegie's vision.
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A few days ago, I took the bait. Upon reflection, I've changed my mind.
Libraries, even in Andrew Carnegie's vision, aren't here merely to provide services to those who rely on the loan of paper: it was about the content. If some budget is spent on users who engage the library over the Internet, using their own e-reader ... terrific. The object is to expand reading, access to knowledge, using the library as curator to ensure a minimum set of standards ... a robust e-book collection is not an elitist diversion but indeed fulfills the mandate and original Carnegie vision.