Stanford Engineering Library going bookless

carld · 07-08-2010, 07:45 AM

I heard this on NPR this morning. The Stanford University Engineering Library is essentially aiming to get rid of paper books entirely. To paraphrase one librarian, the writing is on the wall, the digital age is coming fast.

Stanford Ushers In The Age Of Bookless Libraries

Dave Berk · 07-08-2010, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carld

To paraphrase one librarian, the writing is on the wall, the digital age is coming fast.

In that case I suppose you should say the writing is on the screen

.

edercito · 07-08-2010, 09:07 AM

Thanks for the news. I suppose they intend to do the same with the other libraries. They recently moved the Physics library to a new location, which if memory serves well is smaller than before. Call me old fashion, but I'm still not ready to go through a Quantum Field Theory textbook on the screen

BenLee · 07-08-2010, 11:23 AM

Guess it won't be long before paper "libraries" are renamed to "museums" : /

dsvick · 07-09-2010, 02:24 PM

It is interesting to note, if only from the perspective of MR, that they didn't mention eReaders as a reason for it.

I heard the report on the radio yesterday as well and got the impression that this has been a general trend over a number of years and it mostly due to things being available online more readily and during off hours (they are engineering students after all).

stargazertony · 07-10-2010, 06:31 AM

Well, 20 years ago they said that the paperless office is just around the corner. Long corner.

Solitaire1 · 07-11-2010, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stargazertony

Well, 20 years ago they said that the paperless office is just around the corner. Long corner.

True. Computers were supposed to reduce the amount of paper in use, but they have lead to a massive increase in the amount of paper that is used. Before word processors/computers, if a document had a minor error, it was likely that you would just make the correction on the original document and release it. Now, you make the correction on the computer, reprint it the document, and dispose of the first document you printed. Added to this are the minor changes that would not have been made it it was not so easy to reprint a document.

07-08-2010, 07:45 AM	#1
carld Wizard Posts: 2,698 Karma: 4748723 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Stanford Engineering Library going bookless I heard this on NPR this morning. The Stanford University Engineering Library is essentially aiming to get rid of paper books entirely. To paraphrase one librarian, the writing is on the wall, the digital age is coming fast. Stanford Ushers In The Age Of Bookless Libraries

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07-08-2010, 09:07 AM	#3
edercito Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stanford, CA Device: Kindle 1, Kindle 3 Wifi	Thanks for the news. I suppose they intend to do the same with the other libraries. They recently moved the Physics library to a new location, which if memory serves well is smaller than before. Call me old fashion, but I'm still not ready to go through a Quantum Field Theory textbook on the screen

07-08-2010, 11:23 AM	#4
BenLee eReader Junkie Posts: 304 Karma: 1220 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New York City, NY Device: Kindle + Sony	Guess it won't be long before paper "libraries" are renamed to "museums" : /

07-09-2010, 02:24 PM	#5
dsvick Wizard Posts: 2,737 Karma: 635747 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northeast Ohio, USA Device: PRS-900	It is interesting to note, if only from the perspective of MR, that they didn't mention eReaders as a reason for it. I heard the report on the radio yesterday as well and got the impression that this has been a general trend over a number of years and it mostly due to things being available online more readily and during off hours (they are engineering students after all).

07-10-2010, 06:31 AM	#6
stargazertony Connoisseur Posts: 92 Karma: 906 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SouthWest Pensylvania Device: Kindle 3, iPod Touch, Pre-electronic devices	Well, 20 years ago they said that the paperless office is just around the corner. Long corner.