The library in the next century.

[Sparrow]

In the UK, a lot of local libraries are repositories of local history (and other specialised) collections. It's hard to see where the funding to Internetize all this data is going to come from - so, if the library goes, all that information could be lost too.

Personally, I still frequent my local branch libraries, and the mobile library that visits my village. I haven't read a book from them for months, but I like to do my bit to keep their lending figures up.

[ProDigit]

Maybe, local p-book libraries are going to disappear all together, being replaced by the internet, and home pc's.

Or maybe they turn into wifi hotspots where one can drink a coffee, or eat something in a peaceful place..

Maybe it's a little child idea,but maybe in the future,we'll have computers sort out data for us. When we want to make a mechanic device, the computer will be intelligent enough to search for us, prices, raw materials, companies that produce parts, sketches, electric and mechanic safety regulations, etc...etc...
People will not have the need to learn, because anything you will want to learn already exists, and has been put on the net...

Libraries probably get demolished, and replaced by a small server room the size of a restroom.
And large Libraries might turn into museums.

[Falbe Publishing]

Libraries will adapt and change with the times. I don't think they will disappear. Many people love them and believe in their purpose too much for them to disappear entirely, unless civilization goes completely under. Libraries have been about more books for a long time. They have audio books, video, and very importantly public and free internet access. There will always be people who have no ability to buy a computer for themselves or maintain an internet access service. For this element of society, libraries are their only connection to a larger society. The same applies for ebooks. Some people will never be able to own a digital media device because of the inherent cost (whether it's high or low), and I think practical DRM use by libraries is totally appropriate. Even people who have economic means to have computers, internet access, and buy their own media still enjoy borrowing from libraries because they provide an excellent place to find new media and experiment with new choices without having to make a purchase.

I love libraries, and my local library is always busy. Always. Changes in media technology are not going to erase libraries as long as they can obtain funding. Lack of funding is the only threat to libraries.

[ProDigit]

I agree, but you can see that worldwide the governements of every country are putting more and more money into schools and internet.
Libraries however receive always less and less funding.
Many libraries I know have to do with some very old books,recycled,second hand...
I even know some in my home town in Belgium that fused with others,and had to close.

Often small towns becoming larger untill they fuse with a city give up their libraries.
Maybe USA is different, but I cans see the trend appearing in Belgium, and some towns in Germany as well...
As long as there is public transport from anywhere the town to the city's library, the closing of smaller libraries is possible.

[axel77]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

ok, we'll keep DRM for libraries and no DRm for purchased eBooks.

The issue I see is, is there any DRM that will really work? I believe not. And also no DRM will ever be able to sustain an DA/AD converstation. That is for audio, simply play it and on the other end of the jack record it again. All DRM removed. For digitial books you could easily build a simple device doing the same, that is have an ereader aboth a scanner, and have it turn pages automatically. Even the perfect DRM will perish quickly.

[axel77]

Originally Posted by Alisa

I do hope that ebooks do not bring on the end of our public libraries. They might if communities and governments only look at a library as a building full of books. The real value in the library is the librarians and I think as flow and generation of new content increases, it's even more important to have people like librarians who help folks navigate it.

Indeed, that was something I didn't think about at first. At least in the science sector the electronic age currently does not reduce the need of a librarian at all, it produces even much more strain on information management. I am just not that certain if the profession of "information management" might not slowly be replaced by folksonomies.

[Justy]

I think there will be room for a "Children's Library" at least. Some of my son's favorite books have Big print and lots of colours. Some of them even move! I think it will be a while before we see an electronic Pop-Up-Book.

[bill_mchale]

Just a thought, but I think to a certain extent, a need for libraries will always exist, but essentially online libraries will fulfill a greater and greater role in the future. One thing though is that I think the notion of the lending library might be a concept that does not translate well into the digital age.

That being said, I think Project Gutenberg and the like definitely are a good start at developing a good online library. For books whose copyright has expired, there is no real need for such a library to loan books. Perhaps DRM could be used to allow books to be loaned, but ultimately, as has been discussed here and elsewhere, DRM really doesn't stop piracy and furthermore, there is no real incentive for Publishers to cooperate with Libraries.

So here are some thoughts.

1. Paper books are probably never going to die entirely. So certainly libraries may remain as lending sources for paper books.

2. Perhaps users can get dedicated library readers. Such readers would allow a user to download a book to the reader and it would delete itself after a certain period of time or after one read (which ever came first). The key would be that it would not allow uploading of the book to a different medium.

3. Perhaps copyright should return to its original roots. I think it is pretty clear that very few books remain very profitable for publishers to keep in print more than 10 years after their publication. Furthermore the few that are profitable actually serve as a disincentive for the production of more books (how many Salinger books have been published? The guy is able to live off of the royalties from Catcher in the Rye... even though there are reports that he has written many, many manuscripts). My dream is that copyrights would fall back to 10 years from first publication. Libraries might not be able to lend books that are still in copyright, but such books might be available for reading on computers in the library and once their copyright expires, will be made freely available via a standard online library. Of course such a policy will never likely be enacted... after all, the publishers would prefer to see 90% of what was written in the last 70 years remain out of print than let the 10% that remain profitable for decades fall out of copyright.

--
Bill

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Justy

I think there will be room for a "Children's Library" at least. Some of my son's favorite books have Big print and lots of colours. Some of them even move! I think it will be a while before we see an electronic Pop-Up-Book.

Perhaps but some childrens books are already present in eBook form from Libraries. Most of these take advantage of features currently only available on a full computer and include animation. For example check http://www.santacruzpl.org/ They use a technology form http://www.tumblebooks.com/

Dale

[axel77]

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

That being said, I think Project Gutenberg and the like definitely are a good start at developing a good online library. For books whose copyright has expired, there is no real need for such a library to loan books. Perhaps DRM could be used to allow books to be loaned, but ultimately, as has been discussed here and elsewhere, DRM really doesn't stop piracy and furthermore, there is no real incentive for Publishers to cooperate with Libraries.

Exactly, thats why I started yet another thread

1. Paper books are probably never going to die entirely. So certainly libraries may remain as lending sources for paper books.

Fully agree. At least for example the trashy holliday literature you take to the beach. Nothing can beat paper here. Aquapack or not, you can leave the paper book at the beach while going into the water, while nobody will think about stealing that louse book. And even if, you didn't lose much.

2. Perhaps users can get dedicated library readers. Such readers would allow a user to download a book to the reader and it would delete itself after a certain period of time or after one read (which ever came first). The key would be that it would not allow uploading of the book to a different medium.

I doubt this can work. Form experience I'd tell you the devices are all soon broken or treated very badly. Its the classic Tragedy of the Commons. And on the other hand I'm not willing to "buy" a device, on which the library has ultimate control over, and not I.

3. Perhaps copyright should return to its original roots. I think it is pretty clear that very few books remain very profitable for publishers to keep in print more than 10 years after their publication. Furthermore the few that are profitable actually serve as a disincentive for the production of more books (how many Salinger books have been published? The guy is able to live off of the royalties from Catcher in the Rye... even though there are reports that he has written many, many manuscripts). My dream is that copyrights would fall back to 10 years from first publication. Libraries might not be able to lend books that are still in copyright, but such books might be available for reading on computers in the library and once their copyright expires, will be made freely available via a standard online library. Of course such a policy will never likely be enacted... after all, the publishers would prefer to see 90% of what was written in the last 70 years remain out of print than let the 10% that remain profitable for decades fall out of copyright.

Possibly, but even to wait 10 years to get a book into the library to be lendable is IMHO a tradegy. There are enough fields (for example the scientific one) where you really want very contemporary literature. And currently we do not have to pay (muc) for that, if only lending. But I fear also with this copyright idea, this right may demish due to the digital age.

[digitalzen]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

In the UK, a lot of local libraries are repositories of local history (and other specialised) collections. It's hard to see where the funding to Internetize all this data is going to come from - so, if the library goes, all that information could be lost too.

Personally, I still frequent my local branch libraries, and the mobile library that visits my village. I haven't read a book from them for months, but I like to do my bit to keep their lending figures up.

I still enjoy going to the library -- it is just nice to get out of the house, and mix with others in my local community. It makes me feel connected. Perhaps libraries should start experimenting with more community discussions, ect. There are many services they can provide, beyond just storing books.

[DDHarriman]

tvc

In my country is exactly what they think.

Interesting enough, in a country where more than half of the published books do not go for more than 500 books per edition (and 90% of them do not go above the 1th edition), with almost 300 public libraries, publishers forget to acknowledge that public libraries can represent easily more than 50% of their sales!!!

But for people who see eBooks in this manner: “if I can sell for 20 why should I try to sell the same for 10?”
What would one expect.

[ProDigit]

The library in my city consists of about 1 footballfield 2 floors of books. There's a computer section, and a number of places where you can sit comfortably to read whatever you want.

In a complex attached to the library, they installed a cafeteria (place to drink coffee, beer, coke, whatever), and a lot of people go there with books from the library, or business men with their morning paper, to be able to drink something while reading.
It's not as quiet as in the library itself, because it's also open to the public(people not buying/renting books).
on the second floor of the cafeteria, there is a wifi spot. You could come with your laptop to just surf,check mails, etc...
It worked quite good for a while, untill some young guys vandalized the wireless modem.

but the idea of like a starbucks attached to your library is like awesome!

[digitalzen]

Originally Posted by ProDigit

The library in my city consists of about 1 footballfield 2 floors of books. There's a computer section, and a number of places where you can sit comfortably to read whatever you want.

In a complex attached to the library, they installed a cafeteria (place to drink coffee, beer, coke, whatever), and a lot of people go there with books from the library, or business men with their morning paper, to be able to drink something while reading.
It's not as quiet as in the library itself, because it's also open to the public(people not buying/renting books).
on the second floor of the cafeteria, there is a wifi spot. You could come with your laptop to just surf,check mails, etc...
It worked quite good for a while, untill some young guys vandalized the wireless modem.

but the idea of like a starbucks attached to your library is like awesome!

This sounds a lot like a Barns and Noble!